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Published on March 13, 2008

Transparent bidding will ensure standard and fairly priced train systems for Thailand, Marc Chatelard, senior vice president for the Asia-Pacific at Alstom Transport and country president for Alstom Singapore, told a press conference yesterday.

Chatelard is confident Alstom's technology is competitive and gave assurances there would be no connection problems, even though all existing Bangkok Skytrain and subway trains are operated by Siemens' carriages and signalling system.

"Several countries opt for several suppliers. Alstom is ready to transfer technology to Thailand in the way we did in South Korea," he said.

Aside from the carriage supply, Alstom has showed interest in investing in other fields, such as a train-assembly plant or maintenance facility, depending on investment conditions.

Despite a presence in Thailand since 1950, Alstom's only business in the Kingdom involves the subway system's track work and ventilation.

Separately, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday chaired the first meeting of the mega-project committee on transportation.

Samak vowed to proceed with rail-network investment of Bt770 billion, including three extended Skytrain routes. The government will fund the infrastructure development and seek private operators for the rest.

The Public Debt Management Office estimates the government will need to spend Bt553 billion on infrastructure, with the private sector contributing the other Bt217 billion. Some of the funds will be raised domestically through 30-year bonds starting next month.

The government will also pursue a plan to take control of Skytrain operator Bangkok Mass Transit System, which will require an additional Bt50 billion.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation