New Sky Train- Suvarnabhumi to central BKK

[lockwood74]

Hi,

Have kept looking at the progress of the elevated sky train from Suvarnabhumi to Central BKK. Does anyone know when this will be complete, Im looking forward to having a go !!!!!!!!


John

[STEVE G]

I think the last date I’ve seen mentioned in the press was August of this year, but since it was originally supposed to be finished in 2007 perhaps early 2010 might be more realistic.
Where does it link up to in the city anyway?

[lockwood74]

Phaya Thai is where it goes to i believe
John

[lockwood74]

Just had a search and the following link provides further information and some photographs of the development.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suvarnabhu ... t_Link[url]

Regards

John

[Checker]

There will be an express which goes straight to the airport and a general line which stops at each station (about 6 I think)... Good value if you are travelling on your own however if 2 or more it will be cheaper by taxi...

[The understudy]

Hi there Everyone

From the Van Station @ Century The Movie Plaza™ (where those Vans from and to Hua Hin Start) to the Airport Link Phaya Thai Station takes like roughly 10 to 15 Min. by Foot. Pretty decent when you're traveling with a Duffle/Sports Bag as Luggage but with a Suit Case or something sturdier it's going to a little bit rough as you have to cross one major Intersection/Junction which is Phaya Thai/Sri Ayuttaya Rd.
One Thing that's really disses me a off is the Font designs and of them Trains.


That's how the City Line looks like!


And That's how the "Swampypoon" Airport Express looks like.

IMO They look as ugly as hell plus they don't look that Aerodynamic either.
Now we have a look of The same train plattform Diffrent front design.


Germanies version of the same Trains as used for the Bangkok's Airport Link,


The Swiss Version of BKK's Ariport Link

Well it's to late now bitchin about it anyways as them Trains are allready signed, sealed and delivered to The SRT. Well in future I have get on dem somewhere in the middle to not to get overly offended by the dreaddful looks of the front and Back ends of Bsngkok's Airport Link!!!

Your's The understudy!!!

[Big Boy]

Do you wear an anorak?

[margaretcarnes]

Aesthetics apart its good to see the BST airport link making progress.
Its scheduled to open officially on August 12th - HM the Queens' birthday - and with such an auspicious opening date I would be amazed if they don't make it. Back in 99 we doubted that the BST itself would be ready to open on December 5th, the birthday of HM the King, but it did.
When I went to Swampy last month it already looked pretty close.

[The understudy]

Hallo there Big Boy

I wear Anoraks but not here in Thailand though

Seriously don't you think too that the front of both "suvarnabhum Airport Express and it's City Line look Butt ugly and not Aerodynamic at all when you look @ it?

Now It's Official that the designers @SRT (Stoneage Rails of Thailand) who know nothing about Aerodynamics and they know less Aesthetics of Designs of Trainsets.

Right now with the Help of the Japanese Vietnam is the planning stages of building their first Bullet Train Line.

And Thailand?

We don't even have dual Tracks yet! We have Trains that seemed to be relics of 30 or 40 years ago!


Your's The understudy!!!

[margaretcarnes]

Oh dear Understudy - you have been in Europe too long! For real train relics of the past take a look at England some time!

[Big Boy]

Seriously don't you think too that the front of both "suvarnabhum Airport Express and it's City Line look Butt ugly and not Aerodynamic at all when you look @ it?

They all look like trains that run on local lines to me. As long as they get from A to B safely, I can't get excited.

[STEVE G]

I know what understudy means, there are a lot of very fancy looking trains in Europe what with exotic high speed things and double-decker commuter trains and all manner of other versions that even manage to run on time as well.
As for the UK I was even pleasantly surprised there last year when traveling from London to Nottingham, to find they now have these very modern and comfortable trains that are far from the old British Rail I remember in the eighties.
A couple of weeks ago I was sat at a restaurant by the tracks in Hua Hin and a train passing by was pulled by the most battered, rusty and pollution belching locomotive that you can imagine.

[Big Boy]

I agree that the general Thai rolling stock is outdated.

However, the vehicles shown in the above photos would not look out of place on any UK line (maybe the UK needs a massive upgrade as well).

Regarding comfort, this can not be seen from the photos. I know TIT, but do you really think they will downgrade the new vehicles to make them compliant with the rest of the Thai rolling stock? I don't think so. These trains will be carrying visitors to Thailand, and I'm sure the internal livery will be to Farang standards.

[Terry]

Having worked in the rail construction business as a Project Manager for more than 21 years and experienced some of the Worlds better transit systems, there is no doubt that SRT are one of the Worlds most underfunded, out of date and beaurocratic organisations.

Years of mismanagement and other reasons (not to be stated here) have led to the archaic, delapidated SRT of today.

So - who 'owns' the new Airport Express - SRT of course.

For the record this brand new railway has nothing to do with Bangkok's Skytrain the BTS which is a separately owned Private Company working under the franchise of the BMA.

As of today the Airport Express still has to have an operating company to be appointed - SRT cannot do it!

There are many hurdles to overcome before it opens to the public - God knows when.


That's all the bad stuff and my rant over.

The good news is that they have managed to successfully run one of the new trains at 160km/hr on 18th Jan on the test track section - photos as below




BTW - I've NEVER worn an anorak - nor do I intend to

[The understudy]

Halle there Terry

For one who is so waethered and expireinced as you in Rail construction.

Do you agree with me that The Front of those Bangkok Airport Express trains looks butt ugly. WHy don't they for a more Bullet Train look like the European counterparts?

your's The understudy!!!