The construction of the €6.9 billion (USD 7.17 billion) project to connect the Sovarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and U-Tapao airports with a 220 km high-speed rail (HSR) line could begin in April 2025. The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee has announced that work can start immediately once amendments to the public-private partnership (PPP) contract are approved. The contract was originally signed in 2019, but the coronavirus pandemic led to demands from the consortium for compensation due to reduced passenger numbers on Bangkok's Airport Rail Link (ARL). Despite a contract amendment in 2021, negotiations are ongoing. Thai state railway SRT is currently working on the latest version of the contract, which will be submitted to the EEC Policy Committee and the Cabinet for approval. Construction is expected to take five years, with the opening now scheduled for 2029, five years later than originally planned. The SRT has said it is prepared to take over the entire project if the contractor is unable to complete the work.
