Thai Officials to Discuss Rail Development With Laos

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob is heading a high-level team of government officials to Laos to explore the development of a railway connecting Thailand, Laos and China.

 

The Thai delegation slated to visit Laos from August 30 to September 1 is expected to participate in a meeting with high-ranking Laotian officials and businesspeople to discuss the development of a railway network connecting Nong Khai province to Vientiane, Laos.

 

The transport minister will be accompanied by officials from Thailand’s Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture and Cooperatives, Commerce, Industry, and Public Health, as well as a team of private sector representatives.

 

Minister Saksayam said the visit aims to examine locations along the proposed route for transport and infrastructure development between Thailand and Laos, adding that any future railway will be of enormous advantage to both nations.

 

According to the minister, the Department of Highways has been tasked with designing the second Mekong-spanning bridge between Nong Khai and Vientiane to promote cross-border transport using dual-track and high-speed rail systems. The project’s research is anticipated to take around six months to complete.

 

He also said a separate research project is being conducted to ensure the compatibility of Thailand’s current rail system with those utilized for the China-Laos railway network.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG220809140223951

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-08-09

 

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[Rmac442]

Why so much about this Chinese's link when Thai internal infrastructure is so appallingly bad based on 1940s narrow gauge, single track. 

[RichardColeman]

I sense a 'let's buy the land on this route before the public knows about it' coming 

[NanLaew]

35 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

I sense a 'let's buy the land on this route before the public knows about it' coming 

This started over ten years ago and the right-of-way for the track has already been chosen and large parts of it surveyed already. This is more like a let's see if the "Lao partners" also want to own the land rights either side of that right-of-way through Thailand like the "Chinese partners" did a few years back. This ultimately stymied any agreements on who paid for the railway. With different global economic challenges that also directly impact the CCP's rule and authority back home, the time is right to revisit this project. The Chinese vasal state of Laos doesn't really have a dog in this fight, just an expensive, high-tech railway line that already been built and just needs paying for.

[Srikcir]

This is more about Thailand wanting regional dominance than shated economic benefit.

 

Compare: Thailand vs Laos (rounded)

Population 2022: 67 million vs 7.5 million

Annual GPD 2021: $506 million vs $19 million

GPD per capita 2021: $7,200 vs $2,600

Economic Complexity Index 2029: 30 vs 105

 

This announcement is about exciting as if the USA announced economic talks with Belize.

[NanLaew]

2 hours ago, Srikcir said:

This is more about Thailand wanting regional dominance than shated economic benefit.

 

Compare: Thailand vs Laos (rounded)

Population 2022: 67 million vs 7.5 million

Annual GPD 2021: $506 million vs $19 million

GPD per capita 2021: $7,200 vs $2,600

Economic Complexity Index 2029: 30 vs 105

 

This announcement is about exciting as if the USA announced economic talks with Belize.

The numbers you quote suggest that Thailand already has dominance over Laos, no?

 

In the meantime, China has dominance over Laos.

 

Laos is on Thailand's border.

 

With regard to a Caribbean analogy, in my opinion it's as exciting as Batista being kicked out of Cuba.

[Sydebolle]

What Saksayan does - quite obviously - not know yet or is unable to understand, that the train on the other side of the Mekong was announced to run early December 2021. The project started in 2014 - et voila - the job was done by professionals. 

Thailand, with its big mouth and the same legalized junta since 2014, are confronted with the fact, that while the train runs perfectly well in Laos, Thailand is still looking at its antiquated rolling stock, a rusty, non-maintained yard of engines and an operational desaster worse than an African banana state. 

In general, nobody cooks Thai food better than the Thais; planning beyond the next meal (Somtam, by the way) is not a Thai thing and if they are serious, they would get some external professionals in and listen to them. But it is like Thai Airways, their state shipping line (read up Unithai), the vintage bus services of Bangkok and all the other infrastructural logistics. All that served only one single purpose; to steal and loot whenever they can as much as they can. 

But Thailand belongs to the Thais - let them have it their way ..........  In the meantime thousands of containers are stacking up on the Lao side of the Mekong as they cannot get the stuff across the Australian-gifted Friendship Bridge from Thanaleng to Nong Khai - go figure! Without the Australians that bridge would not have been in service for the last 28 years ........ 

[bendejo]

On 8/9/2022 at 4:26 AM, Rmac442 said:

Why so much about this Chinese's link when Thai internal infrastructure is so appallingly bad based on 1940s narrow gauge, single track. 

Because China has the big money.

 

 

Looks like a Photoshpped pic using Lionel trains.

 

 

[spidermike007]

It is beyond rational, that Thailand has not done this already. For the movement of cargo, if nothing else. The highways are clogged with trucks of all sizes, due to a lack of planning. And the trains here are quite an embarrassment. Even if you decide to travel by train here on the antique cars, you have to deal with consistent delays of 30 minutes to 3 hours. I gave up using them. 

 

The rail projects should be accelerated. Thailand is 40-50 years behind the curve, when it comes to public transportation, with the exception of Bangkok. The railway here is sickening. I recently tried public transportation, from Hua Hin to Samui. Took a 5 hour express train from HH to Surat. All good. Except the train was 3.5 hours late between a 2.5 hour delay in arriving, and an additional hour added, on the way. Unacceptable. Then I took a VIP bus back from Samui. Left the pier at 6:45pm. Arrived in HH at 4:00am. Even at 11pm, the traffic was a parking lot, due to the main north south artery for the nation, reduced to one lane, due to road construction. One hour spent going 5 kph. Unacceptable. 

 

Thailand desperately needs high speed rail, for people and cargo. The lack of planning is an abomination. 

Edited August 10, 2022 by spidermike007

[spidermike007]

20 hours ago, Srikcir said:

This is more about Thailand wanting regional dominance than shated economic benefit.

 

Compare: Thailand vs Laos (rounded)

Population 2022: 67 million vs 7.5 million

Annual GPD 2021: $506 million vs $19 million

GPD per capita 2021: $7,200 vs $2,600

Economic Complexity Index 2029: 30 vs 105

 

This announcement is about exciting as if the USA announced economic talks with Belize.

I think you meant billions, not million in GDP? 

[it is what it is]

20 hours ago, Srikcir said:

This is more about Thailand wanting regional dominance than shated economic benefit.

 

Compare: Thailand vs Laos (rounded)

Population 2022: 67 million vs 7.5 million

Annual GPD 2021: $506 million vs $19 million

GPD per capita 2021: $7,200 vs $2,600

Economic Complexity Index 2029: 30 vs 105

 

This announcement is about exciting as if the USA announced economic talks with Belize.

Annual GPD 2021: $506 million vs $19 million

 

you mean billion surely, otherwise it's a pittance...

 

 

[StayinThailand2much]

Would be great if one could travel all the way to Vientiane... Have they completed the 'missing part' from 'somewhere in the Lao sticks' to Vientiane in the meantime?