BANGKOK: Asia Era One has conditionally agreed to operate the Airport Rail Link for another four months, requesting 60 million baht a month and the right to end the arrangement if the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) takes specified legal action over the three-airport high-speed rail project.
The CP company’s proposal would cover Oct 1, 2026, to Jan 31, 2027, following the expiry of the current operating contract on Sept 30. The SRT board is due to consider the terms on Thursday (Sept 10).
SRT governor Anan Phonimdaeng outlined the proposal after talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.
The ministry has been negotiating with the private operator to prevent disruption to passenger services.
Anan said Asia Era One submitted its written response to the SRT on September 8, agreeing to continue operations subject to conditions.
Extension must preserve contractual rights
The company stipulated that the temporary operating arrangement must not affect its reserved right to terminate the public-private partnership agreement for the high-speed railway linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao airports. That agreement is the project’s principal contract.
Under the proposed terms, Asia Era One would be entitled to terminate the temporary service arrangement if the SRT:
- Files a lawsuit or initiates court proceedings, including an application for interim court measures, in a dispute connected with the partnership agreement, a memorandum of agreement or the three-airport high-speed rail project.
- Makes a claim under any guarantee provided under the partnership agreement.
The company would have to give the SRT at least 30 days’ written notice before ending services under the proposal.
Monthly operating payment proposed
Asia Era One has requested 60 million baht a month to cover operating management costs and utilities, including water and electricity. At that monthly rate, payments over the four-month period would total 240 million baht.
The SRT has reported all the proposed terms to Phiphat and will compile the details for the board’s consideration on September 10 to determine how to proceed.
Service gaps leave passengers unable to board
Peak-hour trains previously ran at intervals of eight to 10 minutes. When trains develop faults or schedules are adjusted, those gaps can widen to 15–20 minutes.
Passengers’ total waiting times can be considerably longer than the interval between trains. Crowds build on platforms during delays, and some passengers cannot board the next arriving service, leaving them waiting for 30–45 minutes in total.
The Airport Rail Link opened in 2010 under the SRT. Problems began emerging around 2014, when heavy use made major maintenance necessary, but budget constraints and difficulties procuring spare parts from overseas hampered the work. The number of trains available for service fell from nine to five or six.
Operating rights were transferred to Asia Era One in 2021 in preparation for integration with the three-airport high-speed railway. Problems with the existing system remained unresolved.
Maintenance and contract transition complicate operations
Three issues have contributed to the accumulated service problems:
1. Scheduled overhauls: Trains that have been in use for more than a decade must be withdrawn for major work on control and signalling systems, reducing the number available for service.
2. Technical faults: With the ageing system, a single train failure can disrupt subsequent services, requiring contingency timetables and longer intervals.
3. Contract transition: Uncertainty surrounding the transition between public and private management has affected maintenance investment planning and train scheduling.
Authorities have introduced supplementary Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) buses and mainline rail services to help passengers complete their journeys.
While improvements remain pending, passengers are advised to allow at least an additional 20–30 minutes or arrange alternative transport for important journeys. - The Nation/ANN
