BANGKOK (NNT) - The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans to invest an additional 300 billion baht in the second phase of the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway project.

 

According to SRT officials, the blueprint for the 356-kilometer section of the project’s second phase extending from Nakhon Ratchasima to the border province of Nong Khai has already been completed. The Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) will soon receive an environmental impact assessment (EIA) before proceeding.

 

The SRT will present a proposal to its executive board for consideration before submitting it to the Cabinet for approval in January or February of next year. If approved, a bid will be called and the winner determined by the end of 2023.

 

The SRT said the rail project, which will take four years to complete, is scheduled to begin in 2024, with 13 contracts to be awarded. 12 will be awarded for construction and one for the railroad signaling system.

 

The project’s second phase includes a 185-kilometer ground track and a 171-kilometer elevated track in several northeastern provinces, including Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Nong Khai. The five railway stations along the route will be located in Bua Yai, Ban Phai, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Nong Khai.

 

The high-speed railway project is divided into three phases, with the final section connecting Nong Khai to the Laotian capital Vientiane and Kunming in China’s Yunnan Province.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG221214122852824

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-12-14

 

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Invest?

I'd like to see the economic analysis that shows the project will not only service the Chinese government loan requirements for the total project but also make a fair return (ie., contributing to Thailand's GDP). 

Such an analysis was formally bypassed when the NCPO (aka junta led by Prayut) invoked Article 44 (absolute power) to commit to the project. 

And,

How about an EIA completed BEFORE the Thai government entered into an agreement with China to build this rail system? But again Article 44 allowed the NCPO to bypass that process. Now almost after the fact is such an EIA going to be fair and open or predictable (insignificant issues)?

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) will soon receive an environmental impact assessment (EIA) before proceeding.

"It's not environmentally friendly"

 

Cough cough, shuffle shuffle.

 

"It's environmentally friendly"

 

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

blueprint for the 356-kilometer section of the project’s second phase extending from Nakhon Ratchasima to the border province of Nong Khai has already been completed.

Just a "blueprint"!

 

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

will take four years to complete,

2024 - 2028 - oh really and wishful thinking???

What about investing and developing state/corporate projects that are truly practical for the real societal aspects?