Business Traveller announced that around 100 specially invited guests travelled on the 15-minute rail journey from Makkasan Station in Bangkok to the airport station 28 km away, with the train reaching speeds of 160kmh. Two lines will be operated. The first is the express service, which will take 15 minutes and will run from 5 am until 1 am. Train frequency is expected to be every 15 minutes and each train will carry around 170 passengers in three coaches with a fourth carriage devoted to luggage. There are plans to increase the frequency to every 10 minutes in a few years.

The second train, the City Line, will operate as a commuter service, taking 30 minutes from the airport to its terminal at Phaya Thai Station with stops at Ratchaprarop, Makkasan, Ramkhamhaeng, Hua Mak, Ban Thap Chang and Lat Krabang. This train will have three passenger coaches and hold 745 passengers. The city line's frequency will be every 15 minutes during peak hours and then every half an hour off peak.

Ticketing prices have not been finalised although automatic ticket-vending machines showed a price of THB160 (US$4.85) for a one-way trip. This compares with a metred taxi trip of around THB250 (US$7.58) to hotels in the Sukhumvit area, where many business hotels are located, or the THB900 (US$27.28) ride on the official airport limousine service for a similar distance.

However, Makkasan Station is still around 20 to 30 minutes away from Sukhumvit and other areas of hotel clusters by inner city taxi.

Source: Business Traveller

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