Government panel pushes Bt1.2-trillion transport mega-projects

[SupermarineS6B]

3 hours ago, sandyf said:

The usual distorted comment. That is the Hat Yai shuttle, old 3rd class rolling stock used to ferry passengers between Hat Yai and PD. The rolling stock used between Hat Yai and Bangkok is fairly modern.

It is the tracks in Thailand that need upgrading more so than the rolling stock.

Rubbish, i've used SRT trains over thirty years, that Thai engine has been used for the BKK run nearly every time i've travelled......  The only difference is now the restaurant car is deserted......  Along with the railway stations.....   Disaster......... There are some reconditioned cars and engines, but only a few...... 

Edited September 21, 2020 by SupermarineS6B

[SupermarineS6B]

Oooooooh, more brown envelopes ........  Get them pockets full lads, time's running out...... 

[joecoolfrog]

3 hours ago, Darkside Gray said:

Im really interested to know how the average Thai family or person will be able to travel on these Mega projects, Why would any one want to travel from 1 airport in Bangkok to another in Sattahip. sure there would 1 or 2 but does it justify the costs. Who,s money is being spent and where is it going?

Oh thats an easy answer ; Public money going into corrupt official's pockets !

[Leef]

3 hours ago, Surasak said:

I think the money is available via the foreign currency holdings. If these projects get started, it will provide employment and in the long term will be of greater benefit to the country. Like anywhere else though, the longer it is put off, the cost increases. 

If it’s so attractive and going to benefit the country then why not lot private enterprise take care of it? Is it because there’s not the need and so businesses don’t see a way to make money without government support? In which case is it really needed at all? Give the money back by way of tax breaks and let Thai citizens do what they want with their own money.  

[trainman34014]

4 hours ago, nobodysfriend said:

It should be delayed , not accelerated .

Nobody knows the outcome of the ' Covid ' situation yet .

There could be hard times coming for Thailand ...

Better keep the money for now , until the ' dark clouds ' are gone ...

And besides; the money could be wasted on keeping the dead duck Thai Airways alive and buying more Military Equipment !

[P100]

The money will come from China and they will pocket the revenue too. They will expand their influence just like in Africa.

[josephbloggs]

3 hours ago, wazzupnow said:

china s high speed trains are not safe,i have seen a sign in it that says

this train can go up to 400 km an hour but we only go 299 km an hour because it might go off the rail

like everything from china cheap copies from the real thing

Must have taken you a long time to come up with that - the old "China high speed rail is not safe" chestnut that has no basis in fact, at all.  In fact China probably has one of the world's safest networks.  36,000 kms of high speed line - that's around two thirds of the global total.  So you can add up all the other high speed networks in the world and it would be around half of China's length.

How many fatal high speed rail accidents have there been around the world?  Many.  How many in China?  One, nine years ago (although yes, it was a biggie).  

 

You can criticise China for many things, but they are very very good at building high speed rail lines and operating them safely.

[DrTuner]

Last hurrah at the trough.

[andycule5000]

How about the 3 airport high speed link?

At least that sounds useful.

[wolf81]

5 hours ago, nobodysfriend said:

It should be delayed , not accelerated .

Nobody knows the outcome of the ' Covid ' situation yet .

There could be hard times coming for Thailand ...

Better keep the money for now , until the ' dark clouds ' are gone ...

I am not sure about that. Usually economists say it's a good idea to invest in infrastructure when economy is down. Workers on the projects will earn an income, prevents some job losses. And once the economy picks up, the improved infrastructure should provide a benefit as well. 

 

By the way, I believe a lot of work on infrastructure is done all around Thailand. I've seen a lot of work on the road between Chiang Mai and Bangkok. A lot of roadwork in Pattaya. And also in the north between Chaiprakan and Fang. 

[dallen52]

Going to need a whole lot of brown paper envelopes. 

Big Ones...

[sambum]

7 hours ago, yellowboat said:

People are hungry at this time. 

I think you beat a lot of people to it (me included) with that statement!

 

"Ah, but it's a long term strategy" Oh, I see - by which time there will be more suicides and empty bellies than ever before in this country. And the "begging bowls" in Phuket are/should be an embarrassment to this Government.

 

Do the powers that be actually care about that? Or are they more concerned about their "planes and boats (read "submarines") and trains? No answer needed!

Edited September 21, 2020 by sambum

[DUNROAMIN]

Wow, I wonder how they are going to pay back the CCP for that lot.  

[TERMINATOR3AB]

What  is wrong with this Gov??

 Dont they care about the normal people  with no jobs  no food many  not well off  at this time 

Sooner  they are Outed  the  better for Thailand 

That   money   how

Sell  Thailand to China  only option 

Or  start   sell drugs  like North Korea

Good Luck   Thailand

[Jen65]

Could you manage a teeny weeny bit of that transport budget to improve the driving test ??? oh and maybe get some speed cameras installed !!! 

[bluesofa]

4 minutes ago, Jen65 said:

Could you manage a teeny weeny bit of that transport budget to improve the driving test ??? oh and maybe get some speed cameras installed !!! 

