Buses@SBIA

[ncr]

As long as there's no rail link, we'll have to make do with this....:

Express bus services planned to ease travel to Suvarnabhumi airport

CHIANG MAI, Nov 6 (TNA) - The Department of Land Transport will initiate express bus services to Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi Airport to facilitate travellers ease of access for the airport's scheduled opening for commercial air travel in June next year.

Speaking in his capacity as chairman of a committee to coordinate and streamline traffic systems for the new airport, Director-General Piyapan Champasut said the coordination committee will meet this week to consider the 'Airport Express' project.

The Suvarnabhumi airport development administration committee chaired by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra earlier agreed to provide such service to facilitate passengers ease of travel.

The new tourist-style buses will be spacious to accommodate both passengers and their luggage and have routes connecting leading hotels, tourist areas and business centres, Mr. Piyapan said.

The coordination committee will discuss and clarify whether the project operator should be the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority or a private company.

Recommendations regarding capital investment and route determination will also be discussed, he said.

The Land Transport Department will oversee all public transport to the new airport, he explained. Parking will be handled by a private company. (TNA)-E004

http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=4242

Sidenote: can anybody name a committe that's not chaired by the Prime Minister? Must be busy, our Super Maew, eh? :D

[pong]

1.the very same-same was said when the BMTA-run (by the then new 3000 series big Isuzu AC buses) staretd the 3 airportbus routes, way backward, in fact even every 10/15 mins as once was advertised.
2.then the very same-same was said when Thonburi Bus Servcies, as a kind of goodwill measure of TAAP/TBBW= the giant busbody works now actually in Cholburi, took these over, put on smaller ex-Microbus-fleet, and gradually lowered and lowered the frequency to every 30/40 mins now, and raised the fare to 100 from early 70 THB (which makes a taxi for 2 in most cases cheaper). These, now 4 routes, still survive, though only the 'bekpekker'express to KhaoSarn (sanam Luang) seems to attract a decent load of people.
3.as stops are not even labelled or whatever, the only thing they have to do is run the buses to snakepit when it fiabnlly opens, from Don Muang. Not even the routeshields have to be changed............

[admin]

A reader asks: ...TAT & travel agents seem either unable or unwilling to provide information on how we can get from the new airport to the northern bus terminal (mor chit) - bus service available? How long should it take? As our flights always arrive about 22.30, the time from plane to bus would show whether we have to stay overnight in BKK or if we would make the bus in time.

[Khleerm]

A simple phone call to the Public Transportation Center
(http://picasaweb.google.com/Bpak.Waan/SanamBinSuvarnabhumi/photo#4968958241126285330) at Suvarnhbhumi could answer that question. The facility is staffed and open for business every day. Unfortunately, I don't have a telephone number... :(

[PhuketJimmy]

this should help
http://bidding.airportthai.co.th/airportnew/bidding/contest/phone.pdf

back up a bit in the URL and there is a great map of the CobraSwamp aka SuwannaBoom

[Ganyc]

Hi, can anyone please advise me whether is there an Airport Bus route from Suvarnabhumi to Rama IV Road / Lumpini? Because there are hotels and guesthouses along Rama IV Road and Sathorn Road.

[von Hirschhorn]

The same question arise on this side. As far as I found BMTA route 551 till Victory Monument and than change BTS. A bit of a hustle but that seems to be the price we have to paid for a new airport, air-conditioned or not as stated in another thread.
However, about the replacement or rerouting of the current Airport bus, I did not see any confirmed information only that there will be a sort of Hotel bus. Anyone with definite information please reply.

[The Enforcer!]

Or 552 to On-Nut.

Cannot believe that there are no dedicated Tourist priced Airport Buses!

Surely the existing ones will be diverted on 28th?

The Enforcer!

[Yappofloyd]

^ Yes it seems so as when I flew back to DM a couple of weeks ago one of the Airport Bus staff said that the buses lines would be transferring to Suvarnabhumi from 28 on essentially the same route destinations ie. Suk, Silom, Siam and Khao San area. No info at the time on the exact routes so don't know if Silom will go via Rama IV. Expect a price increase though.

I can double check again when I fly back to work tonight...

