The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is still considering bids for a high-speed railway project connecting three major airports. So far the Charoen Pokphand Group (CP)-led consortium has offered the most competitive bid.
The CP-led consortium comprises CP, Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc, China Railway Construction Corporation Ltd, Ch Karnchang Plc, and Italian-Thai Development Plc. The other group is BSR Joint Venture which is made up of Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc, Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Plc, and Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Plc.
When the bidding was announced, 31 potential investors bought the terms of reference document. Based on technical qualifications and track record, only two groups are qualified to bid for the rail link project connecting Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports in Bangkok with U-Tapao airport in the eastern province of Rayong. The other group bidding is BSR Joint Venture which includes Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc, Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Plc, and Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Plc.
The build-operate-transfer project, which is a key part of the planned Eastern Economic Corridor, is valued at USD 7 billion and comes with a 50-year concession. The bid winner will be awarded a 50-year contract, consisting of five years for design and construction of the rail link project and 45 years for operations.
(Sources: Bangkok Post; The Nation)
