Airport Rail Link service secured with four-month MOU extension
State Railway of Thailand extends a temporary MOU with Asia Era One for Airport Rail Link services before its subsidiary takes over in February 2027.
- The State Railway of Thailand has extended its agreement with operator Asia Era One for four months to ensure the Airport Rail Link service continues without interruption.
- This temporary extension runs from October 1, 2026, to January 31, 2027, facilitating a transition to a new operator.
- From February 1, 2027, an SRT subsidiary, SRTET, will officially take over operations, using the four-month period to inspect assets and prepare for the handover.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has agreed to extend a temporary memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Asia Era One Co Ltd to continue operating the Airport Rail Link for another four months, ensuring uninterrupted service during the transition to a new operator.
The extended MOU will run from October 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027, after which SRT Electrified Train Co Ltd (SRTET), an SRT subsidiary, will officially take over Airport Rail Link operations from February 1, 2027.
SRT Governor Anan Phonimdaeng said Asia Era One had submitted a response confirming its agreement to continue temporary train operations, with the new MOU scheduled to be signed on September 28. The private operator will also be required to provide a train operation guarantee worth THB533 million.
SRTET prepares takeover and asset checks
The SRT board on Friday (September 25) considered the plan for SRTET to take over Airport Rail Link operations after the private operator’s MOU expires.
Anan confirmed that the transition would not affect passenger services, as SRTET would assume management responsibilities from February 1, 2027.
During the four-month transition period, SRTET will inspect assets and prepare operational systems, including checks on train conditions and related equipment.
Initial inspections found that all Airport Rail Link carriages currently in service had undergone required maintenance, including scheduled major overhauls, allowing services to continue safely.
“We have already inspected the carriages currently in operation and confirmed that they have undergone major maintenance. However, every aspect still needs to be carefully reviewed to determine whether any additional maintenance preparation is required,” Anan said.
Existing workers may join new operator
SRTET will also begin discussions on whether to employ around 300 existing Asia Era One staff members currently working on Airport Rail Link services.
If the employees transfer to SRTET, they will be required to enter employment contracts under SRTET’s salary structure. However, retaining experienced staff would allow operations to continue smoothly without disruption.
Anan added that preliminary estimates showed Airport Rail Link generates around THB50 million in monthly revenue, while wages for about 300 employees cost approximately THB19 million per month.
The remaining revenue of around THB30 million per month would be allocated for maintenance and other operational expenses.
Based on the current estimates, SRT expects the Airport Rail Link operation to be financially manageable, although additional budget support may be requested if future expenses exceed available revenue.
