The Airport Rail Link, which connects Bangkok’s inner city and Suvarnabhumi Airport, started its commercial operations last week.

The rail link helps to reduce travel time between Bangkok and the airport. It takes 30 minutes from Phaya Thai station to the airport if you use the City Line and only 15 Minutes by the Express Line.  The new railway systems now attract about 30,000 passengers a aday. It expects to serve up to 50,000 passengers a day by the end of the year.

Currently the fare for the City Line, the all-stops line, is a flat rate of 15 baht for a trip. Passengers using the Express Line will pay 100 baht for a trip. The fares will be increased in on Janurary 1, 2010. Fares for the City Line will start from 15 baht to 45 baht, depending on the distance travelled,  while the fares on the Express Line would rise to 150 baht.

Passengers would be able to check in their luggage at Makkasan station for transfer to their airlines once the service is fully operational. The line operates from 6 am to midnight.