Work on the long-awaited three-airport rail link might commence in April, contingent upon the approval of contract amendments with the consortium responsible for its development, as reported by the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee.
In a recent meeting led by Deputy Prime Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, the committee reviewed plans to amend the contract for the high-speed rail project connecting Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-tapao airports. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is currently preparing the revised contract, which will be presented to the EEC Policy Committee and eventually the cabinet for approval.
The construction of the rail link is projected to take five years, with an anticipated completion date in 2029, which is five years later than originally planned. The initial contract was signed in 2019 between the SRT and the Asia Era One consortium, led by the Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group. This joint investment plan also included a concession agreement for operating the Airport Rail Link (ARL) in Bangkok.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the decline in passenger numbers on the ARL led Asia Era One to seek compensation, prompting the cabinet to approve contract revisions in 2021.
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit has dismissed opposition claims suggesting that the contract modifications favor the private partners. The SRT stated last month that it is prepared to take over the entire project if the contractor cannot fulfill its obligations.
In other developments, the EEC Policy Committee has endorsed the expansion of the Eastern Aviation City project, which includes U-tapao Airport. An additional 714 rai of land under the Royal Thai Navy’s jurisdiction will be allocated for this initiative, aimed at establishing a second runway to enhance aviation safety and circumvent nearby natural obstacles, including mountains, as explained by Mr. Pichai.
Additionally, the land-use plan for the Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi) will be updated to facilitate activities extending beyond prototype development to encompass commercial production. About 975 rai out of the total 3,454 rai designated for the project will be allocated for this hub, focusing on modern automotive, smart electronics, and bio-agriculture industries. These changes are intended to invigorate the local economy, promote technology transfer, and improve residents’ quality of life.
Another proposal that gained approval during the meeting is the Blue Tech City, a special economic zone covering 1,172 rai in Chachoengsao, designed to support advanced industries such as electric vehicles, smart electronics, aviation, and digital technologies. This project is anticipated to attract investments of 156 billion baht and create 20,000 jobs, while also assisting local entrepreneurs in sourcing 90% of the electronic components and auto parts for EV production from domestic suppliers.