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Thailand's Bullet Train Set for 2023 Departure

 

Thailand is finally getting its own bullet train network after years of debate and much red tape. One project is officially ‘under construction’ whilst others aren’t quite so far down the production line, some still even in debate, according to The Thaiger.

 

"This is going to be a big change for Thailand," says Thanet Sorat, an authority on logistics in Thailand. Thanet remarked that he hopes to see trains “pinballing” around the country at 250 kpm within the next five years. We’re not certain how realistic that vision is but it does make the high speed rail project even more exciting.

 

Under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, it’s providing assistance with Thailand’s high speed rail network through funding and technology. The route will snake south from Don Muang airport, east through Bangkok to Suvarnabhumi airport and then south again to U-Tapao via Chonburi, Sriracha and Pattaya.

 

 

U-Tapao airport, a joint civil-military airport located south of Pattaya is undergoing a redesign to accommodate more civilian passengers. There are plans to shift 10% of Suvarnabhumi’s passengers over to U-Tapao in an effort to combat congestion in north and east Bangkok.

 

"To do that, they need a transportation link between the airports, and it could be a good opportunity for HSR," says Jittichai Rudjanakanoknad of Chulalongkorn University's Department of Civil Engineering.

 

Travelling between Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi by road takes around one hour in reasonable traffic. The HSR aims to cut down the travel time between the two airports to as little as 20 minutes.

 

The two to two and a half hour bus ride to Pattaya will be cut down to as little as 45 mins, an impressive improvement for a route that’s typically choked with traffic.

 

In addition to the inter-airport rail links, longer high speed rail network lines are under consideration. The only line that’s been confirmed so far connects Bangkok to Khorat but this line could be extended further to Nong Khai. Other routes going through the approval process link Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Trat, and Hat Yai.

 

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[rocketdave]

All along the track through Pattaya there are numerous unmanned level crossings and  a two lane one way system highway running along side. Taking into account the Thai disregard for traffic laws the chance of running a regular train service seems far fetched let alone a 170 Kph+one and in five years!

I wish them well.

[Isaan sailor]

All aboard the ChoCom Train.  Fares set high to help make Thailand’s debt payments.  Belt & Road benefits the master, not the slave country.

[chilly07]

I understand that the duel track through Pattaya will be elevated. This will make it difficult to finish by 2023!

[dluek]

This is blatant plagiarism of the CNN Travel article from last week. You can't re-publish the same quotes and screen grab the map graphic without linking to the original article -- it's illegal. 

[essox essox]

this is a dream.....four yrs and it will be ready to use.....!!!

It took them 3 yrs to do the TUNNEL in Pattaya, might have been longer..

seeing is believing writing about the project is another matter

[Lancelot01]

45 minutes with potentially eight station stops?

[samsensam]

28 minutes ago, Lancelot01 said:

45 minutes with potentially eight station stops?

 

yes, the train drivers will be taught the 'bangkok bus driving method'; when leaving the bus stop, or traffic light, slam your foot on the accelerator, continue to accelerate to the next bus stop, traffic light or stationary vehicle, then, at the last possible moment, slam the brake on. repeat.

[dallen52]

13 hours ago, dluek said:

This is blatant plagiarism of the CNN Travel article from last week. You can't re-publish the same quotes and screen grab the map graphic without linking to the original article -- it's illegal. 

But but, this is Thailand. 

[visarunner]

no way that I sit a train at 250km/h in Thailand.