Thai-China high-speed rail set to boost ASEAN connectivity

[Kaopad999]

A high speed train in Thailand... 🙃
What could possibly go wrong.. 

[sandyf]

3 hours ago, connda said:

$411M USD per kilometer?  That's a whole bunch of rich "brother-in-laws."

Doing an internet search, HSR ranges from $17-30M in China, $24M in France, and $27M in Spain.¹ 
Thailand?  $$$Cha-Ching$$$

Source:

¹ Lowyinstitute.org

Of course it wouldn't have anything to do with the water that is in the way or the freight/passenger integration and border controls.

There may be bit parts available in "Carry On Searching".

[John Drake]

Guess they do need the train for "connectivity." Because China is turning off the tap for the Mekong.  SE Asia is just going to do what they're told and shut up. Or China will give them a permanent drought.  

 

[Gknrd]

1 hour ago, Spock said:

When you look at how the new train in Laos operates like an airline in terms of security screening and the manner in which the road from Vientianne to Luang Prabang has been allowed to deteriorate, you kind of long for the good old days. Not that Laos ever had any such day with a railway.

Yea Laos was never all that, but since the train the roads have turned into one big pot hole.  The reason the roads have gotten in such a bad shape is!  Laos is servicing the debt to China, and does not have the money to keep the infrastructure serviced. 

Going to be a nightmare for the western retiree's that bought into the LOS's BS... haha

Edited March 25 by Gknrd

[John Drake]

4 minutes ago, Gknrd said:

Going to be a nightmare for the western retiree's that bought into the LOS's BS... haha

 

Not as long as they stay in Vientiane. 

[Gknrd]

58 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

 

Last month (February) I flew from Siem Reap to meet up with a UK friend who was visiting Chiang Mai. This was prior to him continuing a two week holiday in Laos. I have since received much comment from him regarding Laos, a country he will never return to. Everywhere he went in Vientianne and Luang Prabang, there were masses of arrogant and rude Chinese with bad habits. Worst were his experiences on the HST to Luang Prabang - massed crowds with no manners. Just imagine when the HST is completed to Bangkok with thousands of ill mannered Chinese masses alighting along the way at Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Korat and Bangkok (many trying to set up small businesses?). When I visited Luang Prabang, pre-covid, it was such a beautiful UNESCO ancient capital city on the Mekong with no Chinese HST. My friend's final comment - Laos has been ruined by the Chinese!

Yeah, I was there for 6 months. Drove the whole country of Laos. The good old days are gone for good.  China invaded Laos and took over the whole country without firing a shot. Laos is a good example of what they do to very poor countries that do not know any better. 

Edited March 25 by Gknrd

[trainman34014]

2028 ?   The 'Feasiblity Studies' wlll still be going on by then as they only started ten years ago !

Edited March 25 by trainman34014

[Gknrd]

8 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

Not as long as they stay in Vientiane. 

Already started in Thailand. The anti western propaganda is very real . Just the tip of the spear. 

[wombat]

Bullet Train from China to Pattaya...I can't wait.

[ignore it]

All aboard the Elephant Pants Express !

[newnative]

Not even going out for bid until 2025.  Glacially slow.

[Gweiloman]

This will be good for ASEAN countries, especially when the whole network is completed, connecting all the way down through Malaysia into Singapore. This will really open up trade and tourism for all these countries, especially since China has granted visa exempt status for both Malaysian and Thai citizens.

[Cabradelmar]

This is only good for China. No one else. It's all about the movement of Chinese goods, material and people. Anyone on the receiving end will suffer (just more cheap Chinese goods and people)

[MrPancake]

It's gonna be a game changer for sure.

That's the kind of project that usually completely transforms the economy in a region.

Good for Thais 😉

 

[Surasak]

1 hour ago, Kaopad999 said:

A high speed train in Thailand... 🙃
What could possibly go wrong.. 

The answer to that question is, 'what could possibly go right'?

