Transportation

The Thai cabinet has finally approved the long-delayed expansion plans, which Transport Minister Sopon Zarum said will lift passenger handling capacity to 60 million a year.

According to current trends, Suvarnabhumi is likely to reach its maximum capacity of 45 million passengers this year and the expansion is not expected to be completed until 2015.

Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) has confirmed that they are working on ways to combat congestion at Suvarnabhumi with plans to streamline traffic flow and better manage aircraft time slots through shifting some arrivals and departures to non-peak periods. "It's better late than never," AoT president Serirat Prasutanond told the Bangkok Post.

Meanwhile, Minister Sopon said the ministry would discuss ways to fully utilize Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport to help with overcrowding in the coming years.

The Thai cabinet has finally approved the long-delayed expansion plans, which Transport Minister Sopon Zarum said will lift passenger handling capacity to 60 million a year.

According to current trends, Suvarnabhumi is likely to reach its maximum capacity of 45 million passengers this year and the expansion is not expected to be completed until 2015.

Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) has confirmed that they are working on ways to combat congestion at Suvarnabhumi with plans to streamline traffic flow and better manage aircraft time slots through shifting some arrivals and departures to non-peak periods. "It's better late than never," AoT president Serirat Prasutanond told the Bangkok Post.

Meanwhile, Minister Sopon said the ministry would discuss ways to fully utilize Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport to help with overcrowding in the coming years.

Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum said the Airport Link can carry up to 50,000 passengers a day,  generating revenue of one million baht a day.

"I believe this rail link will help ease traffic, lower pollution and make it easier for the public," Mr Sohpon said.

The Airport Link's City Line will run every 15 minutes and the Express Line every 30 minutes. Both lines operate from 6am to midnight.

The trains have a maximum speed of 160 kilometres per hour.

The airport link had launched a test run on its rail and security systems since June 1. An average of 17,000 passengers used the free ride service per day, according to Mr Yuthana.

The fare for ordinary trains running between Phyathai station, other six stations and Suvanabhumi airport is set at 15 baht.

The fare will be 100 baht for the express trains running non-stop from Makkasan station to Suvarnabhumi airport, said Mr Yuthana.

The special fares will be maintained until the end of the year before being adjusted to normal level s.

The non-stop "airport link", which covers 28 kilometres and cost 25.9 billion baht ($1.1 billion), will officially open on Monday. Trains are due to run daily every 40 minutes, between 6am and midnight.

After months of test runs, the express service will offer passengers a 15-minute journey to Suvarnabhumi airport from Bangkok's centre for 100 baht, a spokeswoman for the State Railway of Thailand said.

Passengers returning the same day will not need to purchase another ticket.

A second city line will offer a 30-minute journey at a cheaper rate, stopping at eight stations along the way.

Visiting China July 16-23, Mr Suthep said the negotiations between the two countries included development of rails at the Thai-Lao border of Thailand's Nong Khai province to Lao PDR and to China.

Speaking in his capacity of chairman of the sub-committee to regulate public transport at Suvarnabhumi, Mr. Chairat said intensified crackdowns on unauthorised taxis will start Friday July 31.

Notices have been issued and posted at the airport and a public relations campaign has been initiated to warn offenders, he said.

Meanwhile, police officers and security guards patrolling airport premises on Thursday began warning unlicensed tour guides before beginning to arresting those who are unlicensed from August 9. (TNA)  

Mr Songsak announced the good news after talks with Deputy Prime Minister Sahas Bunditkul and relevant agencies.

According to a market data, there were approximate 7,000 passenger travelled from Pakistan to Tokyo in 2006, 1700 from Karachi and 1800 from Lahore. Tokyo Express will operate from Karachi and Lahore simultaneously. The flight TG502 will take off from Karachi at 11.55 p.m. and will arrive in Bangkok next day to continue its flight onward with fairly immediate connection on TG676 at 08.20 am that will touch Tokyo soil at 04.00 p.m. same day.

Sopin Daengteth, chairwoman of the Airport Operations Committee (AOC), said AOC executives would attend a workshop organized by Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited tomorrow (Monday). They would stand firm on their disagreement with the government's approval of using Don Muang airport for international flights.

She noted the AOC had earlier explained to the government it would not support a return to Don Muang airport on the outskirts of Bangkok for international flights. Airlines would have to shoulder higher operational costs while passengers would be inconvenienced if the two airports were used simultaneously because transportation between the two was still lax, she explained.

According to AoT President Air Marshal Chana U-sathaporn, the proposal was sparked by an increase in traffic at Suvarnabhumi airport.

Air Marshal Chana admitted that although passenger numbers at Suvarnabhumi did not increase, the number of aircraft landing at the airport continues to grow.