Thread: Airport rail link to open in a 'few months'

the baggage check-in system at Makkasan Station in downtown Bangkok and the automatic ticket machines

Ooooo noooooo.... *rubs head in hands*

^Will you be unable to manage? It's not that difficult.

saw it running today, incidentally

Originally Posted by zubber

The baggage transfer system will be capable of taking up to 300 pieces per hour.

Surely that is a joke or an error in numbers?

Airport Link opening postponed
Rungkarn Rujiwarangkul
05 March 2010

BANGKOK, 5 March 2010 (NNT) – The Airport Link will not be finished in time for opening in April as planned, according to the Transport Minister, while the contractor firm will be fined 17 million THB due to the delay.

Updating on the Airport Link progress, Transport Minister Sopon Zarum said the work on the electronic system, the CCTV system, and the radio system, under the responsibility of Siemens company, have not been completed according to the term of reference specified.

The entire system is 80% complete but it will not be in time for the planned opening this April. The train cannot be operated commercially until it has received safety standard verification from the independent consulting engineer which should take at least 3 months. The Minister said, however, test runs will be carried out as scheduled.

The contractor Siemens company has to pay at least 17 million THB to the state for failing to meet the deadline and the requirement in the TOR.

thainews.prd.go.th

It should have been ready when the airport opened - they have had 18 years to do it.

Maybe dealing with bribes from the lucrative airport taxi scammers has held things up?

Nevertheless, it will be fantastic not having to deal with the hassle of the taxi mafia upon arrival in Los. Not to mention the convenience and safety of the rail link..

There's a lot of animosity between the Government and Siemens at the moment due to this, and also due to the fact Siemens' contract for servicing of the BTS trains and computer systems expires after 10 years, and the Government is set not to renew, but do all the servicing themselves to try and save money.

I wouldn't take this story at face value and assume Siemens are at fault here, from what I hear on the grapevine.

Originally Posted by malako

Nevertheless, it will be fantastic not having to deal with the hassle of the taxi mafia upon arrival in Los.

Taxis to and from the airport are plentiful and cheap. No doubt the government will 'encourage' less taxis at the airport to ensure the airport link gets used.

I for one will probably continue to use taxis. They are relatively hassle free and it saves humping large luggage around on a train and up escalators and stairs.

Originally Posted by Takeovers

Surely that is a joke or an error in numbers?

Why would it surprise you if it is not fit for purpose?

Originally Posted by Beadle

Why would it surprise you if it is not fit for purpose?

Argument taken.

^ They could hire the out of work airport taxi drivers to drive the excess bags to Suvarnabhumi if they reach capacity.

pleased to hear they will be doing safety checks before opening

I for one will probably continue to use taxis. They are relatively hassle free and it saves humping large luggage around on a train and up escalators and stairs.

why would you keep using taxis??? It will only take 15 minutes to the city and only cost 150bht. Personally, I travel quite light, and the luggage I do have can be wheeled. I'm sure there will be escalators taking you to the platform anyway.
I usually get a taxi to my condo in thonglor, which takes MUCH more than 15 minutes, and costs a lot more than 150bht, so I am really looking forward to the rail link. Also, I would much prefer to enjoy a ride on a new train than have to look up each time the taxi driver ducks and weaves through traffic..

Originally Posted by malako

why would you keep using taxis???

Quite simply because it is quicker for me and less hassle. It will take me a while to get the skytrain or MRT to near the airport link (or bus or taxi), then have to change onto the airport link itself as they are not interconnected, so you'll have to drag luggage from one station to another.

Far easier for me to jump in a taxi, especially if I have luggage, and go straight to the airport.

Originally Posted by malako

I usually get a taxi to my condo in thonglor, which takes MUCH more than 15 minutes

You should be indicating him to use the expressway from the airport, follow signs to Ramintra, then off the expressway at Ekkamai. 20 minutes tops and expressway/motorway all the way. About 350thb all in with tolls. I used to live right there myself.

Malako, What route would you take to get to Thong Lor from airport if rail link up and working, please

Originally Posted by malako

I usually get a taxi to my condo in thonglor

Condo in Thong Lo? Your combined experience of Thailand consists of a 2 week holiday in Pattaya circa 2003, and a 1 night stop over in Bangkok, and now you claim to have a condo here?

