More double-track railways to open this year

[webfact]

BANGKOK (NNT) - More double-track sections in the national railway network are set to open this year. These new facilities are expected to greatly shorten travel times for commuters as well as reduce costs for logistics operators.

 

The caretaker government has announced its roadmap to open more sections of double-track railroads on the Northern, Northeastern, and Southern lines operated by the State Railway of Thailand. The announcement was made by Deputy Government Spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek.

 

The sections scheduled for opening this year are the 145-kilometer section on the Northern Line from Lopburi to Pak Nam Pho, the Bandai Ma - Khlong Khanan Chit section on the Map Kabao - Thanon Chira Junction route on the Northeastern Line, and the Bang Saphan Noi - Chumphon section on the Nakhon Pathom - Chumphon route of the Southern Line.

 

Two new construction projects namely Den Chan - Chaing Rai - Chiang Khong railroad on the Northern Line, and Ban Phai - Mukdahan - Nakhon Phanom are in progress.

 

The completion of the planned phase of the double-track railroad conversion, spanning 700 kilometers of services, would increase railroad capacity, allow operators to run more frequent services, and cut down on travel time by at least one hour.

 

According to the deputy spokesperson, the caretaker government has already planned the second phase of the double-track railway project, which will create a railway network with a combined length of more than 3,000 kilometers, serving some 50 provinces by 2029.

 

This project would enable freight trains to increase their operational speed from 29 to 60 kilometers per hour, and enable passenger trains to reach the operational speed of 100-120 kilometers per hour. The proposed project will however need to be picked up by the new government.

 

by Tanakorn Sangiam

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230815092959812

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-08-15

 

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[retarius]

The end of monorails? Oh no.

[ratcatcher]

The gauge of the railway tracks in China and Laos is Standard Gauge, in Thailand and Malaysia, the gauge is metre gauge. Where or how will the trains be compatible?

Edited August 15, 2023 by ratcatcher

[jak2002003]

7 minutes ago, ratcatcher said:

The gauge of the railway tracks in China and Laos is Standard Gauge, in Thailand and Malaysia, the gauge is metre gauge. Where or how will the trains be compatible?

Shhhh... They have not thought about that yet. ????

[ourmanflint]

"Den Chan - Chaing Rai - Chiang Khong railroad"

 

Den Chai not Den Chan. 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, ratcatcher said:

The gauge of the railway tracks in China and Laos is Standard Gauge, in Thailand and Malaysia, the gauge is metre gauge. Where or how will the trains be compatible?

Thank fully they won't be

[herfiehandbag]

4 hours ago, ratcatcher said:

The gauge of the railway tracks in China and Laos is Standard Gauge, in Thailand and Malaysia, the gauge is metre gauge. Where or how will the trains be compatible?

The only rail border crossing which would involve a change of gauge is into Laos. Since most international freight these days is in containers it's not really a problem. Passengers, stand up, step onto platform, cross platform, step onto new train.

[Burma Bill]

2 hours ago, ourmanflint said:

"Den Chan - Chaing Rai - Chiang Khong railroad"

 

Den Chai not Den Chan. 

Quite correct, thanks. Den Chai will become a junction with existing metre gauge lines to Chiang Mai and new ones to Chiang Rai and Chiang Khong. Work is already under construction, including what will be Thailand's longest railway tunnel.

 

 

The 6.2 kilometre long tunnel is part of the Den Chai to Chiang Khong railway that is now being built to connect Thailand with Laos. Of particular interest for tourists is that this new line will also have a railway station on the outskirts of Chiang Rai city. If the double track line is finished on time, it is expected to open for service in 2028. 

 

https://www.thaitrainguide.com/2023/03/06/excavation-of-thailands-longest-railway-tunnel-has-begun/

 

 

[Moonlover]

32 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

5 hours ago, ratcatcher said:

The gauge of the railway tracks in China and Laos is Standard Gauge, in Thailand and Malaysia, the gauge is metre gauge. Where or how will the trains be compatible?

 

32 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

The only rail border crossing which would involve a change of gauge is into Laos. Since most international freight these days is in containers it's not really a problem. Passengers, stand up, step onto platform, cross platform, step onto new train.

The gauge is not relevant as regards to these projects in the O/P. It's correct that domestic lines are metre gauge, but the new high speed lines that will connect through Laos into China will be standard gauge and are separate projects. They won't be running HS trains and domestic trains on the same track.

[nglodnig]

14 hours ago, ratcatcher said:

The gauge of the railway tracks in China and Laos is Standard Gauge, in Thailand and Malaysia, the gauge is metre gauge. Where or how will the trains be compatible?

Due to administrative incompetence in Australia there were three different railway gauges (and apparently still are?). Rumour has it in the 19th century (dem good ole colonial daze) that one office in London that was deciding this in Western Australia was next door to the office for Eastern Australia, but no-one could be bothered to pop over and ask.

[Lancelot01]

On 8/15/2023 at 4:32 AM, ratcatcher said:

The gauge of the railway tracks in China and Laos is Standard Gauge, in Thailand and Malaysia, the gauge is metre gauge. Where or how will the trains be compatible?

120kph on a one metre track? No thanks.

[josephbloggs]

21 minutes ago, Lancelot01 said:

120kph on a one metre track? No thanks.

Why?

 

120kph is nothing special on metre gauge. Even in Thailand the red line does 160kmh on metre gauge, Elsewhere around the world 130, 140, 160 is common.

I am no fan of metre gauge and think any new line should be standard gauge - I have no idea why the red lines are metre gauge as they are electric and were built from scratch - but these are upgrades to existing lines so metre gauge it has to be to maintain compatibility. If built properly with good signaling then 120kmh shouldn't be a problem.

Edited August 20, 2023 by josephbloggs