[Pungdo]

The Japanese used prisoners of war to build their rail infratructure, now the Chinese are getting Thailand to do it for them. 😉

[MangoKorat]

6 hours ago, dyertribe said:

This is the perfect way for China to quickly move tanks, equipment and troops through South East Asia once they fire the starting gun.

Doubtful, the line would be a pretty easy target.

[sandyf]

1 hour ago, Gknrd said:

Yeah, I was there for 6 months. Drove the whole country of Laos. The good old days are gone for good.  China invaded Laos and took over the whole country without firing a shot. Laos is a good example of what they do to very poor countries that do not know any better. 

What about the good old days in Thailand when over 12% of the population were Chinese. Today it is estimated that approximately 40% of the Thai  population have Chinese ancestry.

Whatever the Chinese were going to do to Thailand has already been done, but of coarse McCarthy never really died, the legacy lives on.

BTW I was on the HST last year, very comfortable and efficient. Unlike the UK, Chinese trains sell seats rather than just passage.

[sandyf]

1 hour ago, wombat said:

Bullet Train from China to Pattaya...I can't wait.

I didn't realise Pattaya was on the route from Kumning to Singapore.

Learn something new every day.

[MangoKorat]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The Nong Khai-Vientiane section is set to be the first completed segment of the rail line.

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The final design selection for the project will occur this year, and bidding for the project will commence in 2025.

Confusing, the Bangkok to Korat section is well underway and was forecast to be completed by 2025. I believe that target includes several already experienced delays. In the light of the above statements, It would be interesting to learn if that forecast has now been extended.

 

Or could it be simply bad reporting..........................again!

[bamnutsak]

6 hours ago, dyertribe said:

This is the perfect way for China to quickly move tanks, equipment and troops through South East Asia once they fire the starting gun.

 

Gigantic spit take on this one...

 

It's a Thai railroad.

 

And where is China sending all these tanks, equipment and troops, in 2058 when the Khorat section is finally completed?

 

R&R in Pattaya?

 

 

Edited March 25 by bamnutsak

[ujayujay]

7 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Roughly translated into "All the better to flood your markets with substandard Chinese goods" .................LOL

You don't seem to understand how the market economy works. The economy follows demand. Quite the opposite of your ramblings

[ujayujay]

6 hours ago, dyertribe said:

This is the perfect way for China to quickly move tanks, equipment and troops through South East Asia once they fire the starting gun.

Post your opinion again if you're sober

[ujayujay]

3 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

 

Last month (February) I flew from Siem Reap to meet up with a UK friend who was visiting Chiang Mai. This was prior to him continuing a two week holiday in Laos. I have since received much comment from him regarding Laos, a country he will never return to. Everywhere he went in Vientianne and Luang Prabang, there were masses of arrogant and rude Chinese with bad habits. Worst were his experiences on the HST to Luang Prabang - massed crowds with no manners. Just imagine when the HST is completed to Bangkok with thousands of ill mannered Chinese masses alighting along the way at Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Korat and Bangkok (many trying to set up small businesses?). When I visited Luang Prabang, pre-covid, it was such a beautiful UNESCO ancient capital city on the Mekong with no Chinese HST. My friend's final comment - Laos has been ruined by the Chinese!

dream on with your chinese bashing, they come anyway by Airplane to LOS, Train will be a option 

[Kaopad999]

1 hour ago, Surasak said:

The answer to that question is, 'what could possibly go right'?

right.. it's concerning to say the least. 

[cowellandrew]

5 hours ago, blazes said:

 

On narrow-guage all the speedy way from Bkk to Hua Hin and beyond?

Clickety-click, clickety-clack???

Nothing wrong with narrow gauge went round my bedroom just fine!

[MrJ2U]

Lao's should be a warning to Thailand not to depend on Chinas "Belt &Road" iniatives.

 

Laos now has an astronomical 120% debt ratio and it's mostly tied to it's new High Speed Train.

 

It sure looks nice but shady lone structure and the actual trains path largely favors Chinas trade.  Very few train stations.

 

However, Thailand seems to work at a snail's pace with a true finish date just a pipe dream. 

[josephbloggs