[von Hirschhorn]

…Expect a price increase though…

That’s the last I concern about, it is always been a backpackers bargain although backpacking is something from the seventies last century for me. O.K. taxi’s are PT (public transportation) but in preferential order rail first and than bus, cabs only if there’s no other option. The connection to On Nut is known. I presume the Airport Bus will depart from the same separate PT. terminal so an extra shuttle ride is include. :)

[jpatokal]

Or 552 to On-Nut.
Cannot believe that there are no dedicated Tourist priced Airport Buses!
Surely the existing ones will be diverted on 28th?

The official PDF posted earlier shows that there is a space reserved at the main terminal (not the bus satellite thing) for the airport buses, so it would seem reasonable to assume that they are, or at least will be there after the 28th.

I'm a little surprised that nobody here has been to post-soft-opening Suvarnabhumi yet? :eek:

[Yappofloyd]

^ Yes it seems so as when I flew back to DM a couple of weeks ago one of the Airport Bus staff said that the buses lines would be transferring to Suvarnabhumi from 28 on essentially the same route destinations ie. Suk, Silom, Siam and Khao San area. No info at the time on the exact routes so don't know if Silom will go via Rama IV. Expect a price increase though.

I can double check again when I fly back to work tonight...

The answer last night was yes and there is also an article in todays Post which also confirms the 4 Airport Express Bus routes, http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/26Sep2006_news05.php.

Route 2 goes to Hua Lamphong so assume this will be the one for you Khun Ganyc.

Maybe someone can post the graphic (Interestingly, it is tilted No Train, No Worries !)....

[The Enforcer!]

The answer last night was yes and there is also an article in todays Post which also confirms the 4 Airport Express Bus routes, http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/26Sep2006_news05.php.

Hallelujah!

The Enforcer!

[The Enforcer!]

The answer last night was yes and there is also an article in todays Post which also confirms the 4 Airport Express Bus routes, http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/26Sep2006_news05.php.

Route 2 goes to Hua Lamphong so assume this will be the one for you Khun Ganyc.

Maybe someone can post the graphic (Interestingly, it is tilted No Train, No Worries !)....
Just found this old Press Release - nearly the same as the newspaper but different ... http://thailand.prd.go.th/the_inside_view.php?id=1366

The Enforcer!

[The Enforcer!]

Oopss .....
TAT has a slightly different listing but has a price ....150 Baht!!!!


http://www.tourismthailand.org/about/aboutthailand.aspx?ParentID=213


The Enforcer!

[von Hirschhorn]

Very well ‘Transport lovers’, this will do! :)

[Ganyc]

It is great to know Airport Bus 1 will be running from Suvarnabhumi to Silom. How long with the journey be? 30 minutes or 45 minutes? How long is the journey from the Terminal building to the Bus Transport Centre? Can someone provide the detailed route map?

But still I do not understand why AOT must set up a Transport Centre. It could have followed Changi Airport's example of setting up a bus terminal at the basement. Then Suvarnabhumi can give Changi Airport a bigger run for money.

And then the Airport Buses have to run from the Bus Transport Centre is a bit odd. It makes Airport Buses no different from Public Buses of Bangkok. Will bus waiting time reduce from 30 minutes to 5 to 15 minutes? Why didn't AOT think about following the example of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, where Airport Buses are allowed to run to the Terminal Building to pick up passengers? Public buses of Jakarta are not allowed to operate to the Terminal Buidling.


Jakarta is starting to become an aviation hub of some sort for some international airlines. Etihad Airways flies to Jakarta after Bangkok and now Viva Macau is starting low-cost flights from Jakarta to Macau. Jakarta is gradually becoming like Bangkok and from February 2007 onwards, Jakarta will stand out to be the cheapest Southeast Asia city to visit. Jakarta airport international departure tax is S$18 (100,000 Ruppiah), the lowest tax in the region.

So, Bangkok AOT, please wake up. Raising international departure tax is no good for some young budget travellers.

[Wisarut]

As far as I concern, the Shuttel bus between the Main terminal is runnign abiotu 15 Minute durign non-Rush hour .... But They should run the shuttle bus to reach 3-5 Minute interval as they claim ....