Originally Posted by oldgit

Malako, What route would you take to get to Thong Lor from airport if rail link up and working, please

I believe there is a station near Thong Lor (Sukhumvit Soi 55) as the airport link crosses over both Ekkamai and Thong Lor. It is miles away from either of those BTS stations however as it is at the other end of the soi from the BTS.

Originally Posted by malako

20 mins MIN. depends on traffic - can take an hour - atleast.

Not if you go the way I just described. During rush hour in the evening would be the only time it will take longer and even then you will only be delayed on the exit ramp to Ekkamai and at the lights crossing Rama IX. I've driven here for 15+ years so speak from experience having lived in the Sukhumvit area up until a few years ago.

Taxi drivers are usually not very good at their job and therefore need precise instructions constantly on where to go and will usually get to Sukhumvit by coming off the expressway opposite Soi Zero which is a nightmare or by going via On Nut. Both a time consuming waste if coming from Suvarnabhumi.

In fact I would suggest not one taxi will have taken you the way I have described.

Originally Posted by malako

I usually get a taxi to my condo in thonglor, which takes MUCH more than 15 minutes, and costs a lot more than 150bht

I live in Thong Lor, It usually is less than 170 Baht and is about 30 minutes. The airport Link means coming back from there by taxi on top of the 150 Baht so it's back up Petchburi with no right turn into Thong Lor (unless it's that small window each day). So it'll be more expensive and will take longer.

Originally Posted by Beadle

You should be indicating him to use the expressway from the airport, follow signs to Ramintra, then off the expressway at Ekkamai. 20 minutes tops and expressway/motorway all the way. About 350thb all in with tolls. I used to live right there myself.

Glad I don't follow your route....350 Baht with tolls?

Just under 170 Baht and no tolls almost every time, I've certainly never come close to 200 Baht, though I generally give them the 200B if they've behaved (which they always seem to do)

Straight down the motorway, down at Rama 9. Carry along and there are 3 left turn to Petchburi options depending on traffic. Ramkhamhaeng, Petch-PraRam or Ekkamai. Ekkamai gives me another further option of Ekkamai / Petchbuiri or Ekkamai / TL 21.

Following signs to ram inthra and off at ekkamai?.....I'm clueless to what you are even trying to describe here. There are no toll way exits at Ekkamai, unless you mean the exit north of Rama 9 opposite Ekkamai, but i don't see how you get off there and onto Ekkamai without going north and coming South again?

Originally Posted by Bobcock

Glad I don't follow your route....350 Baht with tolls?

yes - 15+ years apparently - I get from swampypoon to pak kret for 350 baht

15 minutes from the city by train but still 1 hour ++ to get past scanning!!

It's good to see the passenger numbers well up but customs and immigration are not coping due to lack of staff :

INBOUND - start of immigration que to luggage pick up
Feb 19 14.00 hrs - 70 min
March 4 21.00hrs - 60 min

OUTBOUND - customs to past security check
March 5 15.00hrs - 45min
March 7 18.00hrs - 40 min (and that was thru the biz class "fast track")

Hope they will sort out the problems with travelling between floors from the train station to the arrivals / departure levels. I cannot understand why most of the travelators have guards telling you to go by lift or walk to the other end of the airport??

Starting to eclipse Perth as the slowest !!

Originally Posted by baldrick

yes - 15+ years apparently

My comments are not designed to fight, dispute or even doubt the route he takes or how long he's been driving around Bangkok.

I'm just pointing out that coming from that way regularly (not only for the airport) I cannot picture the described route.

To me it describes going north on the Ram Inthra Expressway then appearing on Ekkamai. There seems to be a bit left out in the middle.

Anyway, not important as I will continue to use the route that works for me and pay half the price.

Originally Posted by oldgit

Malako, What route would you take to get to Thong Lor from airport if rail link up and working, please

It's more the ride to the airport, rather than from that I am looking forward to, as this is where I usually get caught in traffic.
Coming from the airport, it's usually not too bad, though sometimes it can take a long time in traffic once you reach onut. Going the back way through petchburi can be better, but as I am located nearer the Sukhumvit end of soi thonglor, it can sometimes take a long time in traffic just going down soi thonglor.

Originally Posted by English Noodles

Originally Posted by malako

I usually get a taxi to my condo in thonglor

Condo in Thong Lo? Your combined experience of Thailand consists of a 2 week holiday in Pattaya circa 2003, and a 1 night stop over in Bangkok, and now you claim to have a condo here?

You've taken an extra fuckwit tablet today I see, English Noddy