Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport: Rail link and left luggage?

[Voyages]

Hello all,

If you have been in Bangkok lately, did you take the express train to the city? Your thoughts? The last time I was in Bangkok, the line was still under construction.

Also, have you ever used the left luggage service at the airport? Some sites mention 100THB per 24 hours. I am just not sure how reliable/safe this service is at BKK.

Voyages.

 

[serfty]

Havn't been to BKK since the train opened; however there is a good thread on FT regarding it:

• BKK-Bangkok Airport Rail Link Discussion - Page 6 - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[Archphoto]

This link is for the left luggage.

Left Luggage | Suvarnabhumi Airport | New Bangkok Airport Guide

If it's anything like LL at HKG, it's pretty efficient - screen via xray, pay your fee and all good. Just don't lose your ticket. :shock:

The AL is great - except for peak times, when it is crazy!!

The other odd thing is it closes at 12am from memory, meaning any flights after that still need to use the taxis.

 

[Voyages]

Thanks serfty and Archphoto for your information.

I am keen to try the AL in a few weeks!

 

[Hvr]

Don't know about the left luggage but I have travelled on the train. I caught it from BKK and transferred from the Sky Train. The train is essentially in the middle of no where and if you're not au fait with the Sky Train it can be hard to find your way around.

However the airport taxi drivers are worried about it and the rip off attempts are slightly less.

 

[Voyages]

Don't know about the left luggage but I have travelled on the train. I caught it from BKK and transferred from the Sky Train. The train is essentially in the middle of no where and if you're not au fait with the Sky Train it can be hard to find your way around.

However the airport taxi drivers are worried about it and the rip off attempts are slightly less.

oh I bet they are!

For now I know that I need to catch the AL to Phaya Thai, then connect the N line to Siam, then S line to Saphan Taksin. Then the ferry across the river. This should be fun.

 

[Voyages]

For now I know that I need to catch the AL to Phaya Thai, then connect the N line to Siam, then S line to Saphan Taksin. Then the ferry across the river. This should be fun.

Airport Link from Suvarnabhumi to downtown Bangkok (Phaya Thai station) is great and efficient. Costs 45 baht and takes approx 30 minutes!

There're a lot of stairs and I didn't see any lift at Phaya Thai station so moving across to the BTS can be a bit of a hassle if one travels with a heavy bag or has more than 1 suitcase.

 

[ozmille]

Is the train regular now? Last time I was in BKK it was still trialling. Will be there a couple of times in the coming months. Would be a lot cheaper then my usual transfers. I only have to get to Victory Monument so 1 more stop on the BTS.

 

[serfty]

Is the train regular now? ...

See FT thread linked in post 2.

 

[Voyages]

Is the train regular now? Last time I was in BKK it was still trialling. Will be there a couple of times in the coming months. Would be a lot cheaper then my usual transfers. I only have to get to Victory Monument so 1 more stop on the BTS.

I agree, it is a much cheaper alternative (though could get a bit crowded from Lat Krabang station onwards).

The trains are quite regular, every 15-20 minutes.

From the airport to the city:
Airport Rail Link

From Phaya thai station to the aiport:
Airport Rail Link

I've been using the skytrain a lot, so got myself a BTS Sky Smartpass for 100 baht, which can be topped up at the ticket counter (not the machine).

I was at Victory Monument yesterday, and boy it was one busy intersection.

 

[ozmille]

I agree, it is a much cheaper alternative (though could get a bit crowded from Lat Krabang station onwards).

I hope it is not too crowded, not sure if I will be able to get the mrs. on it after an 11h flight from LHR if it is.

 

[JohnK]

I used the airport link last month and it is good but involves a lot of walking.

As for left luggage I have never had a hassle but have read stories where people have had hassles. Don't leave anything valuable in your luggage and have travel insurance. Costs 50 baht only per piece per 12 hours.

 

[Hvr]

I was at Victory Monument yesterday, and boy it was one busy intersection.

Horrendously busy, can you actually get to the monument or just see it from a distance?

 

[extracta]

oh I bet they are!

For now I know that I need to catch the AL to Phaya Thai, then connect the N line to Siam, then S line to Saphan Taksin. Then the ferry across the river. This should be fun.

I need to get to SILOM from the airport in November and was looking at the train.

Will be travelling reasonably light.

