Thailand forum

The Airport Express buses stopped running on 1 July 2011.

Here is a cache to an old page in the airport website

http://bit.ly/r3ts9Y

The Makhasan link is the express train takes about 15 minutes and the Payathai link is the ordinary train takes half hour but costs only 45 baht.
Isn't Payathai nearer KS Rd than Makhasan? Taxi won't set you back more than 60 baht.

there are now express trains running to Phaya Thai station:
http://airportraillink.railway.co.th/en/10_footer/news_detail/26.html

it's not always easy getting a cab from Makkasan station, & traffic in the Makkasan area can be hell during rush hour.

from that link, seems that Express costs double (90 baht to Phaya Thai).

I ask because I believe you only shave 15 minutes off the journey by going Express not really worth paying a premium.

was just mentioning the new Suvarnabhumi-Phaya Thai Express option so that people would be aware of it. am not saying that it is better (i myself stick to the City Line). i believe SARL introduced this new service because ridership on the Express line has been dismal. but there are still some people who prefer the emptier Express trains with luggage racks.

well-organised...hmm they could have completed the construction of linkways between the SARL & BTS stations at Phaya Thai, as well as between Makkasan & MRT Phetchaburi stations, before the opening of the SARL system...& maybe make the token vending machines at Suvarnabhumi operational

apologise for leading the discussion off topic...

yes the BTS & SARL stations at Phaya Thai are now linked. however, the linkway was built in late 2010 only after the SARL was completed (in 2009) & started running (in Aug 2010, after a 4-year delay).

for Makkasan, as of Dec 2010, the tender for building the linkway had yet to be awarded (still yet to be completed).

if they were indeed well-organised, they could have planned ahead & incorporated the linkways into the designs of Phaya Thai & Makkasan SARL stations (note that the word 'before' in the last paragraph of my earlier post is italicised & underlined).

glad to hear that the token machines are finally operational, & that there are now staff to guide passengers.

anyway, was just amused to see the words 'well-organised' used to describe them (though they really are well-organised when it comes to things involving ceremonies.)

Phaya Thai is closer than Makkasan to KSR.

actually, if you don't have much to carry, don't mind walking, & want a bit of 'adventure', a 'crazy' speedy (but more complicated esp for someone new to the city) way of getting from Makkasan to the Democracy Monument area during the daytime = walk/motorbike taxi to Asoke pier > Khlong Saen Saeb canal boat to Phanfa pier (it's across the canal from Golden Mount aka. Wat Saket).

Is the fact that the building of the Link has been mismanaged because of the Thai reluctance to ask or use foreign companies?

don't know. if there is such a reluctance, wonder if it might depend on the political party in power too. major infrastructure projects can be lucrative

the SARL itself was built by a consortium that includes Siemens. & there are infrastructure projects in Thailand that were built by foreign companies (most famous case now = the German company involved in the seizure of a particular aircraft in Munich...they built one of the tollways in BKK).

Wandering Cat
Where is the pier in Ratchdamnoen? I've been looking up this boat service and it looks great.Is it under the white bridge at the intersection after Democracy going into town?

Thanks a lot wandering cat. All these years going to Platunam by taxi stuck in the inevitable rot dtit and you've just shown me a much easier way. If I'd known this I could have saved so much time.
Probably won't use it coming from the airport as I usually get off at Payathai but very useful all the same. You don't know any short cuts from Payathai to Sanaam Luang do you?

Sorry, I'm confused... I saw that trains from the airport only run from 19:00 - 19:22? Does that mean that a taxi is the only option after this time?

Altmtl,

I am guessing that you are asking what are the transportation options to leave the airport after the skytrain stops operating.

AFAIK, taxis are your best option. I remember seeing some touts advertising the services of vans. However, their asking price was the same as a taxi fare and you have to wait until they filled the van with other passengers.

The rail service in Bangkok stops running at midnight. Only 45 baht from the airport to Phaya Thai using the new Rail Link.. At Phaya Thai you can connect with the Skytrain. There are hotels you can walk to from Phaya Thai and from Ratchaprorop. Ratchaprorop has many hotels and lots of shopping not too far away.
http://www.urbanrail.net/as/bang/bangkok.htm

A meter taxi from one of the last three stops on the Rail Link route to Sukhumvit or Siam is not that expensive using the meter.

There is a City Bus that leaves from the airport bus station. Some time during the evening those buses switch to smaller vans. There is not enough room on those vans for luggage unless you purchase additional seats for your bags. Late at night you will still have to switch to a taxi or Skytrain (if it is running) to get to your hotel.
http://www.bangkokairportonline.com/node/56

A meter taxi from the airport is door to door and not that expensive compared to Western countries. The fare you pay is for everyone not per person. This means that if there are 2 or 3 of you the price is the same.
http://www.bangkokairportonline.com/node/52