Now the project is waiting the approval of the National Environmental Policy Committee, and immediately after – possibly in the beginning of July – a contract will be signed between the State Railway of Thailand and the winning consortium led by Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group.
Currently the three airports do not have any special airport link besides Suvarnabhumi–Don Mueang bus shuttle service. U-Tapao, that has been upgraded into the commercial airport only recently, does not provide any reliable to/from airport transportation for arriving and departing passengers apart from taxis and sporadical van service.
The high-speed rail project will cost 225 billion baht and will be the first out of five EEC infrastructure megaprojects. The four other projects include construction of U-tapao aviation city; a maintenance, repair and overhaul centre at U-tapao airport; the third phase of Laem Chabang seaport (Chonburi province); and the third phase of Map Ta Phut industrial port, also in Rayong province. The estimated combined cost of the five EEC infrastructure projects is 650 billion baht.
Airport High-Speed Rail Project in Thailand Underway
News in Asia
The high-speed rail project in Eastern Economic Corridor that will link three major airports in the region – Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports and U-Tapao in Rayong – has passed vetting by the subcommittee on the environment this month.