High speed train linking three airports: It's happening and it’s ahead of schedule

[webfact]

Picture: Daily News

 

The plan to link three airports with a high speed train are either on schedule or ahead of schedule.

 

The train will run between Don Muang via Suvarnabhumi to U-Tapao Airport in Rayong.

 

The scheme moved closer to reality after a meeting yesterday to discuss and evaluate problems related to land encroachment, land expropriation  and the moving of public utilities.

 

Funds for the purchase of land have been increased from 3.57 billion baht  to 5.74 billion baht because of increased land prices and more land than expected being needed.

 

Some 754 contracts relating to 920 rai of land will be completed by this September. A total of 78% have been finalized, 22% remain, reported Daily News

 

Other matters relating to Suvanabhumi to U-Tapao will be finished in the first phase by this October, on schedule, while the Phayathai to Don Muang section is being hurried along to be completed by 2022, a year ahead of the original plan. 

 

Though actual building is still several years away the ambitious project plans to link the airports expanding the east of Thailand under the EEC or Eastern Economic Corridor plan. 

 

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[Shuya]

In case it will really be build, which I doubt, it will be a financial disaster.

[JoePai]

Though actual building is still several years away

 

That could cover several decades...

[soi3eddie]

The Gravy Train?

 

[scorecard]

- I certainly hope the designers/planners of the train from Phaya Thai to Swampy are not involved in any way.

 

- Hope the station / permanent way planning for Pattaya is resolved soon and is attractive in terms of a useful train service to passengers, and at the same time doesn't include road/rail ground level crossings. 

[DaLa]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Funds for the purchase of land have been increased from 3.57 billion baht  to 5.74 billion baht because of increased land prices and more land than expected being needed.

 

 

More land??  Did they miscalculate the length at the first design stage?

[ramrod711]

1 hour ago, DaLa said:

 

 

More land??  Did they miscalculate the length at the first design stage?

Goodness no! They miscalculated WHO the people are that have land for sale.

[Wiggy]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Funds for the purchase of land have been increased from 3.57 billion baht  to 5.74 billion baht because of increased land prices and more land envelopes than expected being needed.

[klauskunkel]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Funds for the purchase of land have been increased from 3.57 billion baht  to 5.74 billion baht because of increased land prices and more land than expected being needed.

So, the increase of land price and the need to buy more land than originally necessitated a budget increase of 61%!!!!

That's amazing financial planning.

They really should be building condos:

"You have to pay 60% more for your condo."

"But I was quoted..."

"That was then, this is now!"

[Pattaya Spotter]

Is there any economic rationale for linking these three airports via a high-speed train? A train link between Swampy and Don Muang at least makes some sense but linking both to Utapao seems unnecessary to me. 

[PETERTHEEATER]

4 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

The Gravy Train?

 

No. Roht Fai Nahm Prik......

[Salerno]

23 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Is there any economic rationale for linking these three airports via a high-speed train? A train link between Swampy and Don Muang at least makes some sense but linking both to Utapao seems unnecessary to me. 

 

Yes, the EEC and the intended upgrading of Utopia to be a bigger international airport. 

[Destiny1990]

Gosh I thought that construction was nearly finished but now it turns out that the actual start of construction is still many years away however they are already one year ahead? ????????

[chilli42]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The scheme moved closer to reality after a meeting yesterday to discuss and evaluate problems related to land encroachment, land expropriation  and the moving of public utilities.

Is it just me or is the headline statement “ahead  of schedule” seem a bit of an overstatement in view of the current status?

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The plan to link three airports with a high speed train are either on schedule or ahead of schedule.

Just wait until the actual building starts... things will change.

[scorecard]

54 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Is there any economic rationale for linking these three airports via a high-speed train? A train link between Swampy and Don Muang at least makes some sense but linking both to Utapao seems unnecessary to me. 

