Railway development gains speed: Thailand fast-tracks five-country rail link

[webfact]

 

A plan to accelerate the development of dual railway tracks connecting five countries – Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, and China – was announced at the 4th iTIC FORUM 2023: Power of Connectivity and Smart Mobility.

 

The 4500km long Singapore-Kunming rail line, expected to be completed by 2027, aims to boost the capacity of goods and passenger travel, making it more efficient and faster. The railway development initiative also aims to position Thailand as the central transport hub of the region, in line with the National Strategy’s 20-year plan.

 

The Department of Rail Transport’s director, Pichet Kunathamrak, stated that the Singapore-Kunming route currently only lacks the section between Chumphon and Padang Besar, which remains a single track. The Ministry of Transport is accelerating the proposal and implementation of this section as quickly as possible.

 

There are three southern routes in the dual rail project’s second phase. These include the Chumphon-Surat Thani section (168km, budgeted at 24 billion baht), Surat Thani-Hat Yai-Songkhla section (321km, budgeted at 57 billion baht), and Hat Yai-Padang Besar section (45km, budgeted at 6.6 billion baht). The Hat Yai-Padang Besar section will be proposed to the State Railway of Thailand’s (SRT) board for consideration in November and to the Cabinet.

 

Photo of Nattapong Westwood

Photo: KhaoSod

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-11-03

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[KhunLA]

Dual track doesn't equal high speed.  Compared to highs speed lines in other countries, TH will be like driving a car though a school zone.

 

About as fast as their planning to completion has been.

 

 

"In October 2010, the Thai Parliament approved initial proposals for a high-speed rail (HSR) network. Five lines capable of handling 250 km/h (155 mph) speeds would radiate from Bangkok"  work in progress 🤣

 

Edited November 3, 2023 by metisdead
Trolling image removed.

[Deserted]

It's good news, if they actually go ahead with it. 

[sandyf]

8 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Dual track doesn't equal high speed.  Compared to highs speed lines in other countries, TH will be like driving a car though a school zone.

 

About as fast as their planning to completion has been.

 

 

"In October 2010, the Thai Parliament approved initial proposals for a high-speed rail (HSR) network. Five lines capable of handling 250 km/h (155 mph) speeds would radiate from Bangkok"  work in progress 🤣

 

You need to clarify what you are saying. There are 2 different projects and the article refers to the Singapore - Kunming line, nothing to do with the Thai regional HS links.

The line in question is part of the Chinese initiative and the article is wrong, for some time completion has been estimated at mid 2040s, think the Malaysians are also dragging their feet.

The Laos section is complete as far as Vientiane, waiting on the Thais to cross the river. I came from Luang Prabang to Vientiane back in Jan, took just under 2 hours, 3 and half hours from Vientiane to the Chinese border.

[LALes]

Kunming to Singapore.  Hmmm.

Singapore is 77% ethnic Chinese but will they really be happy to see theiir loong lost cousins on short notice.

[findlay13]

 "Thailand as the central transport hub of the region",

The Hub of Hubs

Edited November 3, 2023 by findlay13

[sambum]

Oh dear - I sense many more "Committee meetings"!!!

[snooky]

If they want a decent railway, use standard guage track insteead of tinker toy one meter.  Then the trains can go faster and even stay on the tracks!

[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. 

 

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

 

The rail projects should be accelerated. Thailand is 40-60 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. 

 

It would be so much easier, and more efficient to use the rlhigh speed rail. Typically, the average person spends at least 3 additional hours with a domestic flight, when you factor in travel to the airport on the clogged highways, waiting, security, delays, etc. And time at the destination airport too. Any nation that wants to call itself developed, needs high speed rail. The US being the exception to that rule, as the vision, and will was never there to get it done.

 

45 minutes from BKK to Pattaya? Brilliant. Which airline runs that route? How about Bangkok to Hua Hin, or Chumporn? Right now, it is a nightmare journey by road, unless you leave Bangkok at 5am, which I usually do, to get past the insane road work in Samut Sakorn. How about getting into Bangkok, from the north, or the south, during the day? I have spent three hours just traveling from Saraburi to BKK. 

 

Eventually, the entire nation may have two deck highways, like the new one from BKK to Korat. Upper road is a toll road, and trucks must be forbidden to use them. Some progress please. Any progress, is better than moving backwards under the regressive and toxic army.

 

[ourmanflint]

Isn't the eastern line in Malaysia metre gauge?, and isn't the Kunming railway supposed to be standard gauge throughout? Is there any std gauge line in Thailand

[The Fugitive]

16 minutes ago, snooky said:

If they want a decent railway, use standard guage track insteead of tinker toy one meter.  Then the trains can go faster and even stay on the tracks!

What a logistical headache regauging all railway lines! Interestingly, I understand India uses the widest gauge in the World. Iberian (Spain and Portugal) is apparently the second widest. A railwayman once told me that the speed benefits are not all that great. All I wish for is to be able to travel by FREQUENT and fast rail services between Khon Kaen to Pattaya. Not much to ask for, especially since no more direct flights to U-Tapao.  

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

A plan to accelerate the development of dual railway tracks connecting five countries – Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, and China – was announced at the 4th iTIC FORUM 2023: Power of Connectivity and Smart Mobility.

About time.

[mfd101]

I'm wondering whether before I die (currently 74) I'll be able to take a bullet train from Surin to BKK. Or even from here in Prasat!

 

Currently it's 1.5 hours car to Buriram airport, 2 hours wait for takeoff (always on time in my experience), 1-hour flight, 1 hour from touchdown at Don Muang to Asoke. Most of a day gone. Then the reverse a few days later.

