5 hours ago, CLW said:

This tunnel idea is absolutely ridiculous and must be stopped by the opposition and people's groups immediately. Such a waste of taxpayers money for a feasibility study. 

The longest underwater tunnel is the Japanese seikan tunnel connecting Hokkaido and mainland Japan. It is a railway tunnel (which eliminates mainly accidents), 50km long and it took 17 years to built it. 

Now go figure if this is possible in Thailand and with their proposed timeline?

Such a pipedream. 

Better upgrade or built a highway along the coast connecting the ports. Nowadays it's a pain in the ass driving from Pattaya to Hua Hin on motorway because you have to cross Bangkok downtown.

Tunnel, what are you on about? A bridge.

Since they can widen their beaches they probably can do this also ????

54 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

The highway across the peninsular from Ranong to Chumphon already exists and seemingly would require little additional upgrading for this traffic. The rail already exists through Chumphon and up to Bangkok

The last time I drove anywhere near Ranong, the road was windy due to the hills. And there's no train line on the western coastline. I can't see a road or rail connection being feasible, worthwhile, affordable or good for the nature in between.

7 hours ago, webfact said:

This would be a 4 lane bridge and hard shoulder traversing the Gulf at a distance of 80-100 kilometers.

What could possibly go wrong?

I'm in favour of underwater bridge between Hua Hin and Pattaya...

Why not just fill in the Gulf of Thailand and tarmac over the lot, then they can drive to many ports without hindrance....

19 minutes ago, 2long said:

The last time I drove anywhere near Ranong, the road was windy due to the hills. And there's no train line on the western coastline. I can't see a road or rail connection being feasible, worthwhile, affordable or good for the nature in between.

Have you driven the road from Ranong to Chumphon? Did you mean windy or winding? Either way what's the relevance?

I didn't state there was a train line on the western coastline, I was taking about the existing one the location of which I described fairly specifically. Do you have a comprehension problem?

I have a suggestion that is probably naive. Why doesn't the Thai government take that money and feed its starving population so I don't have to send money to Isan to care for 4 families?

They can't figure out if they want to turn the country into an industrial estate or a tourist destination. Can't have both and in either case, normal people and nature will suffer as it always does. All that extra road and rail traffic, not to mention the destruction (construction) phase will spew millions more CO2 into the atmosphere. They still have 19th century mentality in the 21st century  where we should be finding efficiencies not building inefficient road systems that destroy everything they pass. Anyway, will make for a lot more stories when the bridge gets hit regularly by ships as well as cars flying off into the sea.

Absolutely absurd! Not even funny. These stupid children need beddy-byes..

????????..covid even mixed calendars...it's not April 1st today... 

I don’t believe a word this government says. 

Giant construction mega projects. Can't understand the attraction with those. Oooh, look, it's raining thick brown envelopes again.

7 hours ago, mickymouse1 said:

Give it to the Chinese and t will be ready in 2023

And fall down in 2024

Let the incompetence begin....again and again and........

7 hours ago, mickymouse1 said:

What is stopping them? Get on with it .

It's when the Johnney Walker Black wears off and the hangovers sets in.

2 hours ago, PGSan said:

That is a bit out of date by now.   The really huge remaining problem with this drive is that there is no motorway (and no hope of much of one) on the Hua Hin side of Bangkok.

I agree with you on the basis that Rama II through Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkhran is not a true motorway as such. However it is being upgraded to 4 lanes each way in parts which is wider than many motorways in Europe. Then continuing down through Petchaburi by passing Cha Am and Hua Hin is 3 lane each way.

 

I travel from Nonthaburi down to Cha Am frequently and manage 2 ½ hours, less at night, so from a commercial transport perspective, a reasonable timescale.

 

The problem is when there is an accident (so everyday!) and it can soon turn into 4 hours.

 

Once you’re down towards Chumphon the traffic thins out and the total journey would be around 12-15 hours. Hopefully with the additional time for the 11 hours in 14 rule.

 

In principal having my containers miss out the extra day down to Singapore, then be transferred to another ship and the 3 days up the Gulf of Thailand would be a sensible alternative.

Where are the masks?

8 hours ago, mickymouse1 said:

Give it to the Chinese and t will be ready in 2023

But don't forget to learn Chinese by that time, you will need it!

 

Why not also make a canal across the isthmus too?

I'm sure that the millions of Thais facing starvation are fascinated by this. It will give them something to dream about while they shelter from the rain in closed down beer bars.

Did I dream this or was it real; the extension of the rail from Chiang Mai to Chiang Kong. I'm pretty sure it was a serious proposition? Cos I like trains and it could/should radically reduce the number of trucks and bus' that cause such regular fatal smashes. I'd imagine the bus/coach companies would blank out the idea.

I must try and dream more realistically. Difficult when one is here,

9 hours ago, webfact said:

But should it become a reality having a bridge connecting Chonburi and Pattaya to Hua Hin and the south would be a major development for not just international trade but tourism also. 

Tourism? What tourism? Is that still a thing in Thailand?

37 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

Where are the masks?

And the distancing!  Only PM is distance protected. No optic illusion here. 

I guess many marine habitats will be damaged and the cost to build a bridge can help the poor people those  are struggling.

No China wants to build a bridge to tighten the noose.

Maybe they can build one from the UK to Chonburi, then we won't have to worry when the next flight will be????

9 hours ago, shady86 said:

Another 200mil B gone for feasibility study. 

Lots of people drinking Champagne tonight ????

10 hours ago, webfact said:

The plans would include investment from China, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.

It must be an high priced toll road then. ????????

Another bridge too far...