Airport links hits its first hitch

BANGKOK, 9 September, 2010 – Bangkok’s  Airport Rail Link temporarily suspended services, Wednesday, due to a technical hitch, the Ministry of Transport permanent secretary, Supoth Sublom reported.

He said a technical hitch occurred at Lad Krabang station near the airport, at 0730, 8 September, during the rush hour period when the service was packed with office workers travelling to the city. It was the first service suspension since the rail link opened 23 August.

According to the ministry’s technical evaluation, an electric circuit at the Lad Krabang station malfunctioned. Repairs were completed within 15 minutes when train services resumed.

As of yesterday, the city line train schedule changed to offer services every 10 minutes instead of 15 minutes. It stops at all eight stations on the line and takes just 30 minutes to cover the distance from Phaya Thai station to the basement in the airport  terminal.

Trains run from 0600 to midnight and can carry around 50,000 passengers a day.

Passengers using the City Line now pay a flat fare of Bt15 until 1 January 2011 when  fares will range from Bt15 to Bt45.

The Express Line is a non-stop train from the main Makkasan station to Suvarnabhumi Airport running every 30 minutes and taking just 15 minutes to complete the journey. The fare is Bt100, until 1 January when it will increase to Bt150 per trip.

The main terminal at Makkasan station has airline check-in counters and baggage handling that will eventually allow downtown check-in for both passengers and luggage. The service should be ready by this  December.

Within two months, there will be a connecting bridge linking the MRT station at Petchaburi Road to the main railway terminal. Phaya Thai BTS station is already connected to the City Line train by a staircase and walkway.