Construction of Thai-Chinese high-speed rail slated to begin next year

[rooster59]

Construction of Thai-Chinese high-speed rail slated to begin next year

Thana Boonlert

 

 

BANGKOK, 23rd November 2018 (NNT) – The government has assured the public that construction of the first phase of the remaining three sections of the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima will begin in April next year. 

At the 26th Meeting of the Joint Committee on Railway Cooperation between Thailand and China, both countries followed up on the progress of the construction of the first phase of the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima route, the second phase of the Nakhon Si Thammarat-Nong Khai route, and the financial partnership. 

Currently, the construction of the first phase’s 3.5-kilometer section from Klang Dong to Pang Asok is making significant headway whereas the construction of the first phase’s 238.5-kilometer remaining three sections will start in April next year. This route is to begin operations in 2022. 

Meanwhile, Thailand is planning to review findings for the construction of the second phase’s 355-kilometer Nakhon Si Thammarat-Nong Khai route. China suggested that all stakeholders follow up on the rail link in Nong Khai with Laos. Talks are expected to take place in January next year. 

Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith added that China proposed a loan with an interest rate of 3 percent per year, but Thailand is negotiating for a drop to 2.6 percent year. A conclusion is expected in December.

 

 

-- nnt 2018-11-25

[bluesofa]

44 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Currently, the construction of the first phase’s 3.5-kilometer section from Klang Dong to Pang Asok is making significant headway

This is the first time I've seen any reference to it in the press, since our own Sam Spade's photo-op in December last year.

So, "making significant headway" on a 3.5km stretch after a year?

 

[Tailwagsdog]

WOW that's great, sorry just explain to me again how youre going to pay back billions with the train fares. Logic would suggest hi speed links between Pattaya-Rayong, Hua Hin & Ayuttyha with good frieght rail links to the regional cities & deep water ports to decentralize industry would be money better spent. What is a high speed train to southern china going to bring? 

[Phuketshrew]

9 minutes ago, Tailwagsdog said:

What is a high speed train to southern china going to bring?

more Chinese?

[simoh1490]

A number of countries in the region have become prisoners to Chinese financing and debt, the Maldives is the latest to realise that they are now effectively broke as a result, I hope Thailand is not planning on going down that same road:

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/05/chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-raises-debt-risks-in-8-nations.html

 

[Ulic]

2 hours ago, Tailwagsdog said:

WOW that's great, sorry just explain to me again how youre going to pay back billions with the train fares. Logic would suggest hi speed links between Pattaya-Rayong, Hua Hin & Ayuttyha with good frieght rail links to the regional cities & deep water ports to decentralize industry would be money better spent. What is a high speed train to southern china going to bring? 

Many snouts to feed at the trough. 

[Krataiboy]

3 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

more Chinese?

Yes, and not necessarily just for tourism, either. The Chinese are clearly building an infrastructure to give them easy access to the fruits (and I don't just mean durian and pineapple) of Thailand and the rest of South-east Asia.

Kind of reminds me of what the Japanese were up to in the run-up to WW2, wittily observed by Ogden Nash in a little ditty the junta might benefiti from reading.
 

   The Japanese (1938)

How courteous is the Japanese;
He always says, “Excuse it, please.”
He climbs into his neighbor’s garden,
And smiles, and says, “I beg your pardon”;
He bows and grins a friendly grin,
And calls his hungry family in;
He grins, and bows a friendly bow;
“So sorry, this my garden now.”

 

Edited November 25, 2018 by Krataiboy

[Tailwagsdog]

4 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

more Chinese?

You would think so, but in reality tourists coming from all over China get here faster & cheaper by plane. After 500-1000km distance planes are better than trains.

[thurien]

5 hours ago, Tailwagsdog said:

WOW that's great, sorry just explain to me again how youre going to pay back billions with the train fares. Logic would suggest hi speed links between Pattaya-Rayong, Hua Hin & Ayuttyha with good frieght rail links to the regional cities & deep water ports to decentralize industry would be money better spent. What is a high speed train to southern china going to bring? 

who talks about "pay the loan back to the Chinese"? 

lesson no. 1 of Thai economics: A loan is to be regarded a present with an option to show (financial) thankfulness from time to time

[zzaa09]

Another corrupted while elephant project.

 

Oh well...

[kannot]

5 hours ago, Tailwagsdog said:

WOW that's great, sorry just explain to me again how youre going to pay back billions with the train fares. Logic would suggest hi speed links between Pattaya-Rayong, Hua Hin & Ayuttyha with good frieght rail links to the regional cities & deep water ports to decentralize industry would be money better spent. What is a high speed train to southern china going to bring? 

Hi so Tourists?

[Srikcir]

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith added that China proposed a loan with an interest rate of 3 percent per year, but Thailand is negotiating for a drop to 2.6 percent year.

February 2015 -

• Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said that China's proposed 2-4% was considered too high compared to the 1.5% offered by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which was the major creditor of the Airport Rail Link construction.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ministry-asks-china-ease-loan-conditions-first-standard-gauge-railway-route/

• Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong said that Thailand needs lending interest rate below 2% annually.
• China says 2% is what they charge for underdeveloped countries like Laos where China could seize Lao assets if the government defaults on debt payments.

August 2017 -

• Arkhom argued that China’s government is also demanding a high interest rate from Thailand, higher than it granted Indonesia for a similar project.
• “Our sovereign credit rating is higher than Indonesia and some other countries in the region” yet,
• current yields of 10-year bonds issued by the Thai government were slightly over 2%, comparing favorably with the nearly 7% per annum of Indonesian government bonds.  

