Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link - SRT Electrified Train (SRTET)
The Airport Rail Link is a rail system in Bangkok connecting Suvarnabhumi Airport with downtown Bangkok. The operator of the SRT Electrified Train (SRTET) is a subsidiary of the Thai State Railways (SRT).
Cheap Public Transport
With the Airport Rail Link you have a fast transport to get from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to the center of Bangkok. The trains run every 15 minutes and take 30 minutes to the final stop Phaya Thai. Phaya Thai is also a BTS station, so you can change from there. Two stops before Phaya Thai, the ARL reaches the station Makkasan. There you have the possibility to switch to the MRT, at the Phetchaburi MRT station. The ARL route has a total of 8 stops, a ticket costs between 15 and 45 Baht, depending on the destination.
Discard?
Actually, there are two lines to and from the airport, the city line and the express line. Of the express line but you often read that this would have been closed in 2015. In mid-2018 we saw the express line drove, coincidence? The city line stops at all stations and the express line runs from Phaya Thai to the airport in one go, saving a few minutes of travel time.
Price breakers and traffic jams
The ARL Airport Rail Link is a good and very cheap way to get to the center of Bangkok. Ideally, your hotel room or rented apartment is located near one of the 7 stops from the airport. If you need to change to the MRT or BTS to continue, you have to buy a new ticket for these lines. The cost of a taxi ride beats the ARL, a taxi ride to the city center costs about 200 to 300 Baht. Even this is still a good price. And the advantage with the taxi is that you are brought directly to the front door of your accommodation. Nevertheless, the Airport Rail Link is worth considering, especially as you leave the Traffic Jam at certain times with an ARL ride.