Fior the airport Bus that go to Silom, waitt unti I make a ride and I will; report what happen ...

It is a conflict of interest between AOT and BMTA. BMTA May have to pay more rent to AOT to be allowed to run the airprot buses right into Airport terminal whcih REALLY upset BMTA ... IF BMTA is allowed to run Airport bus right into terminal, it will be in conflict with thsoe Limusine operators ...

PURE Conflicts of Interest, That's all!

[jpatokal]

Jakarta is starting to become an aviation hub of some sort for some international airlines. Etihad Airways flies to Jakarta after Bangkok and now Viva Macau is starting low-cost flights from Jakarta to Macau. Jakarta is gradually becoming like Bangkok and from February 2007 onwards, Jakarta will stand out to be the cheapest Southeast Asia city to visit. Jakarta airport international departure tax is S$18 (100,000 Ruppiah), the lowest tax in the region.
It's be a cold day in hell when Jakarta becomes an international aviation hub. (The same cold day that Imigrasi stops asking for bribes and the baggage handlers stop pilfering bags, that is.) Even Denpasar (Bali) has more flights, and in some ways is already more of a hub than Jakarta -- more flights to Japan, Australia and the eastern bits of the archipelago, for example.

[von Hirschhorn]

About this matter there's more info in another thread:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=195&page=20

Let's keep up shining the lines! :D

[pong]

Hello+Sawadee to all.
Now that I am back in BKK here for a longer time and thus on arrival had to passvia the shuttle-bus/new busterminal route, this also comes from other travellers fora:
since 27/9/06 MORE direct BMTA-expressbus routes have opened:
556, direct via Motorway+Expressway to Haa YaekYommarath=railcrossing westside of Phetburi Rd, then as 511 along PhanFa-Democr.Mon.-Sanam Luang-via bridge,PATA to SaiThai=Southern Bus Terminal. Also all the way for 35 bt, with normal local fares charged west of Yommarat, as on the 511. My trip to the demo Mon took exactly 45 mins (sat afternoon, with rains falling=slowing down the last part), BUT it took a full 25 mins IN the bus before it left! Reguarity/frequency going BACK t the airportis also reported to be sketchy.
558.Via bangNaTratRd, Bang Na crossing,then over expressway (as 140/142) to Thonburi/Wat Laow/Bangpakok, then as usual via Ram2 (Central) to the KeHa nearthe old TescoLotus. Dont know if it ends
in the SaemTan garage, but its buses are sent out from there.
The AirportExpress runs the same 4 routes as before BUT
1.they are now numbered as AE-1 to 4. fare is 150 bt. (up 50%)
2.they ONLY run about hourly and even aim to keep to posted times!
3.according to the map they ALSO run via BangNa-then on the expressway, which is certainly not the best or jam-free route. IN BanglamPhu they tell to reckon with 2 hrs transittime! FROM airpt hourly at 5.00-23.00,also shorter as before.
The comp seems also to have changed, do a nice website: www.airportexpressthai.com
the buses are NOT repainted old 9950 Microbuses, but completely RENOvated also older BIG microbuses painted yellow, nrd AE-601 and up. They do have brand new registrations.
they ALSO do an expressroute to Old Don Muang, at 50 bt/single,via Mtr+exprway, to Tollway, Suttisarn-CentrallardPrao-Vipav/Rangsit old road-as far as Laksi-Don Muang.Dont know where the exact starting there is. IF it is beside trainstation and IF they aim to maintain train connections, this could be a good direct link to the new airport.
From this forum I gather that normal ACbusroute 517 (Mochit2-Ratchada-Ram9-OuterPhetburi Rd, then Lad Krabang) also serves the terminal/.
the BoKoSo= Transport Comp.has stated that AL its motorwayexpressroutes from MOchit eastbound also serve the new terminal, with many services to Rayong and a few to ChaChoengSao, Pattaya, SriRacha, Chantaburi, Trat.Now also a route to SraKaew.
Someone else noted a new 389 (minibus??) direct to Pattaya, from this terminal.

[Wisarut]

Hmmm Buss 556 to Pinklao and Southern Bus terminal and Bus 558 for rama 2 Highway and Keha Thonburi ...


