SRT negotiates with C.P. to request temporary continued operation of the Airport Rail Link after 30 September 2026, asking the company to submit a proposal — including conditions and duration of temporary service — back to SRT by 4 September 2026. Meanwhile, the issue of the shared structure under Thai-Chinese high-speed rail Contract 4-1 has yet to be discussed.
A news report indicates that today (27 August 2026), the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and the Eastern Special Development Zone Policy Committee Office (EECO) held a joint discussion with Asia Era One Company Limited (a C.P. Group affiliate), in its capacity as the contractual partner for the high-speed rail project linking three airports (Don Mueang–Suvarnabhumi–U-Tapao), as assigned by Mr. Siripong Angkaskulkiat, Deputy Minister of Transport. This followed C.P.'s submission of its second letter to SRT on 24 August 2026, reaffirming its exercise of the right to terminate the contract and cease Airport Rail Link electric train operations on 30 September 2026, in accordance with the MOU agreement.
A source stated that today's negotiations (27 August 2026) involved representatives from three parties: SRT, C.P., and EECO. The discussions focused on the Airport Rail Link service, with a request for C.P. to continue operations on a temporary basis after the scheduled end date of 30 September 2026. C.P. was asked to prepare a formal proposal covering the conditions — including the duration of temporary operations, expenses, and various operational costs — and to submit it back to SRT for consideration by 4 September 2026. Other issues, including the overlapping area with the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project and discussions regarding the request to terminate the contractual partnership, have not yet been jointly addressed.
"Today we negotiated the most urgent and pressing matter first — how the Airport Rail Link will continue to operate in a way that does not cause problems or inconvenience to the public. Preliminary discussions went smoothly and with mutual understanding. C.P. has been given time to prepare a proposal and submit it back to SRT for consideration."
A source from EECO stated that the three-airport high-speed rail project is currently at a stage where both contractual parties must hold discussions together. The source confirmed that C.P. is currently the party invoking its rights under Clause 6.2 of the concession agreement, requesting termination of its contractual partnership with the state, citing as grounds the failure to receive investment promotion from the Office of the Board of Investment (BOI). However, SRT has not yet acknowledged the termination of the contract.
In the event of a dispute between the contractual parties, the contract stipulates that both sides must negotiate until a resolution is reached within 30 days from the date the dispute arises. If no agreement can be reached, the matter will then proceed to the judicial process, with the Administrative Court serving as the adjudicator.
