SRT set to sign Bt50-bn contract for Phase 1 of Thai-China high-speed railway

By The Nation

 

Deputy government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul

 

The government will on Wednesday sign a contract worth more than Bt50.63 billion for Phase 1 development of the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway project, deputy government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul said.

 

This contract, number 2.3, will be signed between the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and China Railway International as well as China Railway Design Corporation at Government House in a ceremony presided over by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

 

This contract is related to the Phase 1 of the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed railway, which will run from Bangkok to Nong Khai.

This contract will cover the construction of the track, as well as electrical, signalling and communication systems, procurement of trains, maintenance and technology transfer.

 

She said Phase 1 will feature a 253-kilometre track with six stations, namely Bang Sue, Don Muang, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Pak Chong and Nakhon Ratchasima.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30396878

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-10-28

 

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....????

This will be the most expensive goods train in the world.

That is IF it ever gets built.

56 minutes ago, Grumpy one said:

This will be the most expensive goods train in the world.

That is IF it ever gets built.

If being the operative word.

It's not even being built in the best place- it should, IMO, connect Bkk to Chiang Mai where it would get most passengers.

Might as well just burn the money now.

 

 

Another nail in Thailand's coffin...well on its way to becoming a mere satellite state of China.....well done...what a sad state if affairs that this is happening and hardly anyone says a word.

22 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If being the operative word.

It's not even being built in the best place- it should, IMO, connect Bkk to Chiang Mai where it would get most passengers.

Perhaps so, but that isn't where the Chinese want it.

13 minutes ago, Rancid said:

Perhaps so, but that isn't where the Chinese want it.

Pretty cunning really. Get Thailand to pay for the railway the Chinese want, even though it doesn't benefit Thailand as much as it should.

Chinas silk rail-road heading south.

Getting on a high speed train in Thailand.......

With their transport safety records.!

No thanks 

It will likely cost more than a airline ticket.  A colossal waste of resources 

The same group protesting outside the US Embassy moved right from that to signing this giveaway to China.

2 hours ago, Rancid said:

Perhaps so, but that isn't where the Chinese want it.

Yes indeed, as the OP states, the line is from Bangkok via Korat to Nong Khai. The plan is to extend across to Vientiane, through Laos via Luang Prabang to Kunming in China. Another plan is to build HST south from Bangkok to Malaysia and Singapore (The Singapore - China HST). There is a separate plan to build westwards from Kunming to Burma to link up with Burmese Railways and eventually India. Unfortunately Chiang Mai is not in the overall Chinese plan.

12 hours ago, webfact said:

This contract, number 2.3, will be signed between the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and China Railway International as well as China Railway Design Corporation at Government House in a ceremony presided over by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Presumably the representatives of the China Railway Design Corporation will have completed their quarantine by that date. ????

What some dont know is, that China arm twisted Laos to sign a USD 6.8 billion deal for a straight-across railway link from Boten/China to Vientiane/Laos. 

It will be operative and complete for its opening on 2 December 2021 - and trust me, it will run as the Chinese were running the countless construction sites of endless bridges and tunnels. Beneficiary = China, loser = Laos. Latter pay for something of no benefit and since they cannot service the interest and principal repayments of USD 1.1 billion this year (they have USD 860+ million in the piggy bank), the balance is paid with electricity supplies from the Laotian hydropower plants. Latter built with credits and construction crews from ......... you guessed right ....... China again. 

The Thai deals are being signed now, finally, after years of resistance - by the outgoing Thai government; the farewell bonuses are secured by the brethren from the big red North.

Unlike Laos, Thailand will be able to foot this bill with compliments of their tax payers. Beneficiary here is ...... surprise surprise again, China. They need a rail link to close in their Belt-and-Road-Initiative to access the Golf of Thailand and, lateron, the Andaman sea. Southwest China then can feed its avalanche of crappy goods by container straight to the various seaports. 

While the Tumps, the Macrons, the Merkels and the Prayuths (in-)fight for their position they might hold for two or more terms ........ the Chinese are planning for the next generation. Mostly not understood outside China - still ............