The Transport Ministry has given permission for the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to continue with its controversial plan to procure seven new trains for the Airport Rail Link.
Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said Monday the purchase was a matter of urgency.
"There is no reason to wait any longer. The SRT can go ahead with the purchase plan. We have to cater to the increasing number of commuters," he said.
The number of commuters on the Airport Rail Link has increased over the years, from about 30,000 per day in 2010 to 70,000 per day now.
The SRT has a total of nine trains, each with four carriages, but only seven are currently in service and will need a complete overhaul soon, Mr Arkhom noted.
Earlier this month, the SRT board approved a budget of 4.4 billion baht for the procurement of the seven trains, comprising 28 carriages in total, from Chinese company Changchun Railway Vehicles Co (CRC).
The new trains will have similar specifications to the ones currently in operation, Mr Arkhom said.
The transport agency has been criticised for setting criteria for the purchase that are biased towards CRC. Some critics said the trains are overpriced.
The ministry was also criticised for not cancelling the procurement auction after CRC was the only one of four interested companies to submit a bid.
The transport minister said these objections were not strong enough reasons to cancel the procurement auction.
Mr Arkhom also insisted the specifications required by the bidding terms would benefit train passengers.
One of the terms specified that there should be eight driving system sets per train, compared to the usual standard of two sets.
This requirement has been criticised as unnecessary.
Mr Arkhom said the ministry can provide a report to the cabinet to clarify why the trains are more expensive than other trains in other countries.
The trains that SRT plans to purchase have different specifications and capabilities from those in other countries, he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Transport Minister Omsin Cheewapreuk said his ministry had received a report from the SRT on the purchase of the trains. If the trains were found to be overly expensive, SRT executives must take responsibility, Mr Omsin said.