The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the CP Group to continue operating the Airport Rail Link for an additional four months until January 2027. A new financial guarantee of 533 million baht will be set, assuring smooth and uninterrupted service for passengers.
Anan Pho-nimdaeng, Governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), provided an update on resolving the Airport Rail Link service issues. Following the letter from Asia Erawan Co., Ltd., a CP Group subsidiary, requesting to cease operating the Airport Rail Link from 30 September 2026 onwards, recent discussions have concluded that Asia Erawan will continue service for another four months from 1 October 2026 to 31 January 2027, with an MOU scheduled to be signed next week.
The signing aims to ensure continuous operation of the Airport Rail Link without affecting passengers. During this four-month period, there will be no additional operating fees; the previous arrangement remains, where revenue from services is used to cover expenses within the current operational framework.
Regarding the financial guarantee, Anan explained that previously, the private operator posted a support guarantee of 1,067 million baht under the original MOU, equivalent to 10% of the 10,671 million baht operating rights value. Since the operator requested contract termination, they sought to retrieve this guarantee. Both parties negotiated this issue within a 60-day timeframe.
Under the new MOU, the relevant committee has decided that the private operator will provide a new guarantee of approximately 533 million baht, about 5% of the operating rights value, to support operations over the four-month period. This aims to ensure safety and commitment. The original guarantee will be returned according to agreed conditions.
Anan added that SRT is working on two fronts: first, addressing immediate issues to keep trains running smoothly; second, reviewing the legal status and contract terms regarding the operator's termination request to fully protect the government's rights.
Additionally, SRT has prepared a backup plan by assigning its subsidiary, SRT Electrified Train Company Limited, to ready personnel, inspect infrastructure and trains, and be prepared to manage operations immediately should negotiations or the original contract fail to proceed as planned.
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