On 28 September 2009 in Bangkok, Mr. Youdtana Tupcharoen, CEO of SRT (State Railways of Thailand) signed a contract with DB International for the provision of consultancy services, witnessed by representatives from the Ministry of Transport and the German Embassy. In preparation for the start of commercial operations planned for March 2010, the Deutsche Bahn subsidiary has received an order worth about 1.7 million Euro for training and instruction of SRT staff and for compiling manuals on operation, safety and emergency management. The contract runs for 9 months.

Picture - from left to right: Prasert Attanandana (Deputy Governor of SRT), Youdtana Tupcharoen (Governor of SRT), Prachak Klaewklahan (Deputy Transport Minister of Thailand, Hans Albert Oberkampf (Vice President/Regional Director South East Asia, India, Australia DB International), Stefan Duppel (Deputy Head of Mission from German Embassy), Ernst Schraud (Director of Africa, Asia, Australia DB International) and Thomas Krenzlin (Senior Advisor, DB International); photo: Yaowalak Arrakwanich

In Bangkok, DB International already trained the staff for the metro systems of BTS (Bangkok Mass Transit System) and MRTA (Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand). On signing the contract for this prestigious project in Thailand, DB International and SRT are entering into close partnership in one of the strongest markets in Asia.

Bangkok is the prime aviation hub in Southeast Asia. Up to now, the new airport with approx. 40 million passengers a year has only been served by buses. With the aim of increasing the airport's capacity to 100 million passengers in the long term, creating an efficient rail transport system has become an urgent necessity, which will also clearly enhance the airport's appeal and acceptance. The airport feeder system is by far the region's most advanced railway project and of central significance for SRT in bringing about the desired turnaround in modern railway technology. In future, a 28 km long express line will bring passengers to the city centre in just 15 minutes. A second route will offer an urban transit line, serving the region with 8 stations.