Don Mueang–Suvarnabhumi–U-Tapao high-speed railway

The Don Mueang–Suvarnabhumi–U-Tapao high-speed railway, officially known as the High-Speed Rail Linking Three Airports Project (Thai: โครงการรถไฟความเร็วสูงเชื่อม 3 สนามบิน แบบไร้รอยต่อ) is the second high-speed rail line project in Thailand, being due to open in 2023 between Don Mueang International Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport and U-Tapao International Airport. It has been operated by Eastern High-Speed Rail Linking Three Airports Company Limited, a special-purpose vehicles by the consortium of Charoen Pokphand Holding and partners. Including Charoen Pokphand Holding (CP), Ch. Karnchang PLC. (CK), Bangkok Expressway and Metro PLC. (BEM), Italian-Thai Development PLC. (ITD) and China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC).

Don Mueang–Suvarnabhumi–U-Tapao high-speed railway
Overview
TypeHigh-speed rail
StatusContract signed
LocaleThailand
TerminiDon Mueang, Bangkok
Ban Chang, Rayong
Operation
Opened2026-2028
Operator(s)Eastern High-Speed Rail Linking Three Airports Company Limited
Technical
Line length220 km (140 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Operating speed160 km/h (urban route)
250 km/h (inter city route)

This project is part of Eastern Economic Corridor of Thailand.

History

A HSR line to the eastern seaboard was first proposed in 1996 but there was no progress for over a decade. In 2009, the government requested the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) to create a plan for new HSR network in Thailand that included an eastern HSR line to Rayong. The route was finalised before the 2011 election with the promise to begin construction the next year if the government was re-elected, but they lost the election. After the 2011 election, the new government reviewed all HSR plans and the SRT stated that the line would be tendered in early-2014.[1] After the May 2014 coup there were further delays while the military government reviewed all HSR lines, initially deferring all projects. In early-2016, the government agreed to proceed with the eastern HSR route and suggested that it could be extended to Don Mueang International Airport beyond the terminus at Bang Sue Intercity Terminal thus providing a link with three airports.[2] Extending the line would provide a link between Don Mueang Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport, and U-Tapao International Airport in Ban Chang District.

During 2017, OTP and the Ministry of Transport in consultation with the SRT agreed that by extending the line to terminate at Don Mueang it would effectively include the long delayed extension of the Airport Rail Link (Bangkok) from Makkasan Station to Don Mueang Airport as part of the project. The Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EEC Office) in October 2017 finalised previous OTP plans to build the 10 station Eastern HSR line linking Don Mueang airport, Bang Sue, Makkasan, Suvarnabhumi Airport, Chonburi, Si Racha, Pattaya, U-Tapao Airport, and Rayong. In early-2018, the section to Rayong was excluded due to environmental and safety concerns and it was decided that the line would terminate at U-Tapao Airport.[3]

The SRT stated that the first tenders for the Eastern HSR line are expected to be tendered by May 2018 with a four month auction period before the contract is awarded.[4] The cost of the project was estimated to be over 200 billion baht, of which the Thai Government would fund 123 billion baht and the private sector estimated to contribute 90 billion baht.[5][6]

Impact

Trains on the route are projected to have a speed of 250 kilometres per hour over the 220 km distance when it opens in 2024. According to Kanit Sangsubhan, Secretary-General of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Office, tourist numbers will increase by eight percent due to the train. "It will handle 15 million passengers in the next five years, 30 million passengers in the next 15 years and 60 million passengers in the next 20 years," Mr Kanit said. Without specifying a time frame, he said the route will generate a return of 700 billion baht. It is expected to create 19,000 new jobs in the EEC according to the Employers Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry.[7]

