SRT rolls out Airport Rail Link
The 28km Airport Rail Link begins full commercial operations today to reduce travel time between the inner city and Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan.
The rail link will charge promotional fares until the end of the year on its city and express lines. It expects to serve up to 50,000 passengers a day.
The service has been operating on a trial basis since June 1, attracting about 17,000 people a day travelling for free.
State Railway of Thailand (SRT) governor Yutthana Thapcharoen yesterday led an inspection of the rail link and its facilities to ensure it was ready for commercial services.
Mr Yutthana insisted the link “is definitely good to go”.
“It is the fastest rail system in the country,” he said.
“It is convenient and provides [a quality] service.”
Mr Yutthana said the SRT would ask the cabinet to raise the registered capital of a subsidiary firm to run the rail link from 500 million baht to 2 billion baht.
Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum is scheduled to inspect the rail link today to see if there were problems that needed to be fixed.
“I heard the train had a glitch and had to go back to Phaya Thai station,” the minister said.
“That kind of thing can make passengers miss their flights.”
Passengers using the City Line, the all-stops line, will pay a flat rate of 15 baht for a trip during the promotion period. The line, which operates from 6am to midnight, takes 30 minutes to travel from Phaya Thai station to Suvarnabhumi airport.
Those using the Express Line will pay 100 baht for a trip. It takes 15 minutes to travel from Makkasan station to the airport non-stop. It also operates from 6am to midnight.
Fares for the City Line will range from 15 baht to 45 baht, depending on the distance travelled, after Jan 1, 2011, while the fares on the Express Line would rise to 150 baht.
Passengers would be able to check in their baggage at Makkasan station for transfer to their airline once the service was fully operational.
Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com
