Airport Rail Link: planning & construction period

[Tettyan]

You have to look at this from the operator's point of view: if the airport express runs every 30 minutes, and the commuter service runs every 15 minutes, then everybody will take the commuter (because it's cheaper and faster) and the operator loses money. The only way to minimize losses is to make expresses run more often: then people in a hurry take the express (and pay more), and only people with less money than time take the commuter.

That's not what happens at Narita (see my post above). So how does Narita Express still make money, even though the competing Kesei commuter trains run more often, are less than 1/3 the price and take only slightly longer? Well, from my perspective, I sometimes take Kesei on the way to the airport if I want to save money, but on the way back, after a 12 hour flight, the last thing I want is to spend an hour on a stuffy commuter train! So I shell out the cash for Skyliner or Narita Express.

In Japan, luggage isn't even an issue since most people have their bags shipped to and from the airport anyway. In the case of Bangkok, only the express trains will be equipped to handle bags, so I don't think passengers will flock to use the commuter train. Business travelers and foreign tourists will ceratainly stick to the express anyway, and with the commuter making 7 stops, it will be significantly slower than the express. Moreover, most of the people using the commuter won't probably be going to the airport anyway, they're just trying to get to points in between. And the demand for this will certainly be several times higher than the airport traffic.

If they're really afraid of losing express passengers, maybe they can try terminating every other commuter train one stop short of the airport.

[jpatokal]

That's not what happens at Narita (see my post above). So how does Narita Express still make money, even though the competing Kesei commuter trains run more often, are less than 1/3 the price and take only slightly longer? Well, from my perspective, I sometimes take Kesei on the way to the airport if I want to save money, but on the way back, after a 12 hour flight, the last thing I want is to spend an hour on a stuffy commuter train! So I shell out the cash for Skyliner or Narita Express.

Back when I lived in Tokyo, and even now when I visit, I always used the commuter trains. In Tokyo the additional stops are very much an advantage, as I used to eg. use through services down the Toei Asakusa line (when I was based in Takanawa) or change at Machiya to the Chiyoda line (direct to Yoyogi-Uehara). Likewise, in Bangkok I'm sure I'll be riding the commuter direct to Phayathai to hop on the Skytrain...

Business travelers and foreign tourists will ceratainly stick to the express anyway, and with the commuter making 7 stops, it will be significantly slower than the express.

Let's assume the express takes 20 minutes and leaves every 30 minutes (:00, :30), while the commuter takes 30 minutes and leaves every 15 minutes (:00, :15, :30, :45) -- this is of course not how the actual scheduling will be, but to simplify things a bit. If I arrive at the train platform between :01 and :15, the commuter will get me to the center by :45, while if I wait for the express I'll reach the city at :50. So half the time the commuter would be faster overall than the express.

If they're really afraid of losing express passengers, maybe they can try terminating every other commuter train one stop short of the airport.

This is exactly what Hong Kong's Airport Express does.

[Wisarut]

Latest news, thsoe Slum Dwellers from Phyathai, Makkasan, and Huamark are going to have aSHOWDOWN with the students of KMITL since the governmetn haspushed thsoe slum dwellers to stay next to the campus and the apartments of those KMITL students ....

Morrow Morning, KMITL Students would go Demonstration AGAINST thsoe Slum dwellers in front of Kign Mongkut's Statue

[GWR]

I guess they got fed-up with fighting amongst themselves on Saturday night. Amazing how a few baht extra a week will provide you with a few 'airs & graces'.

Oh, I forgot. The protest will probably take place on a nice lawn in front of a statue. And University Security Guards will make sure the slumdwellers don't get an opportunity to express how much they have had to sacrifice to build other folk's 'airs & graces'. If they are feeling so incensed, why don't these 'dynamic nationbuilders' spend their vacations learning about real engineering, whilst doing something to solve the housing crisis. It would make a nice change from building the golfcourses & sixlane highways that frequently displace slumdwellers.

[Wisarut]

Fortunately, MOTC decided to LISTEN the public outcry from local people ... so the plan to fill up Klong Prawet Burirom canal at Lad Krabang [a BIG canal before reachign KMITL] and make the new home for SRT wrokers from Makkasan has to be temporarily halt

MOTC people have to look at much better place to construct a nerw hoem from Makkasan workers ... which allow both SRT workers and those local people of Lad Krabang to live in harmony :-)

NEVER forget that Klong Prawet Burirom is a major part for the Royal Projecty for flood prevention in BKK .... so any attempt to refill the canal is OUT of Question.

[Wisarut]

Airport Link Showdown due to Klogn LamKhaek Filling.
Quick Settlement by Temporary Halt
Dailynews Nov 24, 2005
Manager - Nov 24, 2005

The head of Lad Krabangf District sdiad that hte plan to fill up Klong Lam Khaek canal (the 30-meter wide canal connecting with Prawet Burirom canal, very closed to KMITL) to make a new home for Railways workers along with Slum dwellers from Hua Mark and Makkasan are totally UNACCEPTABLE even though SRT has calimed that Klong Lam Kaek canal is with SRT land
despite of the current status of Klogn Kaek as "public stream".

