Private firm could launch rail service
Written by Writer on Friday, October 31st, 2008
SUVARNABHUMI LINK
Private firm could launch rail service
AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) board wants a private company to operate the new Airport Rail Link until a subsidiary can be set up to handle the service which will be ready in seven months. Acting SRT chairman Supoj Saplom said yesterday the board had urged the management of the SRT to make plans to set up a subsidiary to run the link.
The management has not responded to the board’s request even though construction will be complete in May.
The Airport Rail Link runs from Suvarnabhumi airport to Makkasan station. It will shuttle passengers between inner Bangkok and the airport 28km away.
After construction is complete, the new link will be tested for about three months. The SRT plans to open the service on Aug 12 next year, to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday.
Mr Supoj said most SRT board members agree that if SRT management cannot form the subsidiary in time, it should hire a company experienced in railway operations to run the link initially.
During that period, the SRT could hire the operator to train its staff to allow the subsidiary to take over operations. Mr Supoj said potential operators included BTS, the operator of Bangkok’s BTS electric train system, and electric train supplier Siemens.
He said SRT management recently was insisting on the old plan to recruit five key officials to form and manage the subsidiary to run the airport railway. He dismissed the five-man plan.
”The board disagrees with the plan to have five people set up the subsidiary because only seven months are left.
Those five men would not make any difference. ”No establishment plan has been created. What will they do if they are recruited?” Mr Supoj asked.
He said the board had suggested some executives for the subsidiary but SRT management disagreed with its recommendation and had remained silent.
According to an SRT source, the management is waiting for cabinet approval to raise the registered capital of the subsidiary from 500 million baht to 2 billion baht to match the investment in the Airport Rail Link.
The SRT management, meanwhile, has sought board approval to raise the fee for the consultant supervising construction by 114 million baht from 454 million baht as the completion date was postponed for 515 days to Sept 7, 2009.
Mr Supoj said the board feels the figure is too high and wants it reviewed
Bangkok Post
Friday October 31, 2008
