After many years of construction and more than its fair share of extensions, controversies and accusations of kickbacks, the Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link (SARL) has opened. Like many similar projects that are built in the capital, it's a welcome addition to Bangkok's developing transport infrastructure, although it will likely take a few years and a few tweaks to get it running properly.

The basics are this: the single-line train has 8 stations: Phaya Thai, Ratchaprarop, Makkasan, Ramkamhaeng, Hua Mak, Ban Thap Chang, Lat Krabang, Suvarnabhumi Airport.

There are two types of trains: the City Line stops at all 8 stations, takes 30 minutes from end to end, and will cost between 15 (EUR 0.4) and 45 baht (EUR 1.12), depending on how far you go. The Express Line goes from Makkasan station (third from the end) to the airport direct, takes 15 minutes, and will cost 150 baht (EUR 3.75). The Express Line will also allow you to check your luggage before you board the train. Click here to see the map >>>

The big question that many Bangkokians are asking is: will the train line make it easier to get to/from the airport, and will I be able to avoid Bangkok’s ubiquitous airport taxi scams, which proliferate despite repeated promises of crackdowns (to be fair, they’re not as bad as they used to be). The answer: sort of.

Predictably, the design and location of each station didn’t seem to be thought through too much before construction began. For instance, although the Phaya Thai terminal station is right next to the Phaya Thai Skytrain station, a bridge between the two seems to have been added as an afterthought, and won’t be completed for another month or so. Similar snafus can be seen at various stations: no parking, few escalators, small elevators, etc. One rider noted that the vehicle access roads to several outlying stations were barely more than paved alleyways, which diminishes the stations’ usefulness as a commuter hub that connects to local bus or van lines.

Another worry that people have is that the already congested road network around the giant main Makkasan station hasn’t been altered or changed to accommodate increased traffic or luggage-toting passengers. This means that if you want to take the train to the airport, you’ll still have to find a taxi at your hotel, stuff your bags in, fight through the traffic jams to get to the train station, and haul your luggage up to the train.

This begs the question: am I simply better off ignoring the train altogether and just taking a taxi direct to the airport, a trip which averages 300 baht (EUR 7.5)? Well that depends – is the extra 200 baht (EUR 5) worth your time and effort spent dealing with the traffic and carrying your luggage? Many say that it is.

Ultimately, the train looks like it will emerge as another welcome option for commuters, while its usefulness as an airport link will depend on a great many factors, as well as what improvements are eventually made. For tourists or travellers, the train will be a welcome addition and will no doubt save them time and money – provided they can get to the train relatively stress-free in the first place.

Greg Jorgensen
www.gregtodiffer.com
www.bangkokpodcast.com

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