7 hours ago, mr_lob said:

Build a wall and make China pay! Betterrrrr

Actually, there may be a problem with this railway, which is that while Thailand and possibly places further south may benefit, as will China, Laos is unlikely to benefit at all despite footing much of the bill (depending on what you read, somewhere between 4 and 7 billion USD). Laos could demand payment for trains travelling over their tracks (a bit like payments for overflights). Something that China and Thailand have not factored into the equation.

As western currencies sink, Thailand moves closer and closer to Beijing—sad.

2 minutes ago, Proboscis said:

Actually, there may be a problem with this railway, which is that while Thailand and possibly places further south may benefit, as will China, Laos is unlikely to benefit at all despite footing much of the bill (depending on what you read, somewhere between 4 and 7 billion USD). Laos could demand payment for trains travelling over their tracks (a bit like payments for overflights). Something that China and Thailand have not factored into the equation.

"Panzers vorvarts" or whatever the Chinese equivalent is!

6 hours ago, DLock said:

 

If I had any property or business interests in Pattaya, I'd be planning to sell them.

 

Pattaya will become the new Sihanoukville.

 

 

And I'd be planning to buy them. A direct rail link to China at high speed will be of enormous benefit to Thailand and could spark an economic boom. Not that the whingers of TV will benefit. They'll be still moaning or long gone.

4 minutes ago, BostonRob2 said:

And I'd be planning to buy them. A direct rail link to China at high speed will be of enormous benefit to Thailand and could spark an economic boom. Not that the whingers of TV will benefit. They'll be still moaning or long gone.

 

That's one way to look at it.

 

If greed, lack of quality of life and being surrounded by Chinese is your thing, start buying up Sparky...

7 hours ago, EricTh said:

Do you guys think that all the countries bordering China in SEA (Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand) might become provinces of China  someday?

maybe more like an urban quarter
>China could be a couple of connections away to Pattaya.
...or an Arondissement in Paris, where you can head to Pigalle (Entertainment district) by Metro

15 minutes ago, DLock said:

 

That's one way to look at it.

 

If greed, lack of quality of life and being surrounded by Chinese is your thing, start buying up Sparky...

Oh I wouldn't live there...sell on to the Chinese. Ever been to Hainan? It's full in the Chinese winter. Empty otherwise. Full of condos for holidays. That'll be Pattaya's future. 

1 hour ago, Proboscis said:

Actually, there may be a problem with this railway, which is that while Thailand and possibly places further south may benefit, as will China, Laos is unlikely to benefit at all despite footing much of the bill (depending on what you read, somewhere between 4 and 7 billion USD). Laos could demand payment for trains travelling over their tracks (a bit like payments for overflights). Something that China and Thailand have not factored into the equation.

Laos is not footing any bill - they borrowed money from China to finance the railway in Laos...

 

Also, I think Laos will benefit from easy tourism into Luang Prabang from Yunnan province, as well as freight traffic.

 

As for Laos demanding overflight payments, please remember that Laos is effectively a province of China - they can demand whatever they want, but they won't get it!!

Nothing good what so ever can come from this. It’s not like a marriage, it’s like laying in the bed with a reticulated python waiting for it to squeeze you to death. 

....????

18 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

They give you Covid, they damn up Mekong,, and now you want their high speed rail connection?  Amazing Thailand.

And their submarines.....well they did.

More and more Chinese influence in Thailand will be bad for the average Thai and even worse for us expats. 

They do  love their hubs and committee's here.

 

how else is china going to get there troops to singapore

Dream or Nightmare?

Mentality is the same here no matter what level of society take the money, don't think about the future.

 Money spent on infrastructure is much more worthwhile than armaments. Laos has now surpassed some major nations like the U.K., USA and Canada in number of hi-speed rail lines. Thailand will soon join them.

On 5/28/2021 at 7:25 PM, gearbox said:

Do you know if they would have cargo cars with the passenger trains? Would be interesting if one can transport a bicycle.

After opening in December this year, it will be cargo trains only. Passenger services (and cargo) are scheduled to be introduced for late 2022.

On 5/28/2021 at 9:52 PM, simon43 said:

Laos is not footing any bill - they borrowed money from China to finance the railway in Laos...

 

Also, I think Laos will benefit from easy tourism into Luang Prabang from Yunnan province, as well as freight traffic.

 

As for Laos demanding overflight payments, please remember that Laos is effectively a province of China - they can demand whatever they want, but they won't get it!!

Just over half is an outright loan from China, the remainder of the cost provided by a joint venture company between both countries.

 

In future Laos will benefit massively through Chinese tourism (whether that's a good or bad thing?) with direct short connections to Luang Prabang (culture) and Vang Vieng (adventure & nature), as well as Vientiane (already has a huge Chinese commercial development project). In fact the Chinese developed That Luang Marsh area in Vientiane was part of a land concession ceded to China to finance this railway...one way of the other this rail link will change the economy and demographics in Laos massively.

 

Only cargo services will run after the grand opening in Dec 2021, followed by scheduled passenger services sometime late 2022.

 

Here is a good link for info on the railway:

https://constructionreviewonline.com/project-timelines/the-completion-of-the-china-laos-railway-project-and-all-you-need-to-know/