SRT agrees to delay in sealing deal

The board of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has approved the proposed delay to the signing of Contract 2.3 on the Bangkok-Nong Khai High-Speed Train Project by 90 more days, said SRT governor Niruj Maneepun.

Mr Niruj said the signing of Contract 2.3, which includes the cost of purchasing tracks, an electrical system, machinery, procurement of train carriages, and training, has been extended from Oct 31 this year due to delays forced by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The new deadline has been pushed back to Jan 31 of next year, he said, adding that the SRT will have to propose the board’s decision to the cabinet for approval. The cabinet already approved an allocation of 50.6 billion baht for Contract 2.3 and the draft contract.

There are a total of 14 contracts involved in the the 179-billion-baht, 253-kilometre rail route from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima in the…