High-speed railway project set to take off, EIA on rail tracks in Ayutthaya okayed

[webfact]

High-speed railway project set to take off, EIA on rail tracks in Ayutthaya okayed

By The Nation

 

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob

 

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob announced on Monday that the Thailand-China high-speed railway project, aiming to link the mainland with Laos and Thailand, is ready to kick off.

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will on October 28 sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the construction of Phase 1, which will cover 253 kilometres between Bangkok and Nong Khai. This project is expected to cost Bt50.63 billion.

 

The Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) will also discuss the finer details of the project with the Chinese side after the MoU has been signed.

 

Separately, the Fine Arts Department has approved the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report on setting rail tracks in Ayutthaya. The department had initially objected to the plan over fears that the railway line may damage the historic sites in the city.

 

Meanwhile, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) also recently presented an EIA report on the construction of a rail track between Bangkok and Ayutthaya’s Phachi district to Deputy PM General Prawit Wongsuwan for consideration in his capacity as chair of the National Environment Board.

 

Saksayam said NPA Construction’s objection to Italian-Thai Company winning the bid for the construction of the Saraburi and Nakhon Ratchasima sections of the rail track was awaiting court decision.

 

“A committee has been set up to work on the case once the court issues a verdict,” he said.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30396085

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-10-13

 

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[Grumpy John]

Watching the progress of this crazy train project is akin to watching the movement of a glacier towards the ocean!

[steven100]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will on October 28 sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the construction of Phase 1, which will cover 253 kilometres between Bangkok and Nong Khai. This project is expected to cost Bt50.63 billion.

Excellent work by Khun Prayut Chan O Cha and his government. This is what I have been saying all along, Khun Prayut Chan O Cha is making jobs happen, he is spending billions on infrastructure from rail projects to sea port developments to highway expansions and many more.

Khun Prayut Chan O Cha is working to get Thailand up and running as tourism cannot be utilized as the only source of income. 

 

[bluesofa]

This must surely be fake news?

 

Back in 2017 we were told:

"Arkhom said a total of 13 construction contracts for the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima route would be open for bidding in 2018 so that construction could be completed and the system become operational in 2021."

 

source:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1016957-construction-bids-for-high-speed-train-project-in-coordination-with-china-to-be-completed-in-2018/

 

[jabis]

12 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

This must surely be fake news?

 

Back in 2017 we were told:

"Arkhom said a total of 13 construction contracts for the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima route would be open for bidding in 2018 so that construction could be completed and the system become operational in 2021."

 

source:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1016957-construction-bids-for-high-speed-train-project-in-coordination-with-china-to-be-completed-in-2018/

 

You know better than to quote 2 year old news 

[bluesofa]

2 hours ago, jabis said:

You know better than to quote 2 year old news 

I had no idea there was an expiry date.

How long am I safe to quote it, is one year OK, or is the BRA date (Best Read After) only six months?

[nobodysfriend]

A direct high speed train link between Thailand and China will be beneficial for the country's economics .

Principally a good idea as it  will cause less pollution than travel by plane .

The only question is about the timing ... but it will create jobs for Thais ( and burmese workers ) .

Edited October 13, 2020 by nobodysfriend

[jabis]

15 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

I had no idea there was an expiry date.

How long am I safe to quote it, is one year OK, or is the BRA date (Best Read After) only six months?

You forget that the "news-cycle" here is like less than a workday after announcing something, before the waters get murky 

haaaaaaaaaibiloooooooooei

Edited October 13, 2020 by jabis
Better

[trainman34014]

3 hours ago, steven100 said:

Excellent work by Khun Prayut Chan O Cha and his government. This is what I have been saying all along, Khun Prayut Chan O Cha is making jobs happen, he is spending billions on infrastructure from rail projects to sea port developments to highway expansions and many more.

Khun Prayut Chan O Cha is working to get Thailand up and running as tourism cannot be utilized as the only source of income. 

 

More Comedy !

[trainman34014]

How about doing the sensible thing that should have been done 50 years ago and spending the money on upgrading the existing system to Standard Guage, building proper Fencing and Level Crossing Gates etc and employing thousands of Thai's who have no work and will be all but useless in HST Projects as the Chinese will insist on using their own Labour as they do in every other country.   An expensive HST syrtem in Thailand will serve little useful purpose for Locals and will raise the National Debt to unjustified levels just to please a few Idiots running the country and 'Big Brother' China !

[khunjeff]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will on October 28 sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the construction of Phase 1, which will cover 253 kilometres between Bangkok and Nong Khai. This project is expected to cost Bt50.63 billion.

Either this is very poorly phrased, or else part of the project involves somehow cutting the distance from Bangkok to Nong Khai by more than half ????

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob announced on Monday that the Thailand-China high-speed railway project, aiming to link the mainland with Laos and Thailand, is ready to kick off.

I hope it's elevated all the way.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, steven100 said:

Excellent work by Khun Prayut Chan O Cha and his government. This is what I have been saying all along, Khun Prayut Chan O Cha is making jobs happen, he is spending billions on infrastructure from rail projects to sea port developments to highway expansions and many more.

Khun Prayut Chan O Cha is working to get Thailand up and running as tourism cannot be utilized as the only source of income.

Jobs for immigrant labour financed by China....

[Darkside Gray]

3 hours ago, steven100 said:

Excellent work by Khun Prayut Chan O Cha and his government. This is what I have been saying all along, Khun Prayut Chan O Cha is making jobs happen, he is spending billions on infrastructure from rail projects to sea port developments to highway expansions and many more.

