08.10.09 German firm picked to run airport rail link
An overseas company will operate the express
rail link to Suvarnabhumi Airport for the first few years of its
operation, the State Railway of Thailand says.
The SRT union has opposed a plan to set up a subsidiary to operate
the service, so an overseas contractor would be hired instead, SRT
governor Yuthana Thapcharoen said yesterday.
DB International GmbH, which is installing the operating system for
the railway link and training staff, would be hired to run the service
as well, he said.
The link is scheduled to open in April. Mr Yuthana said the SRT
would need over 500 million baht from the government as a start-up fund
to run the Airport Rail Link.
The sum will cover management costs, insurance for trains and passengers, and the cost of running the railway stations.
The governor was among passengers who went on an unofficial trial
run of the rail link yesterday. The SRT handed out free tickets to the
public.
Further trial runs will be held on Oct 14, 21 and 28 and Nov 4. Daily trial runs will be held from Dec 5 to April.
Mr Yuthana said passengers on the test run from Makkasan station to the airport gave the service a thumbs up. Source: Bangkok Post, 08.10.09
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