Improvement plan for Airport Link service
The Transport Ministry plans to buy five more trains in 2014 to increase the frequency and efficiency of the Airport RaIlRail Link service, the rail route that links Bangkok's central area to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
According to the long-term railway development plan, the ministry will buy five more trains to increase frequency of rail services to eight minutes from the current 15 minutes per arrival.
Deputy Minister Kittisakdi Hathasongkroh said yesterday that |the ministry would also increase the efficiency of the Airport Rail Link service. The improvement plan is divided into three stages. First, the Airport Rail Link will increase frequency of trains, rearrange traffic system, facilities and prepare commercial spaces. The next stage will include procurement of new trains for the City Line. Finally, it will procure five more new trains in 2014. At this stage, the Makkasan Station's surrounding area will be developed as a complex and the Airport Link route will be extended from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Dong Mueang Airport.
Kittisakdi said the ministry would start providing additional trains on November 1 to increase its frequency as planned in the first stage, expecting that this could carry more passengers to achieve 140,000 per month.
Yesterday, Airport Rail Link also launched a new campaign of its services named "Mr Airport Link" to provide solutions when any problem arises.
Currently, SRT Electrified Train Co is reviewing conditions or terms of reference of the bidding for its rental spaces at eight stations in accordance with the Transport Ministry's policy. In the initial stage, it will increase to more than 1,300 square metres of rental space for duty-free shops on |the third floor of the Makkasan Station. The rental spaces will be divided into general shops and duty-free shops.
The company will also discuss |with the Customs Department |about providing space for renting to bonded warehouses for duty-free shops.
