High Speed Rail coming to Thailand but critics cite Low Speed decision making

[webfact]

Picture: 77kaoded

 

77kaoded reported on the latest developments in the building of Thailand's High Speed Train network that will link the country by rail to China via Laos.

 

The Department of Rail Transport has put some dates out when the public can be expected to use the various lines. There is some delay yet as critics see how Laos and China did it in tandem but how the Thais are struggling to meet deadlines. 

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

The joint collaboration that was the Laos-China connection to Vientiane was completed in double quick time and is operational.

 

The Thai section from Nong Khai to Bangkok has met delay after delay especially over land acquisition disputes and contractual issues. 

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Pre-pandemic in 2019 the transport minister Saksayam Chidchob put his full weight behind the High Speed plans, despite the fact it's all a different guage and style to the already completed tracks across the border.

 

The DRT said that the Laos-China train had investment of 30% from Laos and 70% from China. There was far more input from Chinese tech angles.

 

The Thai project that has racked up 179 billion baht in spending so far is all Thai investment. 

 

China is helping out with some technical issues but mostly it is Thailand's baby, with the aim to increase the ability of local organisations and firms in handling a modern rail network.

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

The department went further in claiming that the Thai side of the railway will go faster than the Laos side and is much cheaper to build per kilometer. 

 

They said the Thai side would cost 358 million/km and the Laos side was 480 m/km.

 

So what are the latest dates for opening of the High Speed 250 kmph rail in Thailand?

 

For the Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima or Korat stretch currently under construction it is scheduled to open to the public in 2026.

 

The Korat to Nong Khai section won't be open until at least 2028.

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Many matters concerning how the Thai and Laotian lines meet have yet to be ironed out despite many high level meetings. 

 

It all means that border transfers will be a feature of the line rather than any seamless transition from one country to the next. 

 

That may disappoint some purists of train travel. 

 

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[harada]

Do they have engines. 

[Henryford]

It took them 4 years to build a tunnel under the Sukhumvit Road in Pattaya. I won't hold my breath looking towards a 400 mile rail system.

[Rmac442]

This is all part of China's expansion and take over plans ...like they are doing in Cambodia !!!

Don't need a super fast railway system. A significant upgrade to to 1940s system of narrow gauge, single line system would be welcome.. 

This new line offers little to Thailand but a lot to China !!!

[bkk6060]

Don't really care I bet 2032.  I will probably be dead.

[Seppius]

What about the high-speed train Bangkok to Pattaya? Don't hear much about that these days

 

Article from 2019

 

"Thailand hopes to have bullet trains running by 2023"

 

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/thailand-bullet-trains/index.html

 

[trainman34014]

Thailand has never needed this White Elephant; what was needed was an Upgrade to Standard Guage of its existing Railway, Double Tracked throughout, an extension Northwards to Chiang Rai, together with new Locomotives and Rolling Stock to bring it up to Modern First World Standards.   Would have been a lot cheaper too !

[apophyss]

The master want a train, the slaves make it

(Chine vs Thailand)

[jobas69]

Welcome to the future your now entering Chiland 

[Isaan sailor]

Perhaps they could utilize those lightweight, engineless submarines as rail cars.  Think of the savings…

[Toaster312]

Kind of understandable, since China wanted to claim ownership of the land where high-speed railway is located and Thailand is notoriously strict when it comes to land ownership laws.

[Burma Bill]

45 minutes ago, Isaan sailor said:

Perhaps they could utilize those lightweight, engineless submarines as rail cars.  Think of the savings…

[Isaan sailor]

2 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

So it’s been done before!

[wombat]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

a different guage

Sounds like Australia ...

How has this happened?

[Srikcir]

"all Thai investment"

Resulting from 100% loans to Thailand by the Chinese government to help Thailand finance the project at a relatively high interest rate while Thailand pays China a "consulting fee" on project details. 

 

[Swampy999]

2 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

Thailand has never needed this White Elephant; what was needed was an Upgrade to Standard Guage of its existing Railway, Double Tracked throughout, an extension Northwards to Chiang Rai, together with new Locomotives and Rolling Stock to bring it up to Modern First World Standards.   Would have been a lot cheaper too !

I did not think it was possible to use the words 'Thailand' and 'modern first world standards' in the same paragraph ????????

[RichardColeman]

I've never met a thai that has actually travelled on a train

[MrJ2U]

That would be nice.

 

Chinese lenders are ruthless.  Lao is going to have trouble paying thier loans.

 

Still cheaper than the Thai's doing it themselves. It Never get done. 

[BadSpottedDog]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai side of the railway will go faster than the Laos side and is much cheaper to build per kilometer. 

Translated means "It won't work". 

[Pawpcorn]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

The Thai project that has racked up 179 billion baht in spending so far is all Thai investment. 

 

...And money well spent, it's plain to see.

[Ty Hareways]

2 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

Thailand has never needed this White Elephant; what was needed was an Upgrade to Standard Guage of its existing Railway, Double Tracked throughout, an extension Northwards to Chiang Rai, together with new Locomotives and Rolling Stock to bring it up to Modern First World Standards.   Would have been a lot cheaper too !

The UK has a similar situation, a new HS2 line, shaves just a few minutes off the standard line times...pointless.

[Robin]

Just look at how successful the 'High Speed' Airport Rail Link has been.

[Chongalulu]

12 minutes ago, Ty Hareways said:

The UK has a similar situation, a new HS2 line, shaves just a few minutes off the standard line times...pointless.

Then you haven’t understood HS2 objectives which is to do with increasing overall capacity and moving more freight off the roads. Please inform your opinions better.

[dougiemac52]

150mph ain't really a high speed rail but I suppose it's faster than what they have at present ????

[Photoguy21]

Is a high speed train a wise thing to have in Thailand? After all there are many accidents with the trains they currently have, primarily with vehicles thinking they can beat a train and end up realising they cant. I would think infrastructure, not the train but the rails and safety systems for both train and people need to be upgraded significantly first.

Further, who, apart from Chines coming into the country will be using it and what will the cost be to passengers?

[James mcgill]

This high-speed railway to China is completely unnecessary. Another example of China’s expansionism and new colonialism. Thailand is acting as a puppet, as in many other aspects, for example covid. They should turn to the western world For political and economical advice, instead of to a bully that promotes dictatorships and abuse of human rights.

[PETERTHEEATER]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

.......despite the fact it's all a different guage and style to the already completed tracks across the border.

The China-Laos section of the HSR is 1435mm (4 feet 8-1/2inches) gauge. What gauge did Chidchob think would be laid on the Thai side? 

[Neeranam]

They were talking about this when I lived in Bangkok, which was 20 years+ ago. 

[The Fugitive]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

I've never met a thai that has actually travelled on a train

Thai's claim that their trains are very slow and you have to book weeks in advance. Sort of puts anybody off!

[KhaoYai]

Before concentrating on the High Speed Train, they might want to consider focusing their attention on actually finishing something - namely the M6 Motorway.  Although in some places it seems almost complete, there are other sections (mainly out of sight) that have large gaps yet to be started and at least one service area where construction hasn't begun - illustrated by Google Maps.  Bizarrely, the street lights have been on for almost 2 years up by Lamtakhong Resrvoir - presumably to assist in growing the abundance of weeds.

 

In September that project will be 3 years late and I think 4 years is a distinct possibility - maybe more.