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Delayed Three-Airport Rail Link May Begin Construction in April

Work on the long-delayed rail link connecting three airports might finally begin in April, pending contract amendments approved by the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee.

Recently, the committee, under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, scrutinized proposed changes to the high-speed rail project that will connect Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-tapao airports.

Currently, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is finalizing the revised contract, which will soon be submitted to the EEC Policy Committee and then the cabinet for further approval.

The construction phase is expected to span five years, targeting a 2029 completion, which is a delay of five years from the original plan.

Originally signed in 2019, the project agreement with Asia Era One—a consortium led by the Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group—also included a concession to operate the Airport Rail Link (ARL) in Bangkok.

The decline in passenger traffic on the ARL during the Covid-19 pandemic prompted Asia Era One to seek compensation, resulting in a contract revision that was sanctioned by the cabinet in 2021.

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit has rebuffed opposition criticisms, asserting that the contract revisions do not unduly favor the consortium’s private sector partners.

Last month, the SRT declared its readiness to take complete control of the project if the current contractor fails to meet the requirements.

In related developments, the EEC Policy Committee approved the expansion of the Eastern Aviation City project, which includes U-tapao Airport. This expansion will incorporate an additional 714 rai of land provided by the Royal Thai Navy.

This expansion plan features a second runway to conform to aviation safety standards and to navigate geographical impediments such as the nearby mountains, explained Mr. Pichai.

Additionally, the land-use policy for the Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi) will be adapted to transition from prototype development to commercial production, using about 975 rai from the allotted 3,454 rai for the project.

The revised strategy will concentrate on pivotal industries like modern automotive, smart electronics, and bio-agriculture to stimulate economic growth, facilitate technology transfer, and enhance community living standards.

Another significant development from the meeting was the endorsement of Blue Tech City, a 1,172-rai special economic zone in Chachoengsao that will focus on advanced industries including electric vehicles, smart electronics, aviation, and digital technologies.

This ambitious project is expected to draw investments worth 156 billion baht and generate 20,000 jobs, with a commitment to sourcing 90% of all electronic components and auto parts used in electric vehicle production locally.