Khun Prayut Chan O Cha is working to get Thailand up and running as tourism cannot be utilized as the only source of income. 

 

Up and running into the arms of China!

[sungod]

53 minutes ago, trainman34014 said:

How about doing the sensible thing that should have been done 50 years ago and spending the money on upgrading the existing system to Standard Guage, building proper Fencing and Level Crossing Gates etc and employing thousands of Thai's who have no work

SRT are already doing that,employing people to man unused crossings!!!

[Redline]

Completely unnecessary expense. Thailand is not an advanced economy, and the ticket prices will likely be comparable to the price flying, or more expensive.  They should direct the assets to big problems~like Bangkok sinking, flooding, drought, pollution, corruption, the largest wealth disparity in the world...

It is the same as the person that bought the Mercedes, but lives in a room with no AC, and eats ramen noodles~it's all about appearances, but has no logic.

[tifino]

ready to take off...

 

 

[Surelynot]

6 minutes ago, tifino said:

ready to take off...

 

 

My thoughts exactly......would much rather travel on Thai railways at 40 to 50 mph and stand a reasonable chance of surviving.......

[Peterphuket]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I hope it's elevated all the way.

No, to expansive but with bells, a lot of bells.

[jojothai]

"Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will on October 28 sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the construction of Phase 1, which will cover 253 kilometres between Bangkok and Nong Khai."

 

For the doubters, that is the date that is expected.
However it does not mean that the Rail Works of the Project will start immediately. Rumour is that it may be another year to start. Design takes time.
Some changes already necessary due to upgraded trains, and see next post concerning Ayutthaya station.

Getting an EIA agreed takes a lot of time. Credit to SRT and the Thais for following up on some issues.

Even with the current schedule, completion of the Railway is likely to take at least 5 years. Trial sections earlier as necessary.

The Civil and Infrastructure Works need to be done yet. Two contracts ongoing, More expected to start very shortly.

 

Please also note that there are no road crossings on main High speed Rail lines such as this.

So the subject of level crossings should not be considered relevant. 

Reaction to the crash 2 days ago has been swift, its particularly relevant to the dual track works that are ongoing.
Many places under construction are already reducing the need for crossings, by building overpass and underpasses. 

Lets hope such accidents are not repeated. Condolences and RIP for those that died.
 

 

[jojothai]

"Separately, the Fine Arts Department has approved the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report on setting rail tracks in Ayutthaya. The department had initially objected to the plan over fears that the railway line may damage the historic sites in the city."
There are other news articles stating that they will adjust the ayutthaya station by reducing the size of the train station to be as approved by the original environmental impact study. Or consider moving the station further away from the historic city To reduce the impact. It does not appear to  be in Nation yet.

Try searching

ลดไซส์สถานีรถไฟความเร็วสูงอยุธยา

[scorecard]

7 hours ago, steven100 said:

Excellent work by Khun Prayut Chan O Cha and his government. This is what I have been saying all along, Khun Prayut Chan O Cha is making jobs happen, he is spending billions on infrastructure from rail projects to sea port developments to highway expansions and many more.

Khun Prayut Chan O Cha is working to get Thailand up and running as tourism cannot be utilized as the only source of income. 

 

Not exactly fast projects.

 

How many times have all these projects appeared in the media and many still not started/no where near starting. 

 

 

[sammieuk1]

50.63 billion will buy a launchpad to oblivion at 253kph just add some ozzy music and it's good to go ????

[Scot123]

9 hours ago, steven100 said:

Excellent work by Khun Prayut Chan O Cha and his government. This is what I have been saying all along, Khun Prayut Chan O Cha is making jobs happen, he is spending billions on infrastructure from rail projects to sea port developments to highway expansions and many more.

Khun Prayut Chan O Cha is working to get Thailand up and running as tourism cannot be utilized as the only source of income. 

 

Choking on my coffee. It must be that time of the financial year when the high speed but not really high speed train to china is brought up with yet another MOu. Saying this with a straight face on here is very bizarre but strangly not unexpected.  LOL again.

[SunsetT]

11 hours ago, bluesofa said:

This must surely be fake news?

 

Back in 2017 we were told:

"Arkhom said a total of 13 construction contracts for the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima route would be open for bidding in 2018 so that construction could be completed and the system become operational in 2021."

 

source:  https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1016957-construction-bids-for-high-speed-train-project-in-coordination-with-china-to-be-completed-in-2018/

 

The project has stalled because it's taken to years to collect, sort, and count the storm of brown envelopes created in 2018.

[ourmanflint]

Laos broke ground in 2013 on their portion of the railway, have bored 75 tunnels and are on target to start to open in 2021. Thailand is miles behind, and will hold up the project for years to come. The railway is supposed to go to Singapore, so the Bangkok-Padang Besar stretch has to be built as well.

 

I don't think many of us will be alive to see it let alone use it

[connda]

14 hours ago, webfact said:

High-speed railway project set to take off

Ouch.  Not good wording.  You want the public the believe your high-speed rail will stay on the tracks, not "take off" although HSR does actually 'fly' but......wording, wording, wording.

[Gee Ku]

He better stir the money-<deleted> pot quickly now before an ouster throws him out. But 50 billion Baht for this 256km line?  Take a leave from Najib's failed ECRL gambit in Malaysia.

[pegman]

Update on Laos portion.