 

 

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, sambum said:

Oh dear - I sense many more "Committee meetings"!!!

Of course, in many projects commitee members get paid a quite high 'meeting allowance', plus reimbursement of travel,  accommodation and meal costs.

[HarrySeaman]

53 minutes ago, ourmanflint said:

Isn't the eastern line in Malaysia metre gauge?, and isn't the Kunming railway supposed to be standard gauge throughout? Is there any std gauge line in Thailand

Not really.  Except for the new track for the high speed rail it is all narrow gauge track.  Because of this when traveling by train between Thailand and Malaysia you have to get off the train with your luggage, cross the border on foot, and then board a different train in the other country. 

 

A good example is the smooth running luxury Eastern & Oriental Express train from Kuala Lumpur railway station (Salak Selatan) to Thailand.  Once you cross into Thailand you are back to outdated railway cars, terrible tracks, and multiple stops along the way to Bangkok.

[MrJ2U]

I can't see Thailand completing high speed railway for another decade at the minimum. 

 

 

[Gknrd]

Great for shopping, if you want western copy's. If you want to see what Thailand will look like when the line is finished go to Laos.  That is truly amazing. I have never seen so many cloths with name brand western names on them in my life. Thailand will turn into a dumping ground for China goods. 

[mran66]

57 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Of course, in many projects commitee members get paid a quite high 'meeting allowance', plus reimbursement of travel,  accommodation and meal costs.

 

... breadcrumbs compared to the thick brown envelopes that will need to be delivered to those committee meeting to win contracts. Huge projects with matching envelopes... 

[Irish star]

Thailand is Chinese Hub ffs 

[Drumbuie]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

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. 

 

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

 

The rail projects should be accelerated. Thailand is 40-60 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. 

 

It would be so much easier, and more efficient to use the rlhigh speed rail. Typically, the average person spends at least 3 additional hours with a domestic flight, when you factor in travel to the airport on the clogged highways, waiting, security, delays, etc. And time at the destination airport too. Any nation that wants to call itself developed, needs high speed rail. The US being the exception to that rule, as the vision, and will was never there to get it done.

 

45 minutes from BKK to Pattaya? Brilliant. Which airline runs that route? How about Bangkok to Hua Hin, or Chumporn? Right now, it is a nightmare journey by road, unless you leave Bangkok at 5am, which I usually do, to get past the insane road work in Samut Sakorn. How about getting into Bangkok, from the north, or the south, during the day? I have spent three hours just traveling from Saraburi to BKK. 

 

Eventually, the entire nation may have two deck highways, like the new one from BKK to Korat. Upper road is a toll road, and trucks must be forbidden to use them. Some progress please. Any progress, is better than moving backwards under the regressive and toxic army.

 

At least train travel here is cheap. In the UK it's phenomenally expensive but equally unreliable. The Eurostar service has been truncated by Brexit, and the appallingly expensive and destructive HS2 that was supposed to connect London and 'the North' now, er, won't. 

 

[macxxxx]

And for sure: brings China closer to the region😝

[Eric Loh]

4 hours ago, LALes said:

Kunming to Singapore.  Hmmm.

Singapore is 77% ethnic Chinese but will they really be happy to see theiir loong lost cousins on short notice.

Most of Singaporeans fore fathers were from Southern coastal provinces of Fujian, Guangdong and Hainan; not from Kunming which is a city in the province of Yunnan. 

[rudi49jr]

3 hours ago, sambum said:

Oh dear - I sense many more "Committee meetings"!!!

Not to mention billions and billions of baht in kickbacks. Some people are going to become very rich. Or much richer than they already were.

[Moonlover]

4 hours ago, snooky said:

If they want a decent railway, use standard guage track insteead of tinker toy one meter.  Then the trains can go faster and even stay on the tracks!

I'm pretty sure they are aware of that already. That's why they are building a standard gauge network to accommodate the Chinese high speed trains, which are. ahum, standard gauge.

 

How else do you think the trains will get from Vientiane to Bangkok? (and beyond in the fullness of time)

[MangoKorat]

The Bangkok-Korat high speed track seems to be coming along nicely now.

 

Mind you, so was the Bangkok - Korat motorway (M6) at first, its now just passed the 4 years late marker.

[Dave0206]

So much money they could get a few submarines and some bomb detecting equipment for that kind of money 

[SingAPorn]

People dont care for Singapore or elsewhere by train. People want fast, reasonably priced and direct connections with fast train to Bangkok and Bangkok Airport from Pattaya. Hua Hin or Phuket and further.

[MrJ2U]

4 hours ago, Gknrd said:

Thailand will turn into a dumping ground for China goods. 

It already is.

 

 

[bkkcanuck8]

12 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Dual track doesn't equal high speed.  Compared to highs speed lines in other countries, TH will be like driving a car though a school zone.

 

About as fast as their planning to completion has been.

 

 

"In October 2010, the Thai Parliament approved initial proposals for a high-speed rail (HSR) network. Five lines capable of handling 250 km/h (155 mph) speeds would radiate from Bangkok"  work in progress 🤣

 

From existing construction - curving and grading... I think this is 'high-speed' as in 150km max speed not high-speed as we have gotten to know through Japan and France.  I think a good dual track rail system is a good investment, but the cost increase to a high speed as in 250km+ is not warranted.  Thailand only has one city that is of any size that would warrant that sort of investment and not enough density.  (also the number of stops on the line is a dead giveaway that it is only up to 150km/hr).

[Caldera]

This train line will be great to deploy PLA peacekeepers to unruly Southeast Asian vassal states in the not too distant future.