SRT to expropriate land for high-speed rail links between airports
Privately owned land in Chachoengsao and Chon Buri is to be expropriated for the construction of stations for high-speed rail lines linking three airports, a senior State Railway of Thailand official said on Monday.
The rail lines linking to U-tapao, Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang international airports are part of the Eastern Economic Corridor project.
Deputy SRT governor Jare Rungthanee said a study of appropriate routes found that, based on commuter convenience, it was preferable to build the stations in Chachoengsao and Chon Buri’s Siracha district on private rather than SRT property.
Jare said details of the expropriation await a more complete study, to be done this year.
SRT directors must then establish a committee to handle bidding on construction of the high-speed railway next year, he said.
Acting SRT governor Anon Luangboribun, an inspector with the Transport Ministry, said the SRT board recently earmarked an additional Bt300 million for land expropriation for the expansion of the Airport Rail Link line from Phayathai station to Don Mueang Airport.
Meanwhile the EEC development committee on Friday opened the door to private investment in two related projects – the high-speed lines linking the three airports, and a depot at U-tapao Airport, a Transport Ministry source said.
The source said the committee aimed to have contracts signed with private firms by the third quarter of next year.
The source said nearly 104,000 passengers a day were expected to use the City Line service of Airport Rail Link trains between Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi, and 65,630 passengers a day will use the high-speed railway between Suvarnabhumi and Rayong.
The Don Mueang-Rayong commute would be two hours, with trains stopping at all stations along the route.