Don't forget bus 555 (Rangsit - Suvannnabhum) whcih is the conversion of Donmaugn - Suvannabhum route to fill up the demand for this rotue ... :p

[pong]

have to correct now again:
Was at old DonMuang yesterday.
BOTH 554 and 555 BMTA/orange Euro2 RUn FROm rangsit-via Don Muang, on the Suvannapoom. Both mainly aim at airportwrokers, most of whom still live in DMuang of course (and now face a 80/100 bt extra daily expense for konsong...
554 runs VERY frequent, via Ram Indira, till KM8, then via the Artnarong+Motorway direct.
555 runs about ev 15/20 mins and via the Vipavadee-rd, then under Exprway, till Ram IX, there joins same route as 551 from the Vict. Monument.
ALSO a MINIVAN 555 runs direct Don Muang (from the old entrance just north of the main busstop on the main road), 50 bt fare, but with cheaper multiride coupons too. NOt by A-Ex, BUT minivans, new type, on NGV, but I saw NOone boarding it nor any van leave during some 25 mins, whereas at least 30+ normal airportworkers boarded the 554/555 getting to work.
Bus 552 EXTENDS from Onnut via Sukhumvit/Asoke (Sirikit conv. cnetre, someone has though about that), ends at Klong Toey garage.
ALL 55x airportbuses are said to run all 24 hrs, by staff.

[pong]

and there is even 1 BMTA-route more:
559, a really fast one; runs Express to Suan Siam/Fashion, then again express (the new outer ringroad/express, hitherto not served by any bus), to Klong 4/Ongkarak-Rangsit road, then along canal to Rangsit; Future, ends at garage. Served by garage nr 1/Rangsit, but alas, uses oldNGV-fuelled Mec-Benz white buses, afre the usual 35 baht. have not yet tried it, but must be the fastest long-distancebus there is in BKK!
Route 517/.shuttle (wonder why they didnot make it 557=still missing) runs between busterminal ad the HUA TAK HE station and connects with ANY SRT-train from there,lvs 30 mins before adverstised dep.time, cost 15 baht.also uses older 4000 series HINO AC-buses from Minburi, nr 2 garage, just as the normal 517 (=HuaTakHe-Lad krabang-ram IX- Ratchada-Mochit mai) route does.

[Wisarut]

Rote 517 is a regular aircon bus of BMTA runnign from Mochit 2 to KMITL (Thai version of MIT). This 517 bus runn along Lad Phrao road, Ratchada[hisek Ring, Rama 9 Road, Ram Khamhaeng road, Phatthanakarn road and Onnut Road .... It tkae 3 hours to go from Mochti 2 to KMITL :eek:

At this time, the route has been slighly modified to serve Suvannahuim Airport as well as thsoe students of KMITL ... :p ;) :)

[PhuketJimmy]

How maqny people use the bus service to reach their final point in Bangkok.......I've never been on the bus with the exception to the buses that extended the BTS. After a flight into SuwannaBoom, I'm looking for the greeter with my name on a placard ready to hail the car from the J.W. , although I will have to say the the airport limo at 800 Baht is looking interesting...I may use it from a domestic arrival.
Aren't they late model Volovs, comfortable but no cold water, cold towel and no call ahead to the J.W. so as to have a person waiting to direct you for inroom checkin!

think about that, saving 30 min upon arrival at 2300 hours can be a good point for those who are interested in going out that night!

[pong]

hello again then all.
Khun Wisarut: you are so right about the EXisting nr 517 AC route (old Prab akaht 18), BUt it does NOT serve Suv-poom busterminal! there really is a SEPARATE shuttle bus, also numbered 517 (thats why I said it would have been better to number this apart route as 557- there are too many confusing double-ups in BMTA already!). I think it also uses buses from the 517 roster and the old-style BMTA custom of not being to able change route nrs fast (like any bus in Europe/USA can do) will explain why. They DO have big shields behind the windows that state this shuttle route Busterminal-Train (terminal? satanee) ONLY!
Khun Jim: I've posted elsewhere I took nr 556 FROm Airport 2x now, and went 1x to airpt (next 1 coming up 11/11) by 551- ex Vict. Mon.
BOTH times the 556 was quite full with farang with big suitcases, as its really fast and cheap to reach the Sanam Lunag/banglamPhu cheap budget area. Also staying in that area, i saw quite a few khon Yipun use it/board it there.
But of course nrs 554/555/559 mainly aim at airportworkers, as Ive said before.

