Swampy rail link latest info

[izzix]

Bangkok urban rail progress
The Siemens Desiro EMUs are derived from the Class 360/2 design used on Heathrow Connect services in the UK.

22 Jan 2009
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view ... gress.html

THAILAND: Test running began on Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport rail link on January 18. Siemens has supplied four Siemens Desiro EMUs for the non-stop Airport Express services on the 28 km standard gauge line, and five three-car units which will operate a commuter service calling at eight intermediate stations.

Meanwhile, the first contract for civil engineering work on the Purple Line metro is expected to be signed in March, following the opening of financial bids for Phase 1 by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority.

The lowest bid for the 12 km section between Taopoon and Rama III Bridge was submitted by the CKTC joint venture of Ch Karnchang and Tokyo Construction. CKTC's bid of 16·7bn baht beat rival bids from Italian-Thai Development (17·9bn baht) and Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction (17·1bn baht). The preferred bidder must be approved by Japan Bank for International Co-operation, which is financing the civil works.

As winner of first phase contract, CKTC is excluded from Phase 2 which encompasses the 11 km section from Rama III Bridge to Klong Bang Phai. Financial bids submitted by the other two consortia are due to be opened in February, with a contract expected to be signed in May.

Bids for a third contract covering the depot at Bang Yai and four park-and-ride facilities have been received from Italian-Thai, Sino-Thai, Takenaka-Ritta JV and PAR JV.



* Work is progressing on the suburban Red Line following the signing of the Phase 1 contract on December 12. JBIC has agreed a loan of 89·7bn baht for Phase 2 from Bang Sue to Rangsit, and State Railway of Thailand is seeking cabinet approval of the budgets for the signalling and rolling stock; tenders are expected to be called shortly, with the total value put at 6·15bn baht.

[banpaeng]

Good Post Izzy!!! Now the big question is, did the test go good and when will the first train run from ON Nut to Swampy!!!!!!

[fussychunk]

Good news about this will definately annoy the taxi touts in the swamp......and I am up for that. I suppose with the news that Thai will be moving its domestic flights to the swamp in March its all good news, just need more baht

Banpeang, I did hear May was on the cards for opening the line for traffic properly, I wonder if they will double price for farrang?

[izzix]

what a blessed relief when you can just hop on a train into town and circumvent those chiseling barsteaerds congegating inside arrivals .presumably an escalator will take you down to go or up if coming to the airport .
no more touts to deal with and a lot less newbie arrivals will get scammed

[Prenders88]

what a blessed relief when you can just hop on a train into town and circumvent those chiseling barsteaerds congegating inside arrivals .presumably an escalator will take you down to go or up if coming to the airport .
no more touts to deal with and a lot less newbie arrivals will get scammed

Yes it's a relief that we have a choice into the City, and are not prey to the Taxi/Limousine Mafia. Or the long Taxi queue, tired and hot waiting in line.
However it's the newbie tourists/ mongers who don't know their way around Bangkok's public travel network, who will still get caught out by these fiddlers.

[Ba Bob]

I think there is space set aside for a train station on the very bottom floor of the airport. If you got to where the buses go to at the bottom next to the Thai food hall there are escalators going down that are closed off atm

[arjay]

what a blessed relief when you can just hop on a train into town and circumvent those chiseling barsteaerds congegating inside arrivals .presumably an escalator will take you down to go or up if coming to the airport .

I'll agree with that. I'm all in favour of circumventing. In fact, there's nothing like a good bit of "circumventing"!! =D> =D>

[Watson.]

Thanks for update izzix. Loved 20baht train from Don Muang when international airport, to meet metro at Hua Lampong. First visit could gaze out in amazement from train at how close Thai families lived to track (health and safety ) and under bridges and that! Taxi always trying scam and total pain.

[Frankie 1]

Good Post Izzy!!! Now the big question is, did the test go good and when will the first train run from ON Nut to Swampy!!!!!!

The train starts at Phaya Thai skytrain station in the centre of Bangkok and runs between Phetchaburi road and Rama 9 to the airport. Doesn't pass On Nut.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suvarnabhumi_Airport_Link

[izzix]

Transportation Minister to test Airport Link Skytrain before opening in August

The Transportation Minister has prepared to test the Airport Link Skytrain prior to its opening in August while its construction has so far reached 90 percent completion.

Director-General of the Department of Highways Suphot Suplom, as an executive of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), announced that the construction on the Airport Link Skytrain has been completed up to 90 percent and that the service would be fully opened on August 12, 2009.

In the initial stage, the service will be available from Makkasan Station or the City Air Terminal to Suvarnabhumi Airport Station.

Mr. Suphot stated that the SRT is currently selecting the company to provide check-in service including a luggage x-ray system.

Moreover, he said an additional budget of 100 million baht for linkage way construction would be proposed to the cabinet for deliberation on February 24.

However, Transportation Minister Sophon Saram will examine the progress of construction and electronic system tomorrow (February 13) as well as conduct an operational test by himself.

He further informed that, in the first two years, a private company would be appointed to take charge of the system while the SRT would carry on the duty afterwards.

- ThaiNews / 2009-02-12

yippee!