Private firms gaining access to SRT infrastructure is a no-brainer in my opinion, but the key issue is simple - the private operators must pay for the track maintenance! If they’re the ones who will be getting the commercial benefit, they must also carry the full cost of keeping the network in working order (not the taxpayer), and not the SRT which already runs at a heavy loss. The Laem Chabang–Nong Khai trial shows the model works, but the real test is whether the access‑charge framework properly covers maintenance costs, renewals, and long‑term wear on public-owned infrastructure. Without that, Thailand ends up with the usual problem of public infrastructure, private profit, and the state left holding the repair bill.
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