Airport Rail Link operator ready to continue until January 31

Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to ensure that Airport Rail Link services continue without interruption while negotiations proceed over a temporary operating extension until January 31, 2027.

SRT board chairman Piyapong Jiwattanakulpaisarn, who is also director-general of the Department of Highways, and SRT governor Anan Phonimdaeng outlined the latest developments at Government House on Friday (September 11).

They had met Anutin and Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn in the prime minister’s office in the Thai Khu Fah Building.

Piyapong said they had briefed Anutin on the private operator’s written request to exercise its right to terminate the contract and cease Airport Rail Link operations because it could no longer bear the losses. The briefing also covered negotiations and options for maintaining services after the current operating agreement expires on September 30, 2026.

The situation has raised public concerns about service continuity and its connection with the high-speed railway agreement between the SRT and Asia Era One, a Charoen Pokphand (CP) group company, linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao airports.

SRT told to prepare for takeover

Piyapong said Anutin had expressed concern for passengers and instructed the SRT to take every necessary step to ensure uninterrupted services.

The state railway is continuing negotiations with the existing operator, although some issues remain unresolved. Anutin has also instructed the SRT to prepare to take over operations.

Following the operator’s submission of four conditions, the SRT governor will arrange further talks with the company as quickly as possible, Piyapong said.

Anan said an existing operating agreement was already in place and that the SRT’s approach was to ask the company to continue under the original terms.

Preliminary discussions had taken place, and the operator was ready to continue running trains until January 31, 2027, he said. Meanwhile, the SRT must complete preparations for the handover.

Oversight committee to consider terms this month

“The contractual conditions have been reported to Anutin and Phiphat. They will next be discussed by the oversight committee, which is due to meet this September,” Piyapong said.

“Once a conclusion has been reached, we will report back to the prime minister.”

THB60m monthly fee concerns separate one-year option

Piyapong clarified that the proposed THB60 million monthly operating fee concerned a separate arrangement, rather than the four-month continuation currently being discussed.

The fee related to another option under which the company would be contracted to operate the service for one year, he said.

The discussions at Government House focused specifically on maintaining operations during the four-month transition period.