A fresh problem has emerged at the Airport Rail Link as train maintenance is reported to be running behind schedule.
A security guard salutes passengers as an Airport Rail Link train leaves Makkasan station for Suvarnabhumi airport on Wednesday. All trains need a major overhaul but the plan is running behind schedule. (Photo by Jiraporn Kuhakan)
Kamrop Leeyawanit, acting managing director of SRT Electric Train Co, on Wednesday admitted there were delays to the checking of all trains after the problem was exposed by former deputy Bangkok governor Samart Ratchapolsitte on his Facebook page.
Mr Samart posted his message on Tuesday, urging prompt overhaul of the trains for fear of possible accidents as the fleet has passed the due date for checking.
The fleet of nine trains serving Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi airport is supposed to be overhauled one by one from April this year to April next year.
Major maintenance which takes from one to two months includes checks on cars, engines and brakes after they are in service up to 1.2 million kilometres for safety.
ACM Kamrop said the checking schedule had been moved to start from October next year due to the mistake in the maintenance plan.
The firm is negotiating with Siemens and Knorre Brence to carry out the checking, he said.
The talks could be wrapped up soon as ACM Kamrop expected the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) board will approve the deal on Tuesday so that it can be signed next month.
The budget of 380 million baht for maintenance has been approved, he said, adding the problem took place before he took up the position.
Trains will undergo minor checks in December while the firm waits for spare parts imported from other countries, he said.
SRT is the parent firm of SRT Electric Train Co.
The Airport Rail Link and its main terminal at Makkasan are struggling to woo passengers to the service.
The firm has been operating without a permanent boss since former managing director Phirakan Kaeowongwattana was axed in April after an investigation found he faked documents to apply for the position.
ACM Kamrop is in temporary charge as the firm seaches for a new chief.
ACM Kamrop said the firm will lease equipment from Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc, which operates the BTS, to check the safety of the tracks this month while it is waiting for train maintenance.
Mr Samart said on his Facebook page that eight of the trains were running beyond the limit. One train had run only about 9,000 kilometres. That train is no longer in service as some parts were removed to fix other trains, he said.
Theerapol Danviriyakul, who is in charge of maintenance, admitted the problems were true.
"We have to concede there are management problems with SRT Electric Train Co. It is a state-owned enterprise so it has a problem of budget allocation for spare parts," he said.
This latest problem to hit the Airport Rail Link will be thrashed out in an SRT board meeting this week.
Permanent secretary for transport Soithip Traisuth guaranteed the safety of travellers but admitted that the maintenance problem could erode confidence in the service.