The standard gauge line, forming the eastern section of the Light Red line, will be 28.6 km long and is elevated for most its length, running above existing railway right-of-way, with a short at-grade connection to the airport. Both non-stop Suvarnabhumi Airport Express services and "stopping" Suvarnabhumi Airport City Line commuter services will be operated, with Express journeys taking 15 minutes and Commuter trips 27 minutes.

Siemens is supplying nine Desiro class 360/2 trainsets based on the vehicles built for Heathrow Connect services in London. City services will be worked by five three-car trains, and the Express services by four trainsets with a fourth car for checked baggage.

The line will be electrified at 25 kV AC. All stations are being built for 10-car trains, and fitted with platform screen doors. Top speed will be 160 km/h, but the short distances mean that City services will not actually reach that speed.

Suvarnabhumi Airport railway link set to open early next year - 2009

BANGKOK, March 28 -- The long-delayed Suvarnabhumi airport railway link project is expected to be completed by the end of this year and to open for service early next year, according to the project manager.

Speaking after leading a media tour to observe construction progress, Banjongsak Panthon, project manager and engineer, said the civil engineering portions of the airport railway link project is some 78.5 per cent complete and that the electrical and mechanical portions are about 80 per cent ready.

He said there is much progress in the construction of the station and railway system, with Tub Chang Station set to become the first to be completed in July. Now, it is 60 per cent complete.

"I believe the entire project will be finished by the end of the year. Then, the project administrator will bring 31 electric locomotives, which are being built in Germany, to be tested for three months before opening for service to the public," Mr. Banjongsak said.