Piyapat to Meet State Railway Officials on Airport Link Service Terms
Deputy PM Piyapat will meet State Railway officials today to negotiate terms for the Airport Rail Link handover, with the private operator willing to run services until year-end pending acceptable conditions.
Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Piyapat Ratchakitprakarn announced on September 9 at Government House that he will hold talks this afternoon with the State Railway of Thailand's governor and board chairman to address conditions surrounding the Airport Rail Link handover. The private operator has submitted terms for discussion, and officials will assess which conditions are acceptable while seeking to maintain continuous service. When asked whether the private operator is willing to continue running the line for another four months, Piyapat clarified that they are prepared to operate until year-end, though specific conditions would need further negotiation with stakeholders. Piyapat stated that a preliminary conclusion must be reached today to reassure passengers and provide direction to the private operator. Regarding contingency plans if negotiations stall, he said preparations are underway, noting that the State Railway's subsidiary company would be ready to resume operations if needed. Personnel currently with the private operator would be reassigned back, with necessary staff additions made to fill gaps, but immediate priority remains maintaining service through the end of the year.
