Swampy Train connection

[Sabai Jai]

Anybody know if the Rail service has started yet?

Swampy to Makasan - I thought it was due to start 'testing' on 05 Dec.

Regards sabai Jai

[migrant]

Saw the test runs on our trip in Nov, but unsure when the opening is

[PeteC]

Here we go.....but not until April. Pete

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/2 ... ith-a-ride

[telexs]

April ??? This thing has had more starts then a horse on a Merry Go Round.The last I looked.it was suppose to start Nov 09, then the Kings Birthday 05.12.09,now @ April 2010"maybe". I wonder how much over schedule & budget they are.

Telexs

[margaretcarnes]

A year ago the start date was supposed to be August 12th. I'm surprised - and disappointed - at the ongoing delays with this project. Often the LOS can really pull out the stops and get things done against the odds. Skytrain and the Bangkok Subway are excellent examples. But with the Swampy rail link it maybe isn't seen as having a sufficiently high profile.

[Nereus]

A year ago the start date was supposed to be August 12th. I'm surprised - and disappointed - at the ongoing delays with this project. Often the LOS can really pull out the stops and get things done against the odds. Skytrain and the Bangkok Subway are excellent examples. But with the Swampy rail link it maybe isn't seen as having a sufficiently high profile.

The Skytrain also has its problems:

Skytrain link tests delayed

Writer: SUPOJ WANCHAROEN Published: 19/09/2009 at 12:00 AMNewspaper section: News

Testing on the BTS Sukhumvit line extension will probably be pushed back until late 2011 due to delays in the procurement of signalling and electrical systems, says deputy Bangkok governor Teerachon Manomaipibul.
Procurement should have taken place nine months ago if the original December 2010 deadline for the test run was to be met. But purchasing of the operating systems for the 5km extension from Onnuj to Soi Baring, or Sukhumvit Soi 107, has not been approved yet, said Mr Teerachon, who is responsible for mass transit projects.

The senior City Hall official responsible for making the purchase has apparently stalled the scheme over fears of being investigated if something went wrong with the purchase, he said.

The official in question is due to retire and does not want to take risks despite being told the scheme is strictly in line with regulations, said Mr Teerachon.

Former city clerk Khunying Nathanon Thavisin was accused of irregularities over the purchase of fire trucks and boats by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

City Hall retroactively fired her from the post this week.

Mr Teerachon said he cannot be sure the test run can take place by mid-2011 as the consulting and bidding process normally takes about seven months.

Construction of the superstructure and stations by contractor Italian-Thai Development Plc is about 95% complete.

[lomuamart]

I seem to remember that a while ago the Swampy link was due to open (this could have been maybe two years ago), but when they inspected the concrete supporting structures, a high percentage of them were found to have been constructed out of "inferior" concrete and had cracked so badly that they had to be replaced.
That set the projected opening back at least a year or so right from the start.

[Nereus]

I seem to remember that a while ago the Swampy link was due to open (this could have been maybe two years ago), but when they inspected the concrete supporting structures, a high percentage of them were found to have been constructed out of "inferior" concrete and had cracked so badly that they had to be replaced.
That set the projected opening back at least a year or so right from the start.

I have a Condo close to the MRT, and followed the construction fairly closely. I do not recall any problem like that, Lumo. The quality control on the concrete is closely monitored by the expat contractor.

Maybe you are getting confused with the abandoned "Hopewell" project?

[lomuamart]

OK, I understand now, Nereus.
You're quite correct, it was the Hopewell project I was thinking about:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suvarnabhumi_Airport_Link
All I can say is that time flies here because I didn't realise that debacle was so long ago.

[Nereus]

Good to see that they are fitting platform screen doors to the stations on this system. It still surprises me that there has not been a fatality (to my knowledge), on the existing BTS. Of course, the guards blowing their whistle has so far prevented it!!!

[STEVE G]

One thing that has me baffled is the statement in the press that if it's not ready to operate in April it will start in August.
It didn't explain why it couldn't go in May, June or July; perhaps there is no convenient birthday to celebrate.

[MartinJ]

One thing that has me baffled is the statement in the press that if it's not ready to operate in April it will start in August.
It didn't explain why it couldn't go in May, June or July; perhaps there is no convenient birthday to celebrate.

All
I am very confused about the Suvarnabhumi airport rail, and was really looking forward to being able to go in to BKK and then get out and the head to Hua Hin, after a little shopping.
Originally the airport link was due to open on the Aug 12, 2009 , the birthday of Her Majesty the Queen, as Margaret Carnes states and which was reported in the bkkpost on the 13/02/2009 at this time the link was said to be 96 % completed.

I Steve I think this is where you may have the understanding that if not open in April the next month would be August.

On a bkk airport web page which may not be official page (guess can not give link) it still states
“Direct express rail service linking Suvarnabhumi Airport to downtown Bangkok will commence in December, 2009, with the public getting free rides for one month”
does the airport have a official web page , the only one I found that looks official does not even mention the rail link, and even the sky train page does not say anything about it.
May be it will be just like the old airport link, build some then stop because they will build another new airport some place …
It may be open by the Thai new year, or it may be open when they said it would in December/January time. Wikipedia may have got it wrong, I understand this has happened and some people organations do give misleading information here.
It could even may be in May, A lot of Mays.

[Governor]

I understand it is in the testing stage, with passengers, but I don't know who can actually gain access, certainly trains are running quite frequently and well into the evening.

[The understudy]

Good evenning Y'All my HHAD fellas.

I'll take a wild guess that the company that SRT contracted to run and train the Airport links staff for three years Germans Deutsche Bahn International are teaching the 1st batch of trainees German work ethics and diciplne.

No more such thing like the workers used to do with them Trains when the carriages won't connect use froce to connect em.

Or train em proper signalling when Trains rolling into the stations so that no accidents like that happend in Hua Hin earlier would happen with the Airport Link. Thailand would loose it's face majorly.

This might be the cause for hte delays til April 20101

This round goe on me.



Your's The understudy!!!

[thehamok]

http://bangkokairporttrain.com/index.html

That link may help.

No timetables yet.