Did you get to Saphan Taksin ok and would you now recommend the train from the airport?

Any advice you have on this route would be appreciated.

 

[Voyages]

Horrendously busy, can you actually get to the monument or just see it from a distance?

I walked along the road (probably 20 metres away). As you know, it's in the middle of the intersection right outside the skytrain station, so I guess one way to get to the monument is to ask a taxi driver to slowly drive to the middle of the intersection and let one out (not sure how to get back, though :mrgreen:, unless the taxi does a few loops while you're checking out the monument etc, hehe). Or if someone is game, they can slowly make their way through the crazy traffic :shock:.

 

[Voyages]

I need to get to SILOM from the airport in November and was looking at the train.

Will be travelling reasonably light.

Did you get to Saphan Taksin ok and would you now recommend the train from the airport?

Any advice you have on this route would be appreciated.

Hi extracta, I totally recommend the train. It takes less than 30 minutes to get to downtown Bangkok. And if you haven't been to Bangkok or haven't come back to the city for a little while, it's a nice way to see how much the city has changed, looking from the train.

You'll see it as a piece of cake if you've been through the train systems in Singapore/Hong Kong/London/Paris/NYC . To my surprise, people actually queue up at major stations during peak time. There're also videos telling people to keep on the right of the stairs or escalators.

Do you know the main road or the station in the Si Lom area that you're going to? If you also want to go to Saphan Taksin station, it's quite straightforward from the airport.

1. Take the train from the airport to Phaya Thai station (the terminus). Walk across to the skytrain station (linked by stairs). Get another ticket or pass (counter attendants speak English very well).

2. Jump on the On Nut line, get off at Siam station.

3. Change to the Wongiwan Yai line (basically opposite where you've just got off), wait till Sapan Taksin station.

All in all, it'll cost you less than 100 baht. Similar to Hong Kong trains, announcements are also made in English. Taxis are everywhere outside the stations and they're really cheap!

Hope this helps. Enjoy the food, the smiles, the lovely prayer-like guestures and the gentleness of the Thai people! I wish I had time and diligence to write a TR, but I am having a great time in Bangkok.

 

[extracta]

Do you know the main road or the station in the Si Lom area that you're going to? If you also want to go to Saphan Taksin station, it's quite straightforward from the airport.

We are looking at staying at the Millenium Hilton, they have a ferry service from the pier at Saphan Taksin station.

Thanks for your information. I had been looking at the BTS but was having trouble working it out. I normally just get an AOT Limo but if the train is OK I will be able to avoid some traffic.

 

[Voyages]

We are looking at staying at the Millenium Hilton, they have a ferry service from the pier at Saphan Taksin station.

Thanks for your information. I had been looking at the BTS but was having trouble working it out. I normally just get an AOT Limo but if the train is OK I will be able to avoid some traffic.

Oh great view and pool . When you get out of Sapan Thaksin, there're arrows towards the pier for the ferry services. I used the limo services on previous occasions, but have had no problems with the trains this time. Also, grab a BTS map from the airport and you're all set.

 

[JohnK]

I need to get to SILOM from the airport in November and was looking at the train.

Will be travelling reasonably light.

Did you get to Saphan Taksin ok and would you now recommend the train from the airport?

Any advice you have on this route would be appreciated.

I did the exact same trip by train last month and I would have to say next time to take a taxi from the airport.

Voyages has summed it up nicely but in reality it is not like this at all.

• Exit arrivals and make your way to train station. It is a long(ish), winding, walk depending on which exit is used. Take note the public taxis are a very short walk.
• Wait for the train. Yes most times the train is not at the platform.
• Train trip to Phaya Thai is ~25 minutes
• At Phaya Thai you need to negotiate a lot of stairs and then wait for the next train
• At Siam you need to negotiate the platforms and a lot of stairs and then wait for the next train
• Once at Saphan Taksin then comes the fun part of trying to work out where you need to go. Holiday Inn Silom is a long walk. Another 60 baht on tuk tuk.

I think from memory it cost ~THB130 and was close to 2 hours from the airport to Holiday Inn Silom.

Taking a taxi would have cost ~THB280-350 (including surcharge) and taken ~30 minutes if traffic is not an issue.

I would definitely use the airport train again for the adventure and not for the ~AUD5 saving.