Perhaps for some an international flight arriving at Utapao then fast train right thru to Phya Thai is a good plan, especially if the flight departure (to Utapao) is better/more convenient for connections compared to Swampy or DM?

 

In many cities in the world there's quite long trips to the city* and then to a final house/hotel etc. Fast train Utapao to Phya Thai maybe good for some in time used for the train trip.  Maybe...

 

(* e.g. Malaysia; Kuala Lumpha Inter. Airport to KL city.)

[scorecard]

13 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

Gosh I thought that construction was nearly finished but now it turns out that the actual start of construction is still many years away however they are already one year ahead? ????????

My guess is that there will be several major changes to the plan before anything starts.

[Boedog]

Hear we go again, on schedule or ahead of schedule not bad considering it hasn't started yet, everything looks good on paper but we all know how this is going to turn out, behind schedule over budget, engineering problems  unforeseen problems that will be obvious to a normal person but not in the land of smiles and brown envelopes 

[Pattaya Spotter]

1 hour ago, Salerno said:

 

Yes, the EEC and the intended upgrading of Utopia to be a bigger international airport. 

Many people do consider the Pattaya area, and especially the girlie precincts, Utopia. 

[Salerno]

3 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Many people do consider the Pattaya area, and especially the girlie precincts, Utopia. 

 

Freudian slip or autocorrect? ????

[sandyf]

2 hours ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Is there any economic rationale for linking these three airports via a high-speed train? A train link between Swampy and Don Muang at least makes some sense but linking both to Utapao seems unnecessary to me. 

Obviously you do not live on the eastern line, only one train a day and 4 hours from Bangkok to Pattaya.

[RocketDog]

Seems like many things the Thai government is going to do are several years away. 

At least the mission to orbit the moon is still going forward though I haven't heard much about it lately. 

Near completion is my bet. 

[Pattaya Spotter]

13 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Obviously you do not live on the eastern line, only one train a day and 4 hours from Bangkok to Pattaya.

In normal times, there's a bus every 20 minutes or so from early morning until evening, that takes two hours. There are also innumerable mini-vans and taxis available.

[Russell17au]

What makes Thailand any different to any other country in this type of thing. Even the great western countries never build any big infrastructure on time and on budget. They are all the same always late and always above budget, America, Australia, Europe they are all the same. So all you Thai bashers can start bashing your home countries because they are no different to Thailand

 

[ramrod711]

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

My guess is that there will be several major changes to the plan before anything starts.

But just think of how many years ahead they will be in a decade. It's a miracle!

[BostonRob2]

This sounds like an excellent project that will be a huge boon for the eastern seaboard. But still people on this thread moan....have they nothing better to do than be negative? Sad old losers, they sound like. 

[bangon04]

3 hours ago, Salerno said:

 

Yes, the EEC and the intended upgrading of Utopia to be a bigger international airport. 

The Chinese seem to be very interested in U-Tapao   and it may not end up as a civilian airport..

[spidermike007]

This is vitally important. Thailand is grossly underserved, when it comes to high speed transportation options. It is one of the areas, where the 3rd world aspect of Thailand is really apparent. 

 

And the chaos, mayhem, congestion and ridiculously excessive number of trucks on the highways (due to a stunning lack of planning, with regard to rail cargo) only compounds the need for these modern day options.

 

Whatever it takes, and whatever it costs, it is worth it. Same applies to a major nationwide high speed rail network. 

[Salerno]

3 minutes ago, bangon04 said:

The Chinese seem to be very interested in U-Tapao   and it may not end up as a civilian airport..

 

Can't see them banning civilian flights, without substantial kickbacks, given it's already used for international flights.

[bangon04]

1 minute ago, Salerno said:

 

Can't see them banning civilian flights, without substantial kickbacks, given it's already used for international flights.

of course you are correct in the short term. But long term the Chinese are investing in transport infrastructure to dominate the region, and the Thai elite are sleepwalking into a debt trap - as other countries eg Laos have already done.