Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak says he is certain the establishment of the proposed Department of Rail Transport will be completed by the end of the year.
Mr Somkid, who is in charge of the country's economic affairs and is charged with overseeing the Thai-Sino high-speed railway project, said yesterday the Transport Ministry will take responsibility for establishing the new department.
Mr Somkid said once the establishment of the department is complete, it will be assigned to oversee rail management in the country and also oversee the rail technology transfer from the Thai-Sino high-speed rail project.
"I have already told the Transport Ministry to prepare for the establishment of the Department of Rail Transport," he said.
"I hope this department acts as a coordinator between the Council of Engineers, the Council of Architects and universities nationwide in arranging the learning of technology from the Thai-Sino high-speed rail project."
Mr Somkid said he had a meeting with rectors from 27 universities to discuss how much progress the Thai-Sino high-speed rail project had been made. The rectors said they supported the project and pledged to work closely with the Transport Ministry to learn Chinese rail technology, he said.
Mr Somkid said the Transport Ministry had conducted public hearings on the establishment of the department which has finally received public support.
"I expect the establishment of the department will be completed by the end of this year," he said.
In December last year, the cabinet ordered that the Rail Transport Department be set up to help separate the roles of rail regulator and rail operator.
The cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, said the government saw fit to order the Ministry of Transport to oversee the establishment of the Department of Rail Transport.
The order followed a recommendation from the State Enterprise Policy Commission pointing out that the management of national rail transport is no longer efficient or financially sound.
It explained that existing transport offices must both handle rail and road transport with the latter making up 80% of freight transport across the nation. The commission said a separate office would increase efficiency in rail transport and help shift freight transport back to rail.