Bangkok Airport Rail Link (ARL): Updates, Advice, Discussion
May 27, 2014, 9:53 pm
#61
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bangkok
Posts: 284
On the contrary, boarding at Phaya Thai is fine as it is the originating station so as long as you are there when the train doors open for boarding - even at peak hour - you are almost certain to get a seat. Boarding at Ratchaprarop & Makkasan almost certainly means you won't get a seat esp at peak hours.
May 27, 2014, 10:15 pm
#62
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Snooky
Posts: 2,508
This is incorrect. Every BTS station has at least one, mostly two, escalator from street level to concourse level and ALL stations have an escalator from concourse level to the platform so there is no need to use the 30+ stairs except for fitness reasons.
(Which was not the case back in the early 00s when only around 40% of the current escalators were installed)
However, going down from platform to concourse level will always involve using stairs (aside from the new stations beyond WWY which have lifts at the platform level). Concourse to street level will also involve using stairs except for those stations with a lift or those many will links to shopping centers/buildings.
(Which was not the case back in the early 00s when only around 40% of the current escalators were installed)
However, going down from platform to concourse level will always involve using stairs (aside from the new stations beyond WWY which have lifts at the platform level). Concourse to street level will also involve using stairs except for those stations with a lift or those many will links to shopping centers/buildings.
May 27, 2014, 10:53 pm
#63
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On the contrary, boarding at Phaya Thai is fine as it is the originating station so as long as you are there when the train doors open for boarding - even at peak hour - you are almost certain to get a seat. Boarding at Ratchaprarop & Makkasan almost certainly means you won't get a seat esp at peak hours.
May 28, 2014, 2:16 am
#64
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bangkok
Posts: 284
Every BTS station has at least one, mostly two, escalator from street level to concourse level and ALL stations have an escalator from concourse level to the platform so there is no need to use the 30+ stairs except for fitness reasons.
Yes this has been a much discussed problem since the ARL opened over 3 years ago - including many times on this and other threads. One of the patent design problems. (I've made the point here and elsewhere that the BTS opened with about 40% of the current escalators that the network now has. The rest were progressively installed).
The obvious problem at Phaya Thai as a terminus station is that there was only the one up escalator for pax so there was always a crowd when everyone disembarked , esp for those with bags. Most with large or heavy luggage use the elevator even if they have to wait.....
One set of extra escalators have actually been installed at Phaya Thai, Ratchaprarop and Ram stations over the last 18 months. It seemed to take an inordinate amount of time as many things do in Thailand.
10 more escalators will be installed in the next 6 months (realistically, make that 12+ months);
Hua Mark - 3
Lat Krabang - 4
Ban Thap Chang - 4
When I travel on the Tube in London, Madrid Metro or the Paris Metro with luggage I regularly have to carry my large trolley bag up & down stairs when interchanging or entering/exiting certain stations. I accept that as part of the experience....
The obvious problem at Phaya Thai as a terminus station is that there was only the one up escalator for pax so there was always a crowd when everyone disembarked , esp for those with bags. Most with large or heavy luggage use the elevator even if they have to wait.....
One set of extra escalators have actually been installed at Phaya Thai, Ratchaprarop and Ram stations over the last 18 months. It seemed to take an inordinate amount of time as many things do in Thailand.
10 more escalators will be installed in the next 6 months (realistically, make that 12+ months);
Hua Mark - 3
Lat Krabang - 4
Ban Thap Chang - 4
When I travel on the Tube in London, Madrid Metro or the Paris Metro with luggage I regularly have to carry my large trolley bag up & down stairs when interchanging or entering/exiting certain stations. I accept that as part of the experience....
Last edited by aBroadAbroad; May 28, 2014 at 8:29 am Reason: Consecutive posts
May 28, 2014, 2:44 am
#65
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bangkok
Posts: 284
THE ARL Ext to DMK:
I've updated on this a number of times in the thread. What was a priority after the 2 airport policy shift, to be tendered by mid last year. Along with 2 other new metro lines which were to be tendered in late 2013, this project was suspended once parliament was dissolved in late Nov 2013.
