Photo shows train tracks near the construction site of the China-Thailand high-speed railway. Photo: Chu Daye/GT

 

By Global Times

 

Thai transportation authorities and Chinese construction corporations signed a construction agreement for the first phase of the Thailand-China High Speed Rail on Monday, a new step forward for the long-awaited rail project that could link the two Asian countries.

The first 251-kilometer leg connecting the Thai capital, Bangkok, and Nakhon Ratchasima, better known as Korat, in northeastern Thailand, is expected to be completed and open to traffic in 2026, China's national broadcaster CCTV said on Monday.

The total budget for the first phase is about 179 billion baht ($5.85 billion), with the civil engineering contracts accounting for 27.527 billion baht. A consortium that includes Chinese companies will be responsible for the civil engineering work on the first section, according to the report.

 

Full story: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202103/1219753.shtml

 

-- © Copyright Global times-03-30

 

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Say what you will about China but they are at the leading edge of rail line construction. Light years ahead of my days laying track 4 decades ago. 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

A consortium that includes Chinese companies will be responsible for the civil engineering work on the first section

Would that include Health Minister Anutin's Sino Thai Construction Company? Nihao ma!

 

 

So instead of paying ฿70 for a third class ticket Korat - Bangkok, Thais will be expected to pay....? ฿500?

Or are rich Farangs supposed to keep this going? 

Thailand (any country really) needs cheap, safe and reliable transport, not just for passengers but for freight.  Some people are going to make a lot of money from this project, whether it ever gets finished or not, but Thais in general won't.

AC/DC’s Highway to Hell comes to mind...

What is in Korat that needs a high speed train to get there so fast ?? 

Waggamamma?

7 hours ago, jaiyen said:

What is in Korat that needs a high speed train to get there so fast ?? 

Wrong question....with this high speed train you can exit Korat at the blink of an eye.

Let's hope this new high speed railroad will help Thailand in speeding up their Covid vaccine delivery system.

2 hours ago, pegman said:

Say what you will about China but they are at the leading edge of rail line construction. Light years ahead of my days laying track 4 decades ago. 

On western $$$$$ and devaluing their currency for a better position in the Global scheme of things.

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

is expected to be completed and open to traffic in 2026,

lucky if the dual track railroad will be done by then if the rate of construction in Hua Hin is any gauge.

 

gauge. see what I did there. 

8 hours ago, webfact said:

a new step forward for the long-awaited rail project that could link the two Asian countries.

That bit made me cry.

I wish Western nations would pull the plug and leave Thailand to its fate with China. If Thailand wants to align with Chinese totalitarianism, then let them do so without connections to the West.

For those interested in what is going on, the news seems to be misinterpreted.

The rail works contract with the chinese was signed near the end of last year. 2026 is the target.

On monday there were 3 civil works contracts signed.

Now there are 10 civil works contracts sections awarded two nearing completion. 4 more yet to be let.

One of the new civil works contracts has china state as contractor. This may have been the news being highlighted in china.

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

I wish Western nations would pull the plug and leave Thailand to its fate with China. If Thailand wants to align with Chinese totalitarianism, then let them do so without connections to the West.

Goodbye then

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

I wish Western nations would pull the plug and leave Thailand to its fate with China. If Thailand wants to align with Chinese totalitarianism, then let them do so without connections to the West.

I agree with that one because once you open the door to Chinese investment on that scale, and the Thai Players open their pockets for donations (because those pockets are a bit empty at present) it will be the beginning of the end for Thailand as the world new it prior to the Pandemic.  China is focused on expanding into South East Asia big time. 

2 hours ago, John Drake said:

I wish Western nations would pull the plug and leave Thailand to its fate with China. If Thailand wants to align with Chinese totalitarianism, then let them do so without connections to the West.

The ruling class in Thailand seem to want to align with China - perhaps because their reputation with the West  has dramatically reduced the number of enterprises that will enter into a major business undertaking with them ( and therefore give them an opportunity to make money "off the books".)

 

The rest ( the vast majority of Thais) have no say in the matter, but perhaps they would "look West" if given a choice.

2 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

The ruling class in Thailand seem to want to align with China - perhaps because their reputation with the West  has dramatically reduced the number of enterprises that will enter into a major business undertaking with them ( and therefore give them an opportunity to make money "off the books".)

 

The rest ( the vast majority of Thais) have no say in the matter, but perhaps they would "look West" if given a choice.

Sadly they wont be given the choice because the benefits / Perks only flow into certain pockets. You only have to monitor the goings on in the South China Sea and some of the Islands in the Pacific who have said yes to Chinese bribes.

If that route is completed and fully commissioned for fare paying passenger  during 2026 then is must be called the Flying Pink Pig line.

You can bet your bottom $ or pound that all that land that runs besides the tracks and say 300 meters back from the tracks will be Chinese's owned.

 

Then they will build shops, traders, condos, gold merchants, you name it the place will look like the bad parts of Hong Kong.  

On 3/30/2021 at 2:02 PM, cooked said:

So instead of paying ฿70 for a third class ticket Korat - Bangkok, Thais will be expected to pay....? ฿500?

Or are rich Farangs supposed to keep this going? 

Thailand (any country really) needs cheap, safe and reliable transport, not just for passengers but for freight.  Some people are going to make a lot of money from this project, whether it ever gets finished or not, but Thais in general won't.

Finished?  Let's just see it started.  Another pointless project for the use and profit of the few.

Off topic posts and replies have been removed.

 

A post containing content that was copy and pasted from some site has been removed as well as a reply. 

On 3/30/2021 at 7:08 PM, Excel said:

If that route is completed and fully commissioned for fare paying passenger  during 2026 then is must be called the Flying Pink Pig line.

Nice crackling, although sauces near Payjing suggest the new V-trains very big woosh will be painted grey and very big plofitz all around for Sighnoseitis, aka the Grey V train approaching , move over bignose laowei and ENTER THEWAGON