Construction contracts and progress

Two rival consortia vied for the airport link contract.[8] The Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group-led consortium consisting of Italian-Thai Development, China Railway Construction Corporation Ltd, CH. Karnchang, and Bangkok Expressway and Metro, won the project with a 224 billion baht bid in December 2018. Their winning bid is valid until 8 November 2019. Until 16 October 2019, the consortium had refused to sign the contract, citing land expropriation and eviction problems and the consortium's request that the government share the risk in the project.[7] Negotiations were further complicated by the resignation of the entire board of the State Railway.[9] On 16 October 2019, news reports announced that the CP consortium intends to sign the rail deal on 25 October.[10] Tanit Sorat, Vice-Chairman of the Employers' Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry, said that the contract signing delays are "...unlikely to affect the project because the government will carry out the project smoothly."[7] The project was eventually approved in October 2019 as a public private partnership between the Thai government and Charoen Pokphand/China Railway Construction Corporation. The assets will revert to state ownership after 50 years.[11]

Service

Local connections
Station Thai Route Type Distance (km) Transfers Location
Don MueangดอนเมืองUrban route / Intercity routeelevated-20.122 SRT  Dark Red Line
Northeastern HSR Line		Don Mueang, Bangkok
Bang Sue Centralกลางบางซื่อUrban route / Intercity routeground level with elevated platforms-6.375 SRT  Dark Red Line
 SRT  Light Red Line
 MRT  Blue Line		Chatuchak, Bangkok
Phaya ThaiพญาไทUrban routeelevated0.179 SRT  Light Red Line
 BTS  Sukhumvit Line		Ratchathewi, Bangkok
RatchapraropราชปรารภUrban routeelevated0.982 MRT  Orange LineRatchathewi, Bangkok
MakkasanมักกะสันUrban route / Intercity routeelevated3.000 SRT  Light Red Line
 MRT  Blue Line		Ratchathewi, Bangkok
RamkhamhaengรามคำแหงUrban routeelevated7.399 SRT  Light Red LineSuan Luang, Bangkok
Hua MakหัวหมากUrban routeelevated12.305 SRT  Light Red Line
 MRL  Yellow Line		Suan Luang, Bangkok
Ban Thap Changบ้านทับช้างUrban routeelevated17.267 SRT  Light Red LinePrawet, Bangkok
Lat KrabangลาดกระบังUrban routeelevated23.498 SRT  Light Red LineLat Krabang, Bangkok
SuvarnabhumiสุวรรณภูมิUrban route / Intercity routeunderground28.812Bang Phli, Samut Prakan
ChachoengsaoฉะเชิงเทราIntercity routeground level with elevated platforms64.839Mueang Chachoengsao, Chachoengsao
ChonburiชลบุรีIntercity routeground level with elevated platforms113.449Mueang Chonburi, Chonburi
Si RachaศรีราชาIntercity routeground level with elevated platforms136.119Si Racha, Chonburi
PattayaพัทยาIntercity routeground level with elevated platforms160.929Pattaya, Chonburi
U-Tapaoอู่ตะเภาIntercity routeunderground196.410Ban Chang, Rayong

References
  1. "Rayong added to high-speed rail link". Bangkok Post. 13 May 2013.
  2. "Military government set to link 3 airports-Work on 'super link' is tipped to begin in September". Bangkok Post. 25 January 2016.
  3. "EEC high-speed railway to steer clear of Rayong on safety fears". Bangkok Post. 14 February 2018.
  4. "Auction for train contracts in April". Bangkok Post. 28 February 2018.
  5. "New govt 'won't halt airport fast rail plan'". Bangkok Post. 9 March 2018.
  6. Apisitniran, Lamonphet (20 March 2018). "Pitch set for airport rail link". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  7. Apisitiran, Lamonphet; Theparat, Chatrudee (14 October 2019). "Holding up the train". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  8. "CP, BTS groups set to bid for airport link high-speed railway". The Nation. Retrieved 2018-11-12.
  9. "SRT board members in mass resignation". The Nation. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  10. Leesa-Nguansuk, Suchit; Hongtong, Thodsapol (16 October 2019). "CP set to ink airport link deal". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  11. "Thailand gives green light for US$7.4 billion high-speed rail link between Bangkok and Pattaya". SCMP. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
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