I suspect that it is safe to say that the tender will not go out in by the end of 2014 given the coup. (Perhaps there will be a surprise?)
Realistically, this extension will take 4 years to build. In early 2013, the Minister was saying that it was a priority and will open in 2016 (he stated that it would only take 3 yrs to build but 4 is more accurate).
If we don't get a tender done until early to mid 2015 then.........2019-20 will be likely. It would then be opening beyond what was back in 2010 originally planned to be a 2018 completion date!!!
I've updated on this a number of times in the thread. What was a priority after the 2 airport policy shift, to be tendered by mid last year. Along with 2 other new metro lines which were to be tendered in late 2013, this project was suspended once parliament was dissolved in late Nov 2013.
I suspect that it is safe to say that the tender will not go out in by the end of 2014 given the coup. (Perhaps there will be a surprise?)
Realistically, this extension will take 4 years to build. In early 2013, the Minister was saying that it was a priority and will open in 2016 (he stated that it would only take 3 yrs to build but 4 is more accurate).
If we don't get a tender done until early to mid 2015 then.........2019-20 will be likely. It would then be opening beyond what was back in 2010 originally planned to be a 2018 completion date!!!
May 28, 2014, 3:01 am
#66
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Others, like Ratchdamri only have escalators up on one side of the street. Very few (I'm struggling to think of any right now) have escalators down.
I always thought the elevator doors were just painted on. Are there really elevators behind them?
May 28, 2014, 3:49 am
#67
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The lifts are a God-send for those in any way challenged in physical terms (whether these are heavy bags or broken legs), but there can be long waits for the ones that work.
Positioning of the up escalators is indeed frustrating, and the (almost) total lack of down ones is a real problem for many.
I was in Bangkok last year with a friend who suffers quite badly from rheumatoid arthritis. I discovered that going down stairs can be every bit as uncomfortable as the up journey can be. Positioning of the up escalators is indeed frustrating, and the (almost) total lack of down ones can crewe difficulties.
London is cited somewhere in this thread as a city with particularly cruel metro for disabled passengers. In many ways this observation is absolutely correct. But in mitigation Transport For London would probably point out the extreme age of its underground system, and the difficulty of modifying access routes to the platforms. On the other hand Bangkok designed and constructed its above-street rapid transport system very recently.
May 28, 2014, 4:31 am
#68
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Snooky
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May 28, 2014, 8:21 am
#69
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Every station I've been in has at least one escalator from the entry level to platform area for both directions. If the nearest platform access from entry is stairs then the oppositve entrance is guaranteed to be an escalator.
May 28, 2014, 6:07 pm
#70
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That's what I've seen, too. But from street level to entry level it's not always true, in my experience.
Jul 1, 2014, 12:53 am
#71
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bangkok
Posts: 284
ARL Pax number update:
Pax number have risen by 16.65% for the first 5 months of 2014 compared with 2013. Ave is around 46K a day, over 50K some work days.
As previously advised, major overhaul is progressively being performed on all sets. (Due at 1million km mark but most are now over 1.2m km)
http://www.manager.co.th/iBizchannel...=9570000073640
Still no news on the ordering of the new 7 sets of 4 car new trains! Thus, prolonging the peak hr Tokyo commuter style crush for at least 2 more years!
Sigh....
The Junta has decided not to proceed with the ARL ext this year. I would suspect that the consequence of that decision means that it is unlikely that it will be funded next year before the Oct election but I am drawing a long bow based on many unknown assumptions.
An even bigger sigh!
Pax number have risen by 16.65% for the first 5 months of 2014 compared with 2013. Ave is around 46K a day, over 50K some work days.
As previously advised, major overhaul is progressively being performed on all sets. (Due at 1million km mark but most are now over 1.2m km)
http://www.manager.co.th/iBizchannel...=9570000073640
Still no news on the ordering of the new 7 sets of 4 car new trains! Thus, prolonging the peak hr Tokyo commuter style crush for at least 2 more years!
