KR Chairman & CEO Kim Sang-gyun signs an agreement to provide consulting services for high-speed rail with President Kumar Singh of the National Capital Regional Transportation Corp. (NCRTC) on Feb. 13. (Photo: KR)

Korea Rail Network Authority (KR) has been selected as a final bidder for the 156 billion won project management service for the High-Speed Rail Linked 3 Airport project in Thailand.

The project calls for a public-private partnership to connect 191 km-long high-speed rail leading to Thailand’s three main airports - Don Mueang International Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport and U-Tapao International Airport.

KR formed a global consortium with 13 companies, including Thai engineering company Team Group and submitted a bid.

The consortium won a management service of the project after four months of negations on technology and price.

KR is to put 13 experts in major areas, such as high-speed railway train and signal and other system segments. KR Chairman & CEO Kim Sang-gyun said, “I think it is meaningful for KR to enter Thailand following the winning of the Indian high-speed railway project.”

KR will spread Korea’s excellent railway construction project management capabilities on the global railway market and provide full support for Korean companies’ overseas market entry, he added.

KR Wins 1st Overseas High-Speed Consulting Service Order to NCRTC of India

Korea Rail Network Authority (KR) has signed a deal to provide consulting service on high-speed railway business with the National Capital Regional Transportation Corp. (NCRTC), KR said on Feb. 16. It is the first time Korea has closed a deal on high-speed railway business abroad.

Under the deal, KR will offer business consulting services on all processes ranging from the establishment of a research center to the construction and operation of a high-speed railway system in the National Capital Region around Delhi. The agreement also provides for the provision of related business information and technology exchanges.

NCRTC is a public entity, formed by the central government and four provincial governments to build a regional rapid transit system (RRTS) to connect Delhi with its surrounding metropolitan area.

KR Chairman & CEO Kim Sang-gyun said, “Korea, which had received business consulting services from leading engineering companies such as Bechtel, is deeply moved to have been commissioned consulting services for the first time, based on high-speed technology and knowhow the nation has so far accumulated.”

KR has invited new tenders worth a combined 1.56 trillion won in the five railway technology sectors - electrical, signal, communications, trail and railway cars, it said on Feb. 13. The figure represents a 9.6 percent rise over last year.

KR will place orders on a project to double-track a section between Hongseong and Songsan and one to electrify the Pohang-Donghae section of the Donghae Line. A new design project will involve a railroad project to connect Chuncheon and Sokcho.

KR plans to place orders on signals and tracks for the electrification of the Gwangyang-Jinju section of the Gyeongjeon Line and the Hongseong-Shinchang portion of the Janghang Line, which remain operational with not electrified.

KR Chairman Kim said, “Orders worth 1.22 trillion won or 78.1 percent will be front-loaded in the first half in time for the progress of major projects.” In particular, he said, each construction section will have separately divided orders to give wider access to SMEs, and KR’s procurement scope will be increased.

KR invited tenders for 17 projects worth a combined 1.423 trillion won last year.

The projects included a project to double-track a portion between Yeongcheon and Dodam, one to double-track the Yeongcheon-Shingyeongju section, and one to improve the Ganchi-Daeya section under the Janghang Line 2nd Phase Improvement Project.