The labour union of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is opposing the management's plan to lease 50 diesel locomotives for 15 years at a cost of 14 billion baht, saying it is not cost-effective. The SRT reportedly plans to lease the locomotives for roughly 52,000 baht each per day. Mr Ampol said purchase would be more cost-effective, and the SRT could use the locomotives for as long as 50 years. However, SRT governor Wuthichart Kalyanamitra leasing would be more cost-effective because the SRT would introduce electric locomotives in the future. Leasing would free the state enterprise from the burden of managing new locomotives, he said.

Source: Bangkok Post November 14, 2016 04:47 UTC