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30323682

Possible China's motivation for a higher interest rate:

June 2017 -

• Academics have cautioned that the Sino-Thai high-speed train project could end in bankruptcy and fail to develop sought-after technology in Thailand.  
• Economist and Director of the Institute of Asian Studies at Chulalongkorn University Nuannoi Trirat said the current project in Nakhon Ratchasima was likely to end in bankruptcy as there were limited passengers and many transportation options.
• Former Director of the Transportation Institute at Chulalongkorn University Sompong Sirisoponsilp said the government had not thoroughly considered the project (such as such as connectivity to other transportation systems, the competitiveness of the project compared to buses or airplanes, the customer group) which will result in a total economic failure and a loss of other benefits that the government expected.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30318843

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

the first phase of the remaining three sections of the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima will begin in April next year. 

And still no firm loan agreement?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[trainman34014]

More Bullshit for the small brained masses from the Military chest beaters who like making big noises but achieve little.

 

26 Meetings and they still haven't got 3.5 Klicks of test track, not to mention a loan agreement of any sort despite 26 free lunches with the finest booze to match whilst discussing the slicing up of 'how much for the boys' in all this then ?

 

IF it ever gets built, or even half built before abandonment, it will lumber the future generations with a bankrupt future, whilst 'The Generals' retire with their ill gotten gains to their luxury pads in Lands elsewhere financed by a life of total corruption.  It makes you Puke !!

[DrTuner]

6 hours ago, bluesofa said:

So, "making significant headway" on a 3.5km stretch after a year?

Well it does take time to gather and dry the bamboo for the thing. And they need to find a buffalo capable of 250km/h, too.

[bluesofa]

19 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

Well it does take time to gather and dry the bamboo for the thing. And they need to find a buffalo capable of 250km/h, too.

Just what do they feed it to go that fast?

[HalfLight]

How many committee meetings to agree the specs for a 3.5 km section? 26. And only 220km left to go?

 

Amazing really. Perhaps I read it wrong...

[Phuketshrew]

13 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Just what do they feed it to go that fast?

Speed of course - There's a plentiful supply of Ya Bah available.

[DrTuner]

20 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Just what do they feed it to go that fast?

Coke and redbull. Problem is the supercharged buffalo might continue straight to London after moving down a scooter BiB.

[Phuketshrew]

2 hours ago, DrTuner said:

Well it does take time to gather and dry the bamboo for the thing. And they need to find a buffalo capable of 250km/h, too.

I am sure that the environmental assessment would have allowed for the copious amounts of bovine waste to be generated - just hope they also considered the equally large amount of methane that will be produced.

[chainarong]

So far the sweet spot for High Speed is three hours travel time, anything over is uneconomical and depending on lots of factors whether any that do run two to three hours travel time will ever run at a profit, the only one up to last year to run at a profit in China was the Beijing Shanghi line , there's a good write up in 2016 in Time Mag " What ever You do Don't mention High Speed Rail". a must read, end of story.  

[graemeaylward]

So, is the dualling of the line through Khon Kaen nothing to do with this high-speed link to Nong Khai? The signs around the development show high-speed trains and yet nothing mentioned about this stretch of line here!

Sent from my Lenovo A3000-H using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Dave67]

26th meeting ?

[Dave67]

There is so much bullshit in that article I don't know where to start

3.5K "Phase" 1  That would be another 80 3.5k "Phases" until competition

Significant Headway, On paper the "Phase"1 Started October 17 so the 1 metre per day construction

355Kph Not a hope

[Lee4Life]

On 11/25/2018 at 8:58 AM, Tailwagsdog said:

WOW that's great, sorry just explain to me again how youre going to pay back billions with the train fares. Logic would suggest hi speed links between Pattaya-Rayong, Hua Hin & Ayuttyha with good frieght rail links to the regional cities & deep water ports to decentralize industry would be money better spent. What is a high speed train to southern china going to bring? 

Maybe the question should be "What is a high speed train to southern China meant to take?"

[bluesofa]

4 hours ago, Dave67 said:

26th meeting ?

You just can't have too many meetings.

[zydeco]

On 11/25/2018 at 8:58 AM, Tailwagsdog said:

What is a high speed train to southern china going to bring? 

Colonists.

[PoorSucker]

On 11/25/2018 at 7:55 AM, rooster59 said:

Meanwhile, Thailand is planning to review findings for the construction of the second phase’s 355-kilometer Nakhon Si Thammarat-Nong Khai route

Interesting that they will cut a 1.420 km distance to 355 km.

Thai mathematics...

[bluesofa]

4 minutes ago, zydeco said:

On 11/25/2018 at 8:58 AM, Tailwagsdog said:

What is a high speed train to southern china going to bring? 

Colonists.

Does that mean they all talk out of their backsides?

[DrTuner]

8 minutes ago, PoorSucker said:

Interesting that they will cut a 1.420 km distance to 355 km.

Thai mathematics...

Maybe there will be a ramp at the end of line to swing the bullet train to a ballistic trajectory for the rest of the way.

[HalfLight]

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

You just can't have too many meetings.

 

Meetings - the sensible alternative to work.

 

There's quite a lot of doubting Thomases out there, perhaps foreigners should come to Thailand and learn how to create a high-speed railway.

 

No?

 

 

Edited November 26, 2018 by HalfLight