Thai airports, trains, buses, public transport

Airport Link opens

By david, Created on: 16/08/2010, Last updated on: 12/01/2016

» The new airport rail link opens August 23 and Only three problems impede its linkup with the skytrain and the underground? Once these issues are sorted out, however, the benefits for Bangkok's tourism industry will be phenomenal? The airport link will be good for single travelers, but for 2 or more...

• modsquad commented : From a Post reader: I recently had the misfortune to take the new Airport Express from Suvarnabhumi to my home near Sukhumvit Soi Thonglor. Although the train is indeed fast and modern, the connections on both ends made the trip extremely unpleasant in terms of comfort and convenience, especially when travelling with luggage. First, at Suvarnabhumi one cannot take the luggage trolley up to the train platform, which is very inconvenient if travelling with heavy bags. On the city line the seats are narrow and uncomfortable and there is nowhere to stow luggage except in the first and last carriages. On arrival at Makkasan station, again there are no luggage trolleys available and negotiating the escalators with multiple pieces of luggage is challenging, to say the least. There were no taxis available at the station and even if there were, they could only exit onto Ratchadapisek Road in the direction of Huay Khwang. Instead, I had to walk on the road (of course there are no sidewalks) and over a railway line dodging cars and motorbikes for about 300 metres to reach the MRT station. Again, descending the escalators with luggage was impractical and then I had to open my bags at the MRT security control, causing a backup in the line behind me. It was rush hour and the MRT was crowded, with no place to stow luggage. I exited at the Sukhumvit station and again negotiated multiple escalators for another difficult connection to the Asoke BTS station. I missed 3 BTS trains before I could find one that had enough room to enter with my luggage. When I finally descended at Thonglor BTS station to take a taxi, I was completely exhausted and vowed never again to repeat the experience. Compared to the highly efficient and well-planned Hong Kong Airport Express, Bangkok's version is an inefficient and impractical nightmare. The only thing I had to be thankful for is that at least it was not raining at the time I negotiated the long walk from Makkasan station to the MRT. My advice to travellers is: don't bother with the train, and take a taxi from the airport. MICHAEL SPENCER Note: Mr SPENCER says in the first paragraph that he took the ‘Airport Express’. In the second paragraph he mentions using the ‘city line’ and says the seats are narrow and uncomfortable and there is nowhere to stow luggage except in the first and last carriages. My understanding is that the two lines are separate, with the ‘Airport Express’ designated for travellers to and from the airport, while the ‘city line’ is designated for local travel with station stops along the way. Perhaps he can clarify which one he used? I imagine the ‘Airport Express’ would be more accommodating for people with luggage, however it is apparent that this is just one of many things on his list of inconveniences.

• ricardofel commented : You have to take a taxi to Makkasan to ride the express train to the airport....incompetence from the start. Should have been a connection from the BTS or MRT. The ride was fast and comfortable...BUT I had no luggage and if the train is crowded you will have a big problem. Taxi driver had no idea where to drop me off and if you arrive at Makkasan from the airport there were NO taxis to take you home. All in all a rather incompetent creation, but typical.

• beowulf commented : I used the airport link trains on my trip to Bangkok in September 2010. I used the express non-stop service to Makkasan at about 6 pm on my arrival and the City Line stopping service from Phayathai Station when I departed at 6 am. The fares paid were 100 Baht & 15 Baht respectively. Both fares rise in January 2011. The train services were excellent and there's plenty of room for baggage. The non-stop service was practically empty, with most people taking the much cheaper City Line service. There were no Taxi's on the forecourt on arrival at Makkasan so I had to walk about 100 metres to the main road to flag down a Meter Taxi. The first City Line service from Phayathai station is at 6 am which was okay for me but earlier trains would be better. Those catching a taxi to the City Line at Phayathai station should enter from the escalator on the slip road at the Skytrain station and not go up the steps to the Skytrain station itself.

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