Delays Loom Over Thailand’s High-Speed Rail Linking Three Airports Project

• Sommana Yan
• 4 July 2023
• International News
• 3141 Views

The long-awaited high-speed railway project connecting three major airports in Thailand, namely Don Moeung, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao, may face further delays, despite the initial agreement signed between the Thai government and the Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group in 2019.

According to Mr. Nirut Maneephan, The State Railway of Thailand (SRT), as of July 4, 2023, construction work has yet to commence, and the government is currently revising the contract for the 276.5-billion-baht project. Discussions are underway between the two parties regarding compensation due to the reduced number of passengers on the Airport Rail Link during the Covid-19 situation.

Awaiting the green light from the government’s subcommittee on policy management for the Eastern Economic Corridor, headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow, the SRT hopes to find a resolution and proceed with the project soon.

The subcommittee will address various concerns, including potential complications arising from overlapping structures with the Don Mueang to Bang Sue National Railway Center connection and the division of surrounding public waterways near the Makkasan Station.

The approval of the Board of Investment (BOI) is among the contractual conditions stipulated, as mentioned by Mr. Nirut. While the SRT has prepared the construction site for the Sovannaphum-Utapao section, pending contract termination, clearing activities for the Phaya Thai-Bang Sue section are currently underway, involving tasks such as land acquisition in Rajavithi and the removal of pipelines obstructing the railway.

“We remain hopeful that the subcommittee will expedite the contract amendment process, allowing construction to commence promptly to ensure project completion by the target deadline of 2026,” expressed Mr. Nirut.

As Thailand anticipates the realization of this crucial high-speed rail link, overcoming the challenges and streamlining the necessary procedures will be paramount to realize the vision of an efficient transportation network connecting the country’s vital airports.

• Road and Infrastructure