CP rebrands high speed connecting 3 Thai airports to “Asia Era One”
On August 29, 2021, it is reported that CP Group Consists of Charoen Pokphand Holding Company Limited, China Railway Construction Company Limited (CRCC), Cho Karnchang Public Company Limited and Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited (BEM), and Italian-Thai Development Plc.
It has signed a contract with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to receive a 50-year concession for the construction and operation of the high-speed rail project connecting three airports (Don Mueang – Suvarnabhumi – U-Tapao), a distance of 220 kilometers, worth 224.544 million baht, and Airport Rail Link (Phayathai-Suvarnabhumi) by Establishing a company Eastern high-speed rail linking three airports Co., Ltd. a special purpose juristic person with a registered capital of 4,000 million baht to sign a joint venture project.
On October 24, 2021, it will expire in 2 years, contract of transfer rights for Airport Rail Link.
It will be ready to pay for the right of 10.671 million baht and receive the area for the construction of a high-speed rail linking three airports, the first phase, Suvarnabhumi – U-Tapao, 170 kilometers.
CP Group has now changed its name to Asia Era One Company Limited (ASIA ERA ONE) to manage the high-speed rail link and airport projects. Which Has Been Notified to the SRT for acknowledgment.
It also discussed with the SRT requesting payment for the airport link license, where annual installment to be paid at 10.671 million baht, but two to the COVID-19 situation, the number of passengers using the service was greatly reduced from an average of 80- 90 thousand trips per day to 20,000 people a day travel.
Re-branded “AERA 1” Open the first day on October 25, the opening day will have 9 operating trains with fully equipped personnel at each stations, total 300-400 trained staffs.
The fair will be keeping at standard rate with original system, but expect to implement with TrueMoney Wallet in the future.
For Airport Link, there are 8 stations, namely Phaya Thai, Ratchaprarop, Makkasan, Ramkhamhaeng, Huamark, Ban Thap Chang, Lat Phrabang and Suvarnabhumi.
Currently, the service is open from 5:30 AM to 8:00 PM in accordance with the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Previously, Mr. Supachai Chearavanont, Chief Executive Officer Charoen Pokphand Group Co., Ltd. said that in October that it is ready to take over the airport link from the SRT seamlessly according to the contract, in accordance with the plans and deadlines laid down by providing specialists in the operation and service of the rail system from abroad and in the country go to the area to check the system thoroughly and survey the opinions of passengers.
To develop and improve the airport link to be ready to serve continuously as soon as it takes over especially safety and convenience On the other hand, Mr. Sarit Jinsit, President of the Eastern High Speed Train Company, connecting three airports Co., Ltd. or Asia Era One said the company will manage the airport link from October 25 onwards by investing more in improving the system and stations with a budget of 1,700 million baht to operate in advance before the transfer of rights for the delivery of high-speed rail construction sites, the first phase is Suvarnabhumi – U-Tapao.
A source from the CP Group said that may be slightly postponed from the original two in October 2021 to having to wait for the Eastern Corridor Economic Policy Office (EEC) to clear the expropriation of land other than the SRT land for a whole route. (ICE BANGKOK)
News source: Matichon (translation)
