SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT RAIL LINK PROJECT ABANDONED?
Will the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) find 18 billion THB to pay the Airport Rail Link that will connect the city to Suvarnabhumi new international airport?
As SRT couldn't afford the investment when the project was launched, banks have financed the construction of the mega project and the state office will have to pay the bill on November 2007.
The State Railway office is now trying to find a solution with Transport Ministry of Thailand to pay for the Bangkok Railway link to Suvarnabhumi airport from downtown Makkasan area.
One of the main problems is that the transportation system is not even half complete and will be delayed for 1 year at least, if no more problem occurs.
In March 2007 not all the pillars used to sit the rail link are all finished building, and anyway after the structural construction will be completed, the SRT will need 1 year at least to set and test the railway system before opening it for public transportation and try to avoid the same kind as accident that happened in the subway when 2 trains crashed.
So one's wonder how could the next Bangkok and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra megaprojects plans be followed when even the most useful one for Thailand and Bangkok development can't be paid.
Because in addition to Airport Link, the SRT plans to install a parallel 78km railway track from Chachoeng Sao province via Si Racha (close to Pattaya) to Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri province, and also a 15km Red Line BTS Skytrain or MRT subway from Bang Sue to Taling Chan. Read more »
As SRT couldn't afford the investment when the project was launched, banks have financed the construction of the mega project and the state office will have to pay the bill on November 2007.
The State Railway office is now trying to find a solution with Transport Ministry of Thailand to pay for the Bangkok Railway link to Suvarnabhumi airport from downtown Makkasan area.
One of the main problems is that the transportation system is not even half complete and will be delayed for 1 year at least, if no more problem occurs.
In March 2007 not all the pillars used to sit the rail link are all finished building, and anyway after the structural construction will be completed, the SRT will need 1 year at least to set and test the railway system before opening it for public transportation and try to avoid the same kind as accident that happened in the subway when 2 trains crashed.
So one's wonder how could the next Bangkok and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra megaprojects plans be followed when even the most useful one for Thailand and Bangkok development can't be paid.
Because in addition to Airport Link, the SRT plans to install a parallel 78km railway track from Chachoeng Sao province via Si Racha (close to Pattaya) to Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri province, and also a 15km Red Line BTS Skytrain or MRT subway from Bang Sue to Taling Chan. Read more »
WHAT TO DO AROUND SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT
Since the early days of the airport project sites located in neighborhood areas of the Suvarnabhumi international airport have been prepared to serve tourists who want a good place to take a short trip before boarding their flight and TAT, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, had announced that several trips to nearby attractions, located in areas near the airport will be available for passengers.
It's a way to make passengers trip more pleasant, and people with connecting flights will be able to visit Thailand instead of waiting hours in the airport.
The available trips include Bang Pakong River cruises in the eastern Chachoeng Sao province, a 3 hours trip of 25 kms to see local Thai people in their normal daily lives along the river and visit some interesting places, including Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan temple, the location of the sacred Phra Phutthasothon Buddha image, and the 100 years old Ban Mai riverside market.
Also some already existing attractions as Ancient City, the world largest open-air museum with replicas of all Thailand important historical sites, and the Erawan Museum of the mythical 3 heads elephant where sacred objects of the land are exhibited are actually closer to Suvarnabhumi airport than to downtown Bangkok, and cheap trips will be available for the airport passengers soon.
People more interested in wild life can visit the Samut Prakan province (where is Suvarnabhumi airport located) Crocodile farm and zoo, with daily shows several times a day.
Passengers who want to visit a beach resort and who have more than 5 hours step over at Suvarnabumi airport can also go to Bang Saen beach, Si Racha, or even Pattaya beach.
There were also plans to create an aerotropolis, a city in which the layout, infrastructure, and economy are centered around Suvarnabhumi Airport, in Bang Phli District of Samut Prakan Province, approximately 25 kilometers east of Bangkok, but this project is now put on hold by the military interim government that see more urgent mission in fixing the airport problems than expanding the facilities.
Also this project has been criticized by most because it is harmful for the environment, and when an aerotropolis is typically located near a seaport, the closest one to Suvarnabhumi Airport, Laem Chabang, is not big enough and is also too far away. Read more »
It's a way to make passengers trip more pleasant, and people with connecting flights will be able to visit Thailand instead of waiting hours in the airport.
The available trips include Bang Pakong River cruises in the eastern Chachoeng Sao province, a 3 hours trip of 25 kms to see local Thai people in their normal daily lives along the river and visit some interesting places, including Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan temple, the location of the sacred Phra Phutthasothon Buddha image, and the 100 years old Ban Mai riverside market.
Also some already existing attractions as Ancient City, the world largest open-air museum with replicas of all Thailand important historical sites, and the Erawan Museum of the mythical 3 heads elephant where sacred objects of the land are exhibited are actually closer to Suvarnabhumi airport than to downtown Bangkok, and cheap trips will be available for the airport passengers soon.
People more interested in wild life can visit the Samut Prakan province (where is Suvarnabhumi airport located) Crocodile farm and zoo, with daily shows several times a day.
