18-4-2024 (BANGKOK) The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is anticipating the imminent signing of the final two construction contracts for the first phase of the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway project, according to Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote.
The ambitious 179.4-billion-baht endeavor, connecting Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima over a distance of 251 kilometers, has been divided into 14 contracts, with only two remaining to be inked.
Addressing the progress, Mr. Surapong revealed that contract No. 4-5, covering the 13.3-kilometer Ban Pho–Phra Kaeo section in Ayutthaya province, carries a budget of 9.9 billion baht. The signing of this contract hinges on the completion of a heritage impact assessment (HIA) report for the proposed Ayutthaya station.
“The Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy expects to submit the HIA report to UNESCO this month,” Mr. Surapong stated, expressing confidence in obtaining approval from the United Nations agency, which has been closely monitoring the HIA process.
“There shouldn’t be a problem because the HIA, the first of its kind in Thailand, was conducted [voluntarily] even though the planned construction of the railway section and the attached Ayutthaya station does not even pass through any part of Ayutthaya’s World Heritage site,” he added, highlighting the precautionary measures taken to preserve the area’s cultural significance.
The remaining contract, No. 4-1, pertains to a 15.2-kilometer section between Bang Sue and Don Muang in Bangkok. The initial design envisioned linking this segment to the high-speed railway connecting the three major airports – Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-tapao.
However, construction of the latter has faced delays as Asia Era One Company – the CP Group-led consortium holding the concession – sought to renegotiate some terms of its contract. These issues have largely been resolved, and approval from the Board of Investment (BoI) is anticipated by May 22.
Should the BoI fail to grant investment promotion for the project, Mr. Surapong acknowledged that the government must explore alternative solutions. One option under consideration is for the SRT to solely invest in the Bang Sue-Don Muang section to prevent further delays in the high-speed rail line’s completion.
Plagued by numerous setbacks since its initial agreement between Thailand and China in 2015, the first phase of the line is now slated for completion in 2028.
