CP confirms termination of 3-Airport High-Speed Rail contract

MGR Online•Economy•12h ago

Reader Briefing

CP has confirmed the termination of the high-speed rail project connecting three airports, prompting government urgency over Airport Rail Link operations.

•Asia Era One (CP Group) sent a letter on August 24, 2026, confirming the termination of the high-speed rail contract connecting three airports.
•Deputy Minister of Transport Siripong Angkasakulkiat stated that unilateral termination by the private sector is not legally complete under current contract conditions.
•The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is scheduled to negotiate with the private sector on August 27, 2026, regarding Airport Rail Link operations.
•The government may hire another operator if the private sector stops Airport Rail Link services after the MOU ends on September 30.

Overview

•Asia Era One (CP Group) sent a letter on August 24, 2026, confirming the request to terminate the contract for the high-speed rail project connecting three airports.
•Siripong Angkasakulkiat stated that unilateral termination by the private sector is not legally complete because it does not meet any of the four main conditions for contract termination.
•Siripong Angkasakulkiat warned that actions exceeding legal limits could lead to future lawsuits for damages and compensation.
•The State Railway of Thailand is scheduled to negotiate with the private sector on August 27, 2026, to ensure continuous Airport Rail Link operations for the public.
•The State Railway of Thailand will seek a new service provider if the private sector ceases Airport Rail Link operations after the MOU ends on September 30.
•Siripong Angkasakulkiat ordered the State Railway of Thailand to negotiate reducing the scope of work in the overlapping section between Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal and Don Mueang to reduce the private sector's financial burden.
•Results from the August 27, 2026, negotiations will be presented to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee.
•The private sector wants the government to change the payment model from payment upon completion to a "build-and-pay" system, which Siripong Angkasakulkiat noted is difficult to implement.

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Key Entities

Person

Siripong Angkasakulkiat(สิริพงศ์ อังคสกุลเกียรติ)

Deputy Minister of Transport.

Anan Phonimdaeng(อนันต์ โพธิ์นิ่มแดง)ℹ️

Governor of the State Railway of Thailand.

Organization

State Railway of Thailand(รฟท.)ℹ️

The government agency managing the rail project and negotiating with the private sector.

CP Group(ซี.พี.)ℹ️

The parent company of the private contractor seeking to terminate the high-speed rail contract.

Asia Era One Co., Ltd.(บจ.เอเชีย เอรา วัน)

A company under CP Group that sent the contract termination letter for the three-airport high-speed rail project.

Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee(คณะกรรมการนโยบายเขตพัฒนาพิเศษภาคตะวันออก)

The committee (EEC) to which the negotiation results will be presented.

Ministry of Transport(กระทรวงคมนาคม)ℹ️

The ministry overseeing the high-speed rail project.

Airport Rail Link(แอร์พอร์ตเรลลิงก์)ℹ️

The rail service whose operations are at risk of stopping.

Policy

High-Speed Rail Project Connecting 3 Airports (Don Mueang-Suvarnabhumi-U-Tapao)(โครงการรถไฟความเร็วสูงเชื่อม 3 สนามบิน (ดอนเมือง-สุวรรณภูมิ-อู่ตะเภา))

The infrastructure project currently facing contract termination disputes.

Place

Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal(สถานีกลางกรุงเทพอภิวัฒน์)ℹ️

One end of the overlapping project section between the high-speed rail project and the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project.

Don Mueang(ดอนเมือง)ℹ️

One of the three airports connected by the high-speed rail project.

Suvarnabhumi(สุวรรณภูมิ)ℹ️

One of the three airports connected by the high-speed rail project.

U-Tapao(อู่ตะเภา)ℹ️

One of the three airports connected by the high-speed rail project.