The Airport Rail Link (ARL) is a single commuter line from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Phaya Thai in central Bangkok, with eight stations in total. It runs from 05:30 to midnight, and since November 2025 you can pay by tapping a contactless bank card at the gate.
For most visitors the ARL matters for one reason: it is the fastest way between Suvarnabhumi and the city that does not depend on road traffic. It is a separate line with its own tickets and its own operator, not part of the BTS Skytrain or the MRT, although it connects with both.
Our guide to getting from Suvarnabhumi into Bangkok compares the ARL with taxis, Grab and buses. This page is about the line itself: which station to get off at, how to change to the other lines, and how to pay.
The Airport Rail Link at a glance
- Route
- Suvarnabhumi Airport to Phaya Thai, eight stations
- Hours
- 05:30–24:00 (Airports of Thailand, October 2026)
- Airport station
- Level B1 of the main passenger terminal
- Operator
- Asia Era One (AERA1), not the SRT Red Line company
- Call center
- +66 2 091 1595
- Payment
- Contactless credit or debit card at the gates (since 8 November 2025), or a ticket from the station
- Interchanges
- Phaya Thai (BTS Sukhumvit Line), Makkasan (MRT Blue Line)
The eight stations, from the airport into town
Every train stops at every station. There used to be a separate non-stop "express" service, but only the stopping service runs now, so there is no wrong train to board. In order from the airport:
- Suvarnabhumi, under the airport terminal on Level B1.
- Lat Krabang, the first stop after the airport.
- Ban Thap Chang.
- Hua Mak.
- Ramkhamhaeng.
- Makkasan, the interchange for the MRT Blue Line.
- Ratchaprarop, the nearest station to Pratunam and its markets.
- Phaya Thai, the end of the line and the interchange for the BTS Sukhumvit Line.
The middle stations serve mainly local commuters. For a first trip into the city, almost everyone gets off at one of the last three stops. We could not reach the operator's own station pages in October 2026, so check the line map on the platform if you are going to one of the less-used stations.
Which station to get off at
The right stop depends on where you are staying, and on how many changes you are willing to make with luggage.
| Staying in | Get off at | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Sukhumvit (Nana, Asok, Phrom Phong) | Makkasan | MRT Blue Line one stop to Sukhumvit, which links to BTS Asok |
| Silom, Sathorn, Lumphini | Makkasan | MRT Blue Line south toward Silom |
| Siam and the shopping malls | Phaya Thai | BTS Sukhumvit Line two stops to Siam |
| Pratunam | Ratchaprarop | Short walk or taxi |
| Victory Monument, Ari, Chatuchak | Phaya Thai | BTS Sukhumvit Line north |
| Old town, Khao San Road | Phaya Thai | Taxi or Grab, as no rail line reaches Khao San |
These are routes, not timings. The table is a starting point; open a map app with your hotel address before you leave the airport, because the nearest station is not always the obvious one. Our guide to where to stay in Bangkok shows which areas sit on which line.
Changing to the BTS at Phaya Thai
Phaya Thai is where the ARL meets the BTS Skytrain. The two stations are linked, but they are separate systems with separate gates and tickets. You leave the ARL through its exit gates, walk across to the BTS station and buy a BTS ticket or use a Rabbit card. Your bank card will not open the BTS gates (see the payment section below).
The walk involves escalators and some stairs, and both stations are crowded at rush hour. With one wheeled case it is manageable; with several large bags it is hard work. Our guide to the BTS Skytrain and MRT explains how the BTS lines run once you are through the gates.
Changing to the MRT at Makkasan
Makkasan is linked to the MRT Blue Line. As at Phaya Thai, you leave the ARL system and enter the MRT through a separate set of gates, and you pay a separate fare. The advantage here is payment: the MRT Blue Line also accepts contactless Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay cards, so you can tap the same card on both lines. You are still charged two separate fares.
The Blue Line is often the better choice for lower Sukhumvit, Silom and Chinatown, and for Bang Sue, where long-distance trains leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.
