Full steam ahead! High-speed rail set for Thailand airports
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) board is gearing up to put pedal to the metal with the ambitious high-speed rail link that will seamlessly connect Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports. All eyes are on the Cabinet for a green light come May.
SRT Deputy Governor Anan Phonimdang revealed that dedicated subcommittees have already given the revamped contract their stamp of approval. Next stop? The SRT board’s endorsement before it zips over to the Office of the Attorney-General for yet another once-over, before hitting the Cabinet floor for the final verdict, said Anan.
“If the Cabinet gives us the nod and we’re signing on the dotted line in May, expect a Notice to Proceed to be dropped straight into the hands of Asia Era One, the Charoen Pokphand Group’s trusty subsidiary.”
Anan added that this would pave the way for construction to kick off as soon as June!
Initial work taking flight under U-Tapao Airport’s secondary runway and along the bustling Bang Sue–Don Mueang stretch. This segment neatly overlaps with the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail line, making it a crucial junction in this epic journey. Completion is on the horizon within five years.
To keep things on track, precast rail segments will be manufactured offsite before cruising to construction zones, ready for assembly once the groundwork is laid. Sharing the track with the existing Airport Rail Link (ARL) between Phaya Thai station and Suvarnabhumi, this line promises to revolutionise rail travel in the region.
The CP Group is still playing the waiting game on the ultimate choice of train model. Opting for a wider model might call for station platform upgrades to accommodate these speed demons, given the current ARL’s sleeker design, Bangkok Post reported.
Spanning nine stations across five provinces, this 271 billion baht marvel covers 220 kilometres, with trains poised to blur through the distance in under an hour at jet-setting speeds of up to 250 km/h.
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