There are some speed cameras. I don't know how many, but I'm a victim of one in Phitsanulok a few years ago.

[KhaoYai]

7 hours ago, steven100 said:

Excellent news from the government and Khun Prayut Chan O Cha. Job creation, literally thousands of jobs will happen because of this spending

I tend to agree with you - looking towards the medium/long term would be good for the economy and therefore the people as a whole. However, they also need to deal with the growing problem of real hardship amongst the population.

 

In addition, announcing these projects is the usual 'talk a lot, do nothing' rubbish.  They can't even fund the projects already underway.  I haven't had an update since March but at that time the government were 5 months and 18 million baht behind on payments for materials to one supplier on just one section of the new Bangkok - Nakhon Ratchasima High Speed Train project. That's from a friend tasked with trying to collect that debt.

[djayz]

7 hours ago, johnmcc6 said:

I just feel for the little guy's who eke out a living for 300 baht a day.

Those are the guys who'll be employed to build these mega projects, thus keeping hundreds of thousands in work and off the dole queues (streets). 

It is exactly at times like these that governments should spend, especially on long-term infrastructure, which, like previous posters have stated, is long over due here. 

 

[greeneking]

11 minutes ago, djayz said:

Those are the guys who'll be employed to build these mega projects, thus keeping hundreds of thousands in work and off the dole queues (streets). 

It is exactly at times like these that governments should spend, especially on long-term infrastructure, which, like previous posters have stated, is long over due here. 

 

There is a huge train station nearly ready to open in Bang Sue, Bangkok.

I am concerned that with no new train lines actually being built it may be very underused for a long time.

I hear of exciting plans. I do not hear of anything happening. Am I wrong?

[ronaldo0]

This so they can ship all the Chinese in who are so desperate to buy all the thousands of empty condos ! ????

[Ketyo]

10 hours ago, steven100 said:

Excellent news from the government and Khun Prayut Chan O Cha. Job creation, literally thousands of jobs will happen because of this spending. That's exactly what Thailand needs to get it kickstarted from COVID.  This government continues to spend more on infrastructure than any other previous government.    

I think it would be best to borrow the money from China for infrastructure projects. They have billions of uneducated labourers and can build fast. 

 

And the best part is you can borrow far more than you can afford. When its time to pay China back just tell them you don't have enough money. Like Laos and Sri Lanka. Give them some land instead and some advisor positions in your government. And a port for their navy or some other military bases. Nothing too big. Throw in a load of huge land concessions for their big government-linked conglomerates.

 

It's like money for nothing.

 

And the best thing about it is when China gives the money, you and your friends in the government can put some of it in your pockets. Buy your wife that new kitchen she has been talking about. Get a new car to show to the neighbours. 

 

Its a win win.

 

But wait, the very best of it is, China will tell you how to get rid of democracy. Ban all opposition parties. Ban politics. And they can help you introduce security laws to ban freedom of expression, association and assembly.

 

So you can be in power for the rest of your life!! And then you can choose your successor. Perhaps it can be your son. Or a crony. No need for the people to have any say in who rules them any more.

 

You will be able to keep all the power and money as long as you want. Just do what the Chinese Communist Party says. That's all.

Edited September 21, 2020 by Ketyo

[Grumpy John]

If this infrastructure spending is such a good idea in a crisis situation why aren't the politicians in Victoria Australia planning on some big project?  My son works on big projects and says he and 70% of the other construction workers will be on the dole by Easter 2021!

[mancub]

Seems like they urgently need to invest in some major new prison complex projects...although not much by way of prestige to be gained.

[tlandtday]

Even in these difficult times these jokers cannot resist the kickbacks from the mega projects.  Here's an idea how about a few food banks for the people?  How about a huge infrastructure labor program to  clean up the beaches???

[NoComment]

China, China and more China.

I am missing something, somewhere.

[Redline]

Thailand does not need high speed rail.  Update all the trains and new dual tracks everywhere.

[Henryford]

3 hours ago, Redline said:

Thailand does not need high speed rail.  Update all the trains and new dual tracks everywhere.

Exactly, the same as England. Spending 100 billion for a high speed travel over 1-200 miles is ridiculous. Look what happended in Spain with their AVE, a massive white elephant.

[sandyf]

19 hours ago, SupermarineS6B said:

Rubbish, i've used SRT trains over thirty years, that Thai engine has been used for the BKK run nearly every time i've travelled......  The only difference is now the restaurant car is deserted......  Along with the railway stations.....   Disaster......... There are some reconditioned cars and engines, but only a few...... 

You need to come up to date, NEW rolling stock was introduced in Nov 2016.

[essox essox]

On 9/21/2020 at 6:31 AM, yellowboat said:

People are hungry at this time. 

they need trains to go find where they can buy/scrounge food......

I DO GET YOUR POINT.......

[essox essox]

On 9/21/2020 at 8:23 AM, 5633572526 said:

So is the goal to totally bankrupt Thailand before you get run out of office and flee to another country ??

how about putting a little money toward feeding those who can no longer feed themselves instead of buying high speed rail from China.

do you know the word PRIORITIES ????!!!!!