Light railway plans: MRTA orders rethink to projects in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Korat and Phitsanulok

[webfact]

Light railway plans: MRTA orders rethink to projects in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Korat and Phitsanulok

 

Picture: Chiang Mai News

 

Chiang Mai News reported that the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) had ordered a slowdown and rethink concerning plans for a light railway in the northern Thai city. 

 

The move by the MRTA also refers to similar projects planned for Nakhon Ratchasima in the north east, Phitsanulok in the north and Phuket in the south of the country. 

 

The board of the MRTA has called for "reconsideration of the appropriateness and value" of the tram schemes.

 

They fear that despite collaborations via PPP (Public Private Partnership) deals between private investors and the government, the transport schemes might be a non-starter.

 

The fears center on investors pulling out due to lack of use of the systems leaving the MRTA high and dry. 

 

As regards Chiang Mai there have already been feasibility studies and routes suggested but these are now on hold as the rethink has been ordered. 

 

Source: Chiang Mai News

 

 

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[worgeordie]

With the lowest historical interest rates,time to borrow and

get these built ,for the future,

regards worgeordie

[trainman34014]

They've already been 'rethinking' the Chiang Mai system for 25 years; so i guess another 25 will be no surprise !

[sammieuk1]

A subcommittee not properly formed and a lack of shovels I suspect ???? 

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, trainman34014 said:

They've already been 'rethinking' the Chiang Mai system for 25 years; so i guess another 25 will be no surprise !

Hopefully they won't change the 'underground' section in the city centre back to street level, this would just add further traffic congestion. 

[cardinalblue]

Here is the problem in CM...the gov really doesn’t want public transportation...to re-think a slowdown....should have been done 20 years ago had they had any vision or insight to the urban sprawl they created w/o proper permitting process 

 

Easy to do nothing....they have that down pat....the infrastructure on the outskirts of the city is bursting...their answer....throw a few traffic cops at u turns and overwhelmed signals...

 

nothing but a mini bkk 20 years ago...you won’t get Thais out of their cars b/c gov doesn’t know how to re-educate the public....

 

bottom Line - thai drivers b/c more aggressive as traffic worsens...

[madmitch]

This could be a face-saving announcement knowing that private investment in these schemes is likely to be a non-starter.

[hotchilli]

Unless located in Bangkok or Pattaya or between it was always going to be a non-starter.

[Burma Bill]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The fears center on investors pulling out due to lack of use

 

[connda]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The board of the MRTA has called for "reconsideration of the appropriateness and value" of the tram schemes.

Submarines are a much better value.  The commoners can stick with low-tech like tuk-tuks.

[connda]

3 hours ago, cardinalblue said:

Here is the problem in CM...the gov really doesn’t want public transportation...to re-think a slowdown....should have been done 20 years ago had they had any vision or insight to the urban sprawl they created w/o proper permitting process 

Honestly where would they put them.  Thapae? Around the moat?  The could drop a light rail in the city without dorking the traffic even worse than it is.  Anyway - tourists are a thing of the past.
"But they'll be back like normal next year!"

What do you really think is most likely over the next decade.  Tourism returning to "normal" or an Agenda 2030 vision of "sustainable cities" which includes limiting the travel of the proles, commoners, and "little people" in order to make their "carbon footprint" as small as possible.  There is no going back to "normal" in a world where the people with the money and power want to achieve zero carbon emissions by making the lives of everyone but the wealthy as pitiful and dank as possible. 

[placnx]

1 hour ago, connda said:

Honestly where would they put them.  Thapae? Around the moat?  The could drop a light rail in the city without dorking the traffic even worse than it is.  Anyway - tourists are a thing of the past.
"But they'll be back like normal next year!"

What do you really think is most likely over the next decade.  Tourism returning to "normal" or an Agenda 2030 vision of "sustainable cities" which includes limiting the travel of the proles, commoners, and "little people" in order to make their "carbon footprint" as small as possible.  There is no going back to "normal" in a world where the people with the money and power want to achieve zero carbon emissions by making the lives of everyone but the wealthy as pitiful and dank as possible. 

Seems that Chiang Mai is not sufficiently vertical and dense at the center for light rail to make sense. How about electric buses?

[UKresonant]

2 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

 

Looking at that carriage, I think they change the rolling stock back to the old compartment style coaches. can't isolate and socially distance in that wagon ????     (my train set is in Thailand ???? )

[cardinalblue]

Where would you put them? A surface light rail system (check out Portland Oregon) and not the concrete jungle that they have in Bkk....

 

down the middle of the road on all the feeders roads leading to the superhighway. Think Mae Rim Mae Jo Doi Saket hang dong etc...

 

the main one down the superhighway leading into town...nothing is needed inside the moat other than a trolley or electric buses to shuttle people around inside and just outside the moat to the end stations north and south.

 

unfortunately, vision or the ability to re-design their traffic patterns and flows is completely absent...it requires a completely different mindset...what they need to do is go see the tons of other cities PT/city planning and copy their ideas...

 

The willingness to transform itself into something completely different from their past...very difficult for a traditional and status quo society to look to the future rather than being mired in living in the past/present...think paper bag syndrome   
 

 

Edited October 16, 2020 by cardinalblue

[Grumpy John]

How about self driving shuttles.  Unlike those annoying route buses the shuttle is only in traffic when someone is using it.

[Flying Saucage]

10 hours ago, worgeordie said:

With the lowest historical interest rates,time to borrow and

get these built ,for the future,

regards worgeordie

But the usual (mandatory in the meantime?) Chinese loans have quite high interest rates, as partly pay-back commissions for the decision makers in the targeted countries are included. Some people involved might be very sad about a rethinking of the projects. ????????

[Flying Saucage]

1 hour ago, Grumpy John said:

How about self driving shuttles.  Unlike those annoying route buses the shuttle is only in traffic when someone is using it.

Would be flattened by some 10-wheelers quickly. Don't forget, this is Thailand!

 

[Artisi]

10 hours ago, worgeordie said:

With the lowest historical interest rates,time to borrow and

get these built ,for the future,

regards worgeordie

But likewise, the bulk  of the brown envelopes has also been reduced..... 

[cardinalblue]

Why are private investors needed? This should solely be the financial responsibility of city/province...

 

if they spent their tax dollars wisely instead of being diverted to unworthy causes...

 

 

[Artisi]

4 hours ago, cardinalblue said:

Why are private investors needed? This should solely be the financial responsibility of city/province...

 

if they spent their tax dollars wisely instead of being diverted to unworthy causes...

 

 

Come on now, there is unworthy causes in Thailand where kick-backs are involved, and remember, it's all for the benefit of Thailand - particularly its people.... 

[herfiehandbag]

20 hours ago, placnx said:

Seems that Chiang Mai is not sufficiently vertical and dense at the center for light rail to make sense. How about electric buses?

The red songthaw operators would never stand for it!

[SmartyMarty]

"Rethink" = renegotiate the brown envelopes.

[Misab]

On 10/16/2020 at 8:41 PM, Grumpy John said:

How about self driving shuttles.  Unlike those annoying route buses the shuttle is only in traffic when someone is using it.

Good idea

[HOAX]

Trams in Thailand lol.

 

Perhaps in BKK, Pattaya and Phuket at best, but not in any other cities where everything is randomly scattered around. People live and shop all over the place. Nothing is organized in Thailand so no one goes from specific areas, say living areas to shopping area. No one is going to sit in these things for decades while they go through hundreds of hoops and sois to collect people. They might be inspired by European cities, but they're delusional if they think Thailand can compare.