Sigh....
THE ARL Ext to DMK:
I've updated on this a number of times in the thread. What was a priority after the 2 airport policy shift, to be tendered by mid last year. Along with 2 other new metro lines which were to be tendered in late 2013, this project was suspended once parliament was dissolved in late Nov 2013.
I suspect that it is safe to say that the tender will not go out in by the end of 2014 given the coup. (Perhaps there will be a surprise?)
Realistically, this extension will take 4 years to build. In early 2013, the Minister was saying that it was a priority and will open in 2016 (he stated that it would only take 3 yrs to build but 4 is more accurate).
If we don't get a tender done until early to mid 2015 then.........2019-20 will be likely. It would then be opening beyond what was back in 2010 originally planned to be a 2018 completion date!!!
I've updated on this a number of times in the thread. What was a priority after the 2 airport policy shift, to be tendered by mid last year. Along with 2 other new metro lines which were to be tendered in late 2013, this project was suspended once parliament was dissolved in late Nov 2013.
I suspect that it is safe to say that the tender will not go out in by the end of 2014 given the coup. (Perhaps there will be a surprise?)
Realistically, this extension will take 4 years to build. In early 2013, the Minister was saying that it was a priority and will open in 2016 (he stated that it would only take 3 yrs to build but 4 is more accurate).
If we don't get a tender done until early to mid 2015 then.........2019-20 will be likely. It would then be opening beyond what was back in 2010 originally planned to be a 2018 completion date!!!
An even bigger sigh!
Last edited by aBroadAbroad; Jul 1, 2014 at 2:14 am
Aug 21, 2014, 2:10 am
#72
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bangkok
Posts: 284
The Makkasan Express has only been getting around 350-400 pax a day.
Accordingly, and given that major maintenance of all rolling stock is behind schedule, the Express will now only run from 10am to 10pm from 1 September.
Accordingly, and given that major maintenance of all rolling stock is behind schedule, the Express will now only run from 10am to 10pm from 1 September.
Aug 22, 2014, 3:27 am
#73
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 215
Well i always get a flight that arrives at 06:O5 AM and catch the first Express to Makkasan.
Think they will lose another customer if the Express only run's from 10am to 10pm from 1 September.
Seems this service is doomed unless they change it to stop twice as already mentioned,but reworking of the track layout is needed so that not likely to ever happen.
Think they will lose another customer if the Express only run's from 10am to 10pm from 1 September.
Seems this service is doomed unless they change it to stop twice as already mentioned,but reworking of the track layout is needed so that not likely to ever happen.
Aug 22, 2014, 10:42 am
#74
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Well i always get a flight that arrives at 06:O5 AM and catch the first Express to Makkasan.
Think they will lose another customer if the Express only run's from 10am to 10pm from 1 September.
Seems this service is doomed unless they change it to stop twice as already mentioned,but reworking of the track layout is needed so that not likely to ever happen.
Think they will lose another customer if the Express only run's from 10am to 10pm from 1 September.
Seems this service is doomed unless they change it to stop twice as already mentioned,but reworking of the track layout is needed so that not likely to ever happen.
The problem is that it doesn't go where it needs to go. Read some of the posts where people ask how to get from the airport to "X". ARL to Makkasan to MRT to Asoke to BTS to somewhere then take a taxi to the next stop and a chariot to the helipad to the bus station then a tuk-tulk to, to, to, to, to, to then walk the rest of the way.
Or you can take a taxi or AOT car directly from the airport to your destination.
Aug 22, 2014, 4:25 pm
#75
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The problem is that it doesn't go where it needs to go. Read some of the posts where people ask how to get from the airport to "X". ARL to Makkasan to MRT to Asoke to BTS to somewhere then take a taxi to the next stop and a chariot to the helipad to the bus station then a tuk-tulk to, to, to, to, to, to then walk the rest of the way.