Passengers who want to visit a beach resort and who have more than 5 hours step over at Suvarnabumi airport can also go to Bang Saen beach, Si Racha, or even Pattaya beach.
There were also plans to create an aerotropolis, a city in which the layout, infrastructure, and economy are centered around Suvarnabhumi Airport, in Bang Phli District of Samut Prakan Province, approximately 25 kilometers east of Bangkok, but this project is now put on hold by the military interim government that see more urgent mission in fixing the airport problems than expanding the facilities.
Also this project has been criticized by most because it is harmful for the environment, and when an aerotropolis is typically located near a seaport, the closest one to Suvarnabhumi Airport, Laem Chabang, is not big enough and is also too far away. Read more »
NO TERRORIST ATTACK IN BANGKOK NEW SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT
Police believe there will be no terror incidents at Suvarnabhumi airport during the 3 days Makha Bucha holidays and the director of security in Thailand said that people shouldn't panic because security measures are the best possible.
In case of terrorist attack everything is ready at the airport to evacuate and help the passengers.
In the airport area the military is working closely with the Bangkok police, as during the holiday the number of passengers will rise on both domestic and international flights and tightened security is needed in case of special risk.
Fewer entrances are left opened at Suvarnabhumi Airport to make it easier to filter passenger and security officers do random checks of luggage, mostly on Thai and muslims.
At the same time runway cracks at Suvarnabhumi airport were raised in Britain's parliament due to safety concerns for British citizens traveling to Thailand, because apart from runway cracks, Suvarnabhumi also has structural problems inside the terminal and even if the Thai government can't accept the truth it seems that the airport should be completely closed to be repaired, and some German engineers who have been working on the project declared that Suvarnabhumi airport is much more bad then everybody knows yet and that more informations will come out soon, the government having to shut down the whole airport.
Tourists from the United Kingdom, which includes England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, are the largest group of visitors from Europe to Thailand with 850000 UK visitors in 2006, and for the British government passengers deserve to know about the airport problems so they can make their own choices about whether they use the airport or not. Read more »
In case of terrorist attack everything is ready at the airport to evacuate and help the passengers.
In the airport area the military is working closely with the Bangkok police, as during the holiday the number of passengers will rise on both domestic and international flights and tightened security is needed in case of special risk.
Fewer entrances are left opened at Suvarnabhumi Airport to make it easier to filter passenger and security officers do random checks of luggage, mostly on Thai and muslims.
At the same time runway cracks at Suvarnabhumi airport were raised in Britain's parliament due to safety concerns for British citizens traveling to Thailand, because apart from runway cracks, Suvarnabhumi also has structural problems inside the terminal and even if the Thai government can't accept the truth it seems that the airport should be completely closed to be repaired, and some German engineers who have been working on the project declared that Suvarnabhumi airport is much more bad then everybody knows yet and that more informations will come out soon, the government having to shut down the whole airport.
Tourists from the United Kingdom, which includes England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, are the largest group of visitors from Europe to Thailand with 850000 UK visitors in 2006, and for the British government passengers deserve to know about the airport problems so they can make their own choices about whether they use the airport or not. Read more »
NOK AIR FLIGHTS AT SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT ON 24TH MARCH
Low cost airline Nok Air will start using Don Muang second airport facilities instead of Suvarnabhumi on 24th of March 2007.
The grand Don Muang airport reopening is planed on 25th but Nok Air daily 58 flights will take off and land at Donmuang airport one day earlier.
Nok Air airline which belongs to Thai Airways International national carrier will open 8 check-in counters and 3 ticket sales counters there. Two of these ticketing counters will be found on the departure level and the other one in the arrival hall.
The first Nok Air flights landing at Don Muang airport on the 24th of March are 2 flights from Hat Yai, 2 from Phuket, 1 from Nakhon Si Thammarat and 1 from Chiang Mai. These flights will arrive at Bangkok's second airport at night time.
Then the next morning these airplanes will depart for the same destinations, plus Udon Thani.
People arriving in Thailand from the 24th of March 2007 must contact the airline to ask how they can connect from Suvarnabhumi airport to Don Muang airport to board their onwards flight.
Don Muang former airport will be used by Nok Air budget carrier to connect areas to where few international passengers directly fly after they arrive in Bangkok. They are Udon Thani, Khon Khaen, Phitsanulok and Ubon Ratchathani, but the flights to Chiang Mai, Krabi, Chiang Rai, Phuket and Hat Yai will mostly remain at Suvarnabhumi airport for transit-passenger convenience. Read more »
The grand Don Muang airport reopening is planed on 25th but Nok Air daily 58 flights will take off and land at Donmuang airport one day earlier.
Nok Air airline which belongs to Thai Airways International national carrier will open 8 check-in counters and 3 ticket sales counters there. Two of these ticketing counters will be found on the departure level and the other one in the arrival hall.
The first Nok Air flights landing at Don Muang airport on the 24th of March are 2 flights from Hat Yai, 2 from Phuket, 1 from Nakhon Si Thammarat and 1 from Chiang Mai. These flights will arrive at Bangkok's second airport at night time.
Then the next morning these airplanes will depart for the same destinations, plus Udon Thani.
People arriving in Thailand from the 24th of March 2007 must contact the airline to ask how they can connect from Suvarnabhumi airport to Don Muang airport to board their onwards flight.
Don Muang former airport will be used by Nok Air budget carrier to connect areas to where few international passengers directly fly after they arrive in Bangkok. They are Udon Thani, Khon Khaen, Phitsanulok and Ubon Ratchathani, but the flights to Chiang Mai, Krabi, Chiang Rai, Phuket and Hat Yai will mostly remain at Suvarnabhumi airport for transit-passenger convenience. Read more »
Suvarnabhumi Airport, Nok Air, and Thai Airways news update
All Suvarnabhumi Airport problems are still expected to be fixed soon and this airport will soon be among the world’s top ten airports as it should have been since the beginning.
Everything can be fixed but terrorism problems, and official expect that no attack will come to worsen the airport and Thailand reputation, which is already so bad worldwide.
If everything goes smooth (including the airport rail link that should open in 2008), Bangkok will really become the main hub for all Asian countries thanks to its two airports, Don Muang that just reopened, and Suvarnabhumi main airport.
With these two airports operating simultaneously, Thailand can accommodate around eighty millions passengers a year, and its the only place in the whole region that can have so mass traffic.
But even when some airlines pilots have lately inspected the airport and said that the whole thing has been exaggerated by the media and that the problems can be fixed easily, Thai airways has finally decided to switch most domestic flights to Bangkok's Don Muang airport and operations will start at the old airport at the end of march, with thirty daily domestic flights.
Thai Airways airline will maintain six daily flights at the Suvarnabhumi airport, between Bangkok and the northern city of Chiang Mai and two popular islands, Phuket and Krabi, because these locations are famous among tourists who often connect to a domestic flight without staying in Bangkok. By maintaining these flights in the same airport the airline avoid transportation and delays problems to bring the connecting passengers to the old Don Muang airport.
Anyway it's already known that transportation from Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi airport will cause logistical problems because of Bangkok's legendary traffic jams, especially during rush hours.
Nok Air, the low cost airline, has officially announced its relocation from Suvarnabhumi airport to Don Muang former Bangkok airport with all its flights operating in and out of Don Muang airport from the 25th March 2007.
Nok Air airline offers seven daily flights to Phuket, six daily flights to Chiang Mai, five daily flights to Hat Yai, three daily flights to Udon Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat, two daily flights to Trang, two flights a week to Loei, and two daily flights to Krabi, so people having to connect on one of these flights when they travel to Thailand must be sure that they will have time to go to the second airport or call the airline to check if any delay has been planned.
People having to connect any Thai airways, Thai air asia and PB air flight must also contact the airlines. Read more »
Everything can be fixed but terrorism problems, and official expect that no attack will come to worsen the airport and Thailand reputation, which is already so bad worldwide.
If everything goes smooth (including the airport rail link that should open in 2008), Bangkok will really become the main hub for all Asian countries thanks to its two airports, Don Muang that just reopened, and Suvarnabhumi main airport.
With these two airports operating simultaneously, Thailand can accommodate around eighty millions passengers a year, and its the only place in the whole region that can have so mass traffic.
But even when some airlines pilots have lately inspected the airport and said that the whole thing has been exaggerated by the media and that the problems can be fixed easily, Thai airways has finally decided to switch most domestic flights to Bangkok's Don Muang airport and operations will start at the old airport at the end of march, with thirty daily domestic flights.
Thai Airways airline will maintain six daily flights at the Suvarnabhumi airport, between Bangkok and the northern city of Chiang Mai and two popular islands, Phuket and Krabi, because these locations are famous among tourists who often connect to a domestic flight without staying in Bangkok. By maintaining these flights in the same airport the airline avoid transportation and delays problems to bring the connecting passengers to the old Don Muang airport.
Anyway it's already known that transportation from Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi airport will cause logistical problems because of Bangkok's legendary traffic jams, especially during rush hours.
Nok Air, the low cost airline, has officially announced its relocation from Suvarnabhumi airport to Don Muang former Bangkok airport with all its flights operating in and out of Don Muang airport from the 25th March 2007.
Nok Air airline offers seven daily flights to Phuket, six daily flights to Chiang Mai, five daily flights to Hat Yai, three daily flights to Udon Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat, two daily flights to Trang, two flights a week to Loei, and two daily flights to Krabi, so people having to connect on one of these flights when they travel to Thailand must be sure that they will have time to go to the second airport or call the airline to check if any delay has been planned.
People having to connect any Thai airways, Thai air asia and PB air flight must also contact the airlines. Read more »
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Informations about Thailand, Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports, and links between the city and airports, especially the new SRT Skytrain Airport Rail Link under construction. People looking for hotels and apartments near the airport rail link will also find all needed informations on this website because it is convenient to stay near a Bangkok Airport Rail Link station, which also links to the Bangkok BTS Skytrain and Bangkok MRT Subway, both having stations near most of the big Bangkok shopping areas as Silom, Night Bazar, MBK, Paragon, and Emporium.