Klogn Kaek is a canal near Hua Takhe Railway station. SRT has ask the COmmunity Development Agency to develop the land of 5400 Sq meter for the resident aras for SRT railway workers and slum dwellers form Hua Mark and Makkasan.

Even though SRT has temprorarily halt hte project for a while, SRT has allow the contractor fo Suvannahum Airport Link to move their heavy machines into that area. This have cause 1000-2000 KMITL students algn with otehr school nearby to REVOLT against SRT. This has forced Lad Krabang District Ofie to aks for Police to control the demonstration.

Lad Krbang District Office siad even though Klogn Lam Khaek canal is iwthin SRT land, SRT should NEVER fill up the canal; art all since it is the public canal for draining flood to Prawet Burirom canal. Without this canal, Lad Krabang would be sunk into deep flood, especiall KMITL, Protphitayaphayat school or so ...

So far, SRT REFUSE to send those from Board of Directors to make a settlement on this issue. They just spedd up Airport Link to mmet the deadline without consulting with local people.

The Electric Train Administation Bureau has RETORTED to Lad Krabang district office that those local people of Lad Krabang can claim that Klogn Khaek is public canal sicne ther will be Slum near the university. However, SRT insists the Full right to do ANYTHING on SRT even though SRT has allowed to use SRT land for public purpose such as Kamphaeng Phet 7 Local Road. However, SRT has FULL Authority to temporary suspect the public usage on SRT land even though the fill up of Klong lam Kaem has peremanently altered the water flow for flood prevention. Local people of Ladkrabg would have to take FULL responsibiliy on damages if Airprot Link is delayed.

Nevertheless, the growing opposition AGAINS the plan to fill up Klong Lam Kaek have compelled MOTC to intervene by temporarily suspoend the prpoject so as to allow Gen Surayut Jullanone [Privy Council] and Minister Pheng to make a settlemente on hte land for thsoe Slum Dwellers withotu offense the sensitivity of those who live in KMITL or so.

Note: This can be an Archiles' Heel for the government. They just rush the project without Listenign to the local people. whicc could give an ammo for the Opposition.

Note1: It would be totally FOOLISH for both SRT and MOTC to go AGAINST the Royal Project for Flood Prevention.Therefore, the settlement with Royal Prject is NEEDED.

[ncr]

The Electric Train Administation Bureau has RETORTED to Lad Krabang district office that those local people of Lad Krabang can claim that Klogn Khaek is public canal sicne ther will be Slum near the university.

What is the "Electric Train Administration Bureau"???
Never heard about that before. Is it a unit of SRT? But they don't have any electric trains......

[Wisarut]

Yep -> "Electric Train Administration Bureau" is a unit within SRT ...this one will become activated after waiting for several decades

[Yappofloyd]

Yep -> "Electric Train Administration Bureau" is a unit within SRT ...this one will become activated after waiting for several decades

I have heard many times of significant delays in Thailand but "several decades" to become activated is nearly up there with the whole saga of planning for a new airport in BKK! They are obviously a patient lot as they will need to be until an electric line actually gets built.

Unfortunate, that the relocation of the so called 'slum-dwellers' have not been adequately planned by STA & BMA to ensure that there is housing available and that people have options of where they want to move well before the contractors seek access to the land.

As Khun GWR states it is often such people living on the margins of society which get employed at terrible wages and have to risk their lives building badly designed constructions . Interesting that the privleged KMITL uni students have to actually face up to the reality, on their door-step, that there are some living around them who have not have the same opportunities as perhaps they have.

[ncr]

As noted in this thread, they have now begun to install some sort of scaffolding in the upper openings of the Hopewell pillars, apparently in preparation to demolish them (photo by frenchFARANGbkk). The smaller (unfinished) ones have already been removed some time ago.

[The Enforcer!]

As noted in this thread, they have now begun to install some sort of scaffolding in the upper openings of the Hopewell pillars, apparently in preparation to demolish them (photo by frenchFARANGbkk). The smaller (unfinished) ones have already been removed some time ago.

So at this rate it will open with the airport in 2008?

The Enforcer!

[ncr]

So at this rate it will open with the airport in 2008?

The Enforcer!

Yeah, it's really pathetic..... construction has now been going on (more or less) for 5 and a half months. All that's been done (I speak about the section parallel to New Phetburi that I monitor) is, they have closed Kamphaeng Phet Rd and covered it in dirt and debris, and dug some rectangular holes and made the foundations for the new pillars; and as mentioned, only some unfinished remains of Hopewell pillars have been removed so far, but not the big ones.

[TGunner]

So at this rate it will open with the airport in 2008?

The Enforcer!

You could be overly optimistic there.

[The Enforcer!]

It is exceedingly worrying when sarcasm turns out to be fact!

The Enforcer!

[pong]

last week (still at 13 bt/single, the ACbus to HLPong was 12 baht.) and saw that all along the route the area was cleared, except at that exNASAdisco/2 hotels along RKHaeng road. Between there and makkasan (I think or just east of RKHaeng) new pillars were starting being erected. ON other places they were busy with the exHopewell pillarthings. So things do not look that bleak ater all, I would optimistically say. Cleared area extended west to very near Phayathai (were I got off comingback), so maybe, who knows, someone even though about a walkway connection to BTS there?