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The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) will soft launch its Airport Rail Link in April, but commercial service will not be offered until July, Transport Minister Sophon Zarum said Friday.

Mr Sophon on Friday examined the current status of the airport rail link project by boarding a train at Makkasan.

The safety system is on target at 90 per cent readiness, according to the ministry plan. The Airport Rail Link will run eight trips to and from Suvarnabhumi Airport in April, he said.

Independent safety and system certification engineers will check the system during the test run and will certificate standard for the trains three months later. The ministry is expected to open the commercial service at the end of July after safety certification.

The ministry is considering that the Airport Rail Link (ARL) will first run from Phayathai Station to Suvarnabhumi Station although the connection with the BTS Skytrain (Bangkok's elevated train system) at Phayathai Station is not yet finished.

SRT is not prepared to open Makkasan Station as a terminal during the initial test period because the spacious station requires many additional security staff, Mr Sophon said.

A security company has been sought to work at all stations and if the process cannot be finished in time, temporary security guards will be hired.

The airport link doesn't need a spacious station as a terminal as it will increase the financial burden for the SRT, said the minister. (TNA)

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