Suspicions abound over government motives in airports high speed rail link, says Thai media

[webfact]

Suspicions abound over government motives in airports high speed rail link, says Thai media

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

A satirical and ironic comment piece from influential Thai media Thai Rath raised doubts about government claims and motives in plans for the proposed high speed rail link that will connect three airports.

 

The railway will link Don Muang, Suvarnbhumi and U-Tapao near Pattaya.

 

Thai Rath columnist "Mae Luuk Jan" reported that the 214 billion baht project had been given the green light by the government.

 

Under a heading of "Still Suspicious" the columnist said that the journey from Suvnabhumi to U-Tapao would be 45 minutes and cost only 330 baht, that they called very cheap.

 

It would all be finished in 5 years.

 

They used a Thai mode of expression that indicated it all seemed just too good to be true.

 

The columnist poured scorn on the government suggestion that most of the money was coming from the private sector and that people living near the railways would benefit for generations to come.

 

In particular they cast doubt on government claims that the people would benefit from the development of 150 rai of State Railway land at Makkasan in the heart of Bangkok.

 

The reality was that government coffers would scoop up a billion baht per year over the next fifty years in rent on that site alone.

 

They also questioned the government's claim about the train bringing prosperity for 50 years to Pattaya, Sri Racha, Chacherngsao and Rayong.

 

Their assertion was that this was less altruism from the government and more a business making venture.

 

Suggestions - unsubstantiated - were also made that influential CP Group would "enjoy a large slice of pie".

 

Mae Luuk Jan also questioned the role of EEC (Eastern Economic Corridor) chief Dr Khanit Saengsuphan who has claimed that the public will only benefit from the train.

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-03-06

[NUUM]

Maybe have a look at who has been buying up land along the planned route... Same for the fast train plan from BKK to Hua Hin...

[shady86]

Of course, 6 months later they will say the project will be halted due to insufficient funds, or lower train speed. Lol

[Banana7]

The politicians make these broad general statements and conclusions of how it will benefit people. The devil is in the details. They never provide the details of exactly which people will benefit and how they will benefit or how much they will benefit.

 

Maybe it is as simple as any person who get to a high speed train station can now travel to another airport within 45 min. for 330b and not have to wait more than 3 hours to get on a train?

 

 

 

 

[yellowboat]

High speed trains should be for connecting cities, cities within 650KM of each other.  Sounds like a payoff to the Bangkok elite. 

[nong38]

Amazing speed to get from BKK to U-Tap  in 45 minutes remembering it has to start and it has to stop and being built in only 5 years shows how much the people in charge know about engineering such a project. The topic of who is buying land and inflating the price seems to be much more credible and higher up the agenda.

[YetAnother]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Suggestions - unsubstantiated - were also made that influential CP Group would "enjoy a large slice of pie".

the decison-makers are all 60 year-old corrupt thai politicians,military,local 'authorities' and career corrupt businessmen , how could this result otherwise ?

[EVENKEEL]

It will be nice to stop taking the 1450bht taxi from BKK to Ban Chang and visa versa. I'm onboard.

[metisdead]

Troll posts and the trolling replies have been removed. 

[RichardColeman]

All I can say is that the driver had better be well paid and well life-insured on any high speed train in this crazy drink driving 'lets beat the train to the crossing' country. People of a nervous nature need not apply !  

[chingmai331]

High speed trains cannot have any grade crossings.  The railbed must be totally protected and enclosed to avoid encroachment by tuk-tuks, cows, motorbikes...even humans!

 

That is the normal world-wide standard but whether this standard will apply in T'land, who knows?

[Srikcir]

23 hours ago, NUUM said:

Maybe have a look at who has been buying up land along the planned route... Same for the fast train plan from BKK to Hua Hin...

Maybe need not look far.

When one considers that the Thai military can own land for its personal benefit (rent, sell, harvest, mine) independent of Thai State ownership, it might be in a position to buy/sell/lease property adjacent to or underlying any Prayut government approved rail infrastructure improvement. While elected governments can be charged for criminal conflict of interest, the Prayut military government has no such constraints.

[Darcula]

On 3/6/2018 at 7:32 AM, webfact said:

"Still Suspicious"

 

This should be the new TAT slogan for Thailand 2018-19.

[joecoolfrog]

I worry that the market traders wont have time to get their stalls off the high speed tracks. I can see a spate of unfortunate Durian related accidents down the line ( pun intended 555 ).