The Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link Express Line was an airport express rail link in Bangkok bridging downtown Bangkok from the Makkasan City Air Terminal and the new Suvarnabhumi Airport east of the city. The Makkasan City Air Terminal was envisioned to be the airport in the city with in-town check-in services starting with Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways. Baggage and passengers would be transported to Suvarnabhumi Airport by the Express Line, and the passenger would then pick-up his or her baggage at his or her destination airport.
Express Line trains ran every 20 minutes during the very first period of operations.
This trip was done on 16 March 2011, 4 years before RailTravel Station was launched, so I seek your understanding if the pictures or descriptions are not up to usual standards since I had no plans to write about them when I took the trip 9 years ago.
My Express Line train was already at the platform when I went up after buying my ticket.
The empty platform at Makkasan City Air Terminal.
The original route map of the Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link.
All Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link platforms are capable for future extension of up to 10-car trains.
There is a precise countdown to departure in seconds.
Boarding the SARL Express Line Siemens Desiro Class 360/2.
A bay of 4 seats at the end of the train by the driver’s cab.
The passenger information shows the service that this train is on.
The overall interior of the Express Line train. Yup, demand for this service was very low ever since its inception.
Seats are arranged both in airline-style and in bays of 4, so you can choose what kind of seating arrangement you would like.
The airline-style seats have just-okay legroom.
Foldable seats are located by the toilet.
There is one toilet on board each Express Line train set.
The purple sign now reminds me of Heathrow.
Unfortunately, the toilet was out of use.
Peeking inside the baggage car.
Luggage racks are available by the side of the train doors.
The view from my bay of 4 seats.
Rubbish bins are available below two opposing seatbacks.
There is a neutral section after Ramkhamhaeng, which explains to loud bang sound.
The “alarm” is actually an intercom to speak to the driver. It’s located quite low though.
Approaching Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Following behind the City Line train I transferred from from Phaya Thai.
The non-stop journey on the Express Line from Makkasan City Air Terminal to Suvarnabhumi Airport took 17 minutes.
The station sign of Suvarnabhumi SARL Express Line station.
The Express Line uses Platform 3 for arrivals and departures.
It’s a short turnaround time for the Express Line train at Suvarnabhumi Airport before it heads back for Makkasan City Air Terminal.
The Express Line train heads back for Makkasan City Air Terminal, with the security officer saluting it as it departs.
Heading up to the concourse.
The next Express Line train to Makkasan City Air Terminal would depart in 18 minutes.
Heading out of the open platform.
There are no fare gates for the Express Line at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The Express Line Ticket Vending Machines are switched off, but you can buy your ticket from the counter at Suvarnabhumi Airport, or from the counter or Ticket Vending Machines at Makkasan City Air Terminal before exiting through the fare gates there.
The travellator on the City Line side of the concourse.
The travellator on the Express Line side of the concourse.
The crowded City Line Ticket Vending Machines. Clearly the City Line has been popular ever since its inception.
The geographical route map of the Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link City and Express Lines.
The Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link information counter.
Hello, MTR Airport Express A-Train.
Here, I headed to check-in for my Jetstar Asia flight back to Singapore, which I didn’t take any photos of.
The departure hall of Suvarnabhumi Airport. Back then, security wasn’t on an upper level but on the same level as the departure hall just before immigration behind it. This picture was taken when heading to the viewing gallery, which is in turn now the airline offices area.
Overall, a pleasant first ride on board my private train car on the Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link Express Line, though it probably explains very clearly why the service could not be sustained and all trains run on the City Line now.
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