[PhuketJimmy]

Hopw much do people really save using the bus over a taxi....I'm just interested to see the waz-up on the deal

Gee Baht?

[mdechgan]

Do these buses make all the usual stops?

The last thing I want to experience after a long international flight is to be stuck in a crowded bus with my big luggage stopping at every local bus stop.
I just would like to go home as fast as possible.

If it's a direct micro bus I would take it. But I still have to connect to a taxi to reach my final destination.

Very few of us have a bus stop right infront of their homes to to/from the airport.

[pong]

Not everyone posting here, like me, has her/his own home (ban) in BKK. Many a travller stays in the BanglamPhu area (like me) and is quite used to and satisfied with using buses. Also i clearly described the way the buses run; f.e. that 556 runs MOTORway=Expressway=NON stop (2 tollbooth), to Yommarat=west end of phetburi rd/railway crossing, and then along normal roads. This is in fact MUCH quicker as airport express: this one uses the old expressway from Bang Na! to Phetburi rd/east of pratunam, and thus has to mingle with traffic much longer. And it cost 4 times as much!
There are now 10 different buslinks from Suv poom by the BMTA, and many of thse serve the don Muang area, due to the 1000s of airportworkers still housed there.And NOT every flight is long: f.e. I am now in the THAI silk lounge in new Suv-poom and take a 50 min flight to khon Khaen.

[Ganyc]

i have visited the Airport Operation Building, otherwise known as Airline Office Building (AOB). This building may be quite far for tourists to reach but I went there two times within 10 minutes of walking distance from the basement of Suwarnabhumi Passenger Terminal yesterday and this morning. Cross two streets and walk some more to arrive at AOB right in front of the Airport Hotel. The building is just like the Denpasar Ngurah-Rai International AOB. The difference is exotic airline offices are located in this building, for example, Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines, Lao Airlines and Etihad Airways. Well-known airlines like United and Lufthansa are located in Terminal A, otherwise known as Concourse, and Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific and Finnair offices are located at Terminal B, the Passenger Terminal. I cannot find the offices of China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Bangkok Airways and Emirates at all!

The airline offices of Suwarnabhumi are scattered everywhere. The Airport Help staff say some airline offices are check-in offices located inside the check-in area, others in Transit area. It is confusing to everyone. However, to me the area for Airline Offices is actually smaller than the Central Block of Don Muang Airport.

There are ticketing booths of the airlines just like the ticketing booths in Macau International Airport. To me, the design copies Macau International Airport. The check-in compound and the lifts that lead to this area make the area just as big as KLIA. You can walk within 15 to 20 minutes from left to right of the passenger terminal. You can say Suwarnabhumi copies KLIA for the design of the check-in area.

To go into the levels of AOB, you have to change your ID for a visitor pass.

I have got updated inflight magazines of Ethiopian Airlines, Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines, Lao Airlines, SriLankan Airlines and Turkish Airlines. They have no aircraft postcards.

Nok Air has sponsored the inflight publication of Traveller Guide, featuring some information on Chiang Mai and maps of Chiang Mai for the Royal Flora Ratchapruek event in Chiang Mai. It has stopped publishing and printing postcards and flight schedules.

There is an empty office named GMG but the Kuwait Airways staff says that office is not opened everytime daily (it was supposed to be Garuda office). Even the ticket booth of GMG Airlines is vacant. The Airport Information staff told me GMG Airlines operates charter flights to Suwarnabhumi. Other charter flights are operated by Ural Airlines and Batavia Air! But Ural Airlines and Batavia Air have no GSAs in Thailand!

If you want to go to TG Operation Building, it is near Suwarnabhumi. Board Shuttle Bus No. 2. The shuttle trip takes 15 to 20 minutes from the Passenger Terminal to the Building via the Public Bus Terminal.

I slept at the Muslim Prayer Room last night at Suwarnabhumi, free-of-charge. It is not crowded and is the best place to catch a sleep if you cannot spare any money for accommodation.

