BANGKOK, Aug 31 (TNA) – The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) signed a 6.52-billion-baht contract to buy 50 locomotives from the SFR consortium to replace old locomotives.
SRT governor Nirut Maneephan said the contract was signed today for the procurement of 50 diesel-electric locomotives with the maximal axle load of 16 tons together with spare parts.
The SFR consortium consists of Sanfoco International Co and River Engineering Co. It won the bidding contest for the locomotive supply by quoting the lowest price of 6,259 million baht, 0.50% less than the median price of 6,562 million baht.
The consortium was contracted to deliver 20 locomotives in 540 days and 30 other ones in 915 days after the contract signing.
“It is the biggest procurement of locomotives by the State Railway of Thailand… They will replace old diesel locomotives that have been in use for 30-50 tears. They will also be operated on double-track railways and new tracks to improve train services and punctuality. These days locomotives often break down and are not enough. We do not want to deploy the locomotives that are not of their complete conditions because that would waste people’s time,” Mr Nirut said.
According to him, the SRT plans to procure a total of 184 locomotives.
It was reported that the bidding contest for the supply of 50 new locomotives had started in 2011 and its process had been delayed for nine years. Sanfoco International Co won another contract in 2013 to supply 20 diesel-electric locomotives worth 3.3 billion baht to SRT. (END)
