France has confirmed its intention to join Italian-Thai Development Plc in bidding for concessions to develop three new electric rail routes in Thailand, says the Transport Ministry.
Peerapol Thawornsuphacharoen, a deputy permanent secretary for transport, revealed the news after meeting Francois Petit, a economic counsellor at the French embassy, and Jean-Francois Goumy, a French business director and trade commissioner, on Wednesday.
The French officials said France was interested in partnering with Italian-Thai to develop the Orange Line (Cultural Centre-Min Buri), the Yellow Line (Lat Phrao-Samrong) and a light-rail project in Phuket, said Mr Peerapol.
The government is expected to tender bids for these electric rail projects this month and the results should be made final by early next year before the contracts are signed around April, he said.
Before the contracts can be signed, the results need to be approved by the Transport Ministry and the government committee monitoring state budget spending.
Meanwhile, Mr Peerapol yesterday met a South Korean delegation to discuss Thai-Korean cooperation on the rail network. Speaking after the meeting, he said five core areas of cooperation were discussed.
First, South Korea would send experts to Thailand to teach state agencies about wireless tram systems, the development of a radar-based railway crossing management system, and the use of more rubber in the rail system.
Second, the Koreans agreed to educate the State Railway of Thailand and the SRT Electrified Train Co (SRTET), which operates the Airport Rail Link service, about new innovations in train service operations and maintenance.
Third, both sides agreed to jointly develop the rail network further. Fourth, South Korea agreed to conduct a feasibility study on a project to develop a rail link between Mae Sot district in Tak province and Mukdahan province, which would connect East and West Thailand.
Finally, the South Koreans agreed to send experts to transfer technology about how to ensure transparent and fair bids.