Paying: contactless card, token or ticket
Since 8 November 2025 the ARL accepts contactless credit and debit cards at the entry and exit gates of all its stations. The Department of Rail Transport and Asia Era One launched the system at Makkasan station on 4 November 2025. You tap the card when you enter and tap the same card when you leave, and the fare is charged to the card. Look for the contactless symbol on the gate.
If you prefer cash, buy a single-journey ticket at the station. Keep it until the end of the trip, because you need it to leave. Have small notes and coins ready; the ticket machines are slow with large notes.
Tap the same card at both ends of the ARL. If you enter with your phone wallet and exit with the physical card, or the other way round, the gate may not match your exit to your entry, and you can be charged the wrong fare. Pick one and use it for the whole trip.
We do not print ARL fares here. The fare rises with the number of stations, and the operator's fare page could not be reached in October 2026; the price is shown on the screens at every station. Foreign cards may carry a foreign transaction fee from your own bank. Our guide to paying for Bangkok's trains sets out which card works on which line, and the guide to using cards in Thailand covers bank fees.
First and last trains, and arriving at night
Airports of Thailand gives the ARL's hours at Suvarnabhumi as 05:30 to 24:00. It does not publish a separate time for the last train in each direction, so treat midnight as the end of service at the airport rather than a train you can count on catching at 23:58.
If your flight lands after about 22:30, you may not clear immigration and collect your bags in time. In that case use the official taxi queue on Level 1 or Grab. Our articles on avoiding taxi overcharging and choosing between a taxi and Grab help with that. Coming the other way, for an early flight, the first train from the city leaves too late for some morning departures; check the time at your station the evening before.
Luggage, crowds and other practical points
The ARL is a commuter line, not a dedicated airport train. There are no luggage racks to speak of, and at rush hour (roughly the morning and early evening commute) the trains fill with office workers from the eastern suburbs. Stand near the doors with your bags in front of you, and avoid the peak if you can.
Because it runs on its own raised track, the ARL keeps running when roads flood. During the heavy weather of late September 2026, the Tourism Authority of Thailand reported on 29 September that the ARL, BTS, MRT and Red Line were all operating.
If you need to reach Don Mueang, the other Bangkok airport, the ARL is only the first leg; see our page on Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang. For a stopover between flights, our page on Bangkok on a layover has ideas, and the Bangkok city guide covers the rest of the city.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay for the Airport Rail Link with a credit card?
Yes. Since 8 November 2025 the Airport Rail Link accepts contactless credit and debit cards at the gates of all stations. Tap the same card when you enter and when you leave. You can still buy a single-journey ticket with cash at the station.
Where does the Airport Rail Link connect to the BTS and MRT?
It connects to the BTS Sukhumvit Line at Phaya Thai, the last station, and to the MRT Blue Line at Makkasan. Each change means leaving one system through its gates and paying a new fare on the next.
What time does the Airport Rail Link start and stop?
Airports of Thailand lists the hours as 05:30 to 24:00. If your flight lands late in the evening, plan on a taxi or Grab as a fallback in case you reach the station after the last train.
Is there still an express train to the airport?
No. Only the stopping service runs, calling at all eight stations between Suvarnabhumi and Phaya Thai. Older guides that describe a separate non-stop express train are out of date.
Is the Airport Rail Link run by the State Railway of Thailand?
The line is operated by Asia Era One (AERA1). The SRT Electrified Train company runs the separate Red Line to Don Mueang, so its website does not cover the Airport Rail Link.
Sources
- Airports of Thailand – Ways to transport to and from Suvarnabhumi Airport (checked October 2026)
- Nation Thailand – Airport Rail Link launches EMV contactless payment system (checked October 2026)
- Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM) – EMV contactless on the MRT (checked October 2026)
- BTS Skytrain – Ticketing system (checked October 2026)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – Weather and travel conditions in Bangkok, visitor information (checked October 2026)