Mineral water is cheap at THB 7 but food's minimum cost is THB 95.

I will not be going to Suwarnabhumi again until the MRT starts operating from Suwarnabhumi to Makkasan, Bangkok in late 2007 or 2008.

[pong]

further nes re the airport buses:
nr 557 was promised somewhere as would run Suv.poom-Wong Wien yai, exact routing unknwon, up up till now it has not materialised.
Routes 558 + 559 have NO night service.
Further changes wre announced by ''plak-an'' in the buses: the 552A and 53 are to merge as 1 single route (to Bangna-PakNam).
many of you interested in this may have the official Suv.poom busroutes map from sept.'06. this is NOT quite exact; in fact 553 follows SriNakarin Rd all the way to PakNam and does NOT go via SamRong.
The routing INTO Suv.poom is also not correct: routes 549, 550, 553 all run via Lad Krabang Road, further EAST, do a final pick-up at the inbound roads to the airpoirt (this section sees VERY heavy passenegrs nrs, the often seen full to ''doors not being able to close'' at peak working shift times.
Interestingly route 549 has effectively taken over same route 518 (whi used red buses, even if it was a former renumbered AC-route) and also red Mitsubishi buses from Minburi depot from the ex518 roster, these do NOT run into Suv.poom, but end at Lad Krabang, as before.
the minivans are also many more in nr: now also on both 554 and 555, and since this sunday=10/12 also on 551 to VICTORY MON, fare has been lowered to 40 bt.
Their drivers seem to be enterprising: I waited for nearly 1 hr for the 556 not to come, and when a full load of bekpek laden farang was there, a driver appoaced the and offered a direct ride to BanglamPhu=Khao Sarn for 100 bt each.... and I have a monthly now!

[Wisarut]

Suvannbhum Airport Rearranging the Public Transportation - to be applied in 1 october 2007
Bangkok Biznews - 7 September 2007


The Director of Suvannabhum Airport said NBIA is goign to rearrange the public transdportation to allow all the mass transit vehicles to pick up the passengers at the main terminal accordign to the follwogn scheme:

1) Trasportation center will be the place to park the bus .. waiting for the time to be allowed into the main terminal

2) Charter buses, intercity buses from Trasportation Co.ltd and Arirpot Express buses us goign to park at the inner platform at the departure level (4th floor) and at the inner platform at the ground level (1st floor).

3) taxi and Limo parkign at the outer platform of the departure level (4th floor) while picking up hte passenger at the arrival level (2nd floor)

4) BMTA buses, BMTA vans and Air Crew buses are parking at the outer platform of the departure (4th floor) and pick uip the passenger at the outer platform of the ground level (1st floor).

5) Lease cars can pick up hte passe4gner at the arrival level (2nd floor)

6) the shuttle buses can run to pick up hte passengers at the groudn level (1st floor), the departure level (2nd level) and the departure level (4th floor).

This will become effective on 1 October 2007.

[The Enforcer!]

The Director of Suvannabhum Airport said NBIA is goign to rearrange the public transdportation to allow all the mass transit vehicles to pick up the passengers at the main terminal.
A bit like re-arranging the deckchairs on the RMS Titanic!

The Enforcer!

[jpatokal]

1) Trasportation center will be the place to park the bus .. waiting for the time to be allowed into the main terminal
How will this work? Surely incoming buses still have to go to the terminal immediately to drop off their passengers, so wouldn't this just add to the traffic? :confused:

4) BMTA buses, BMTA vans and Air Crew buses are parking at the outer platform of the departure (4th floor) and pick uip the passenger at the outer platform of the ground level (1st floor).
Sounds good as an idea, but is there really space in the terminal for replicating the (good) pier system they have set up in the transportation center now? And if there is, why wasn't it done that way in the first place? :mad:

[gwmss15]

I have recently updated my Thai Mass Transport System Blog.

The Buses of Suvarnabhumi Airport and Suvarnabhumi Bus Terminal.
http://thaitransit.blogspot.com/2008/04/buses-of-suvarnabhumi-airport-and.html

I hope you find this update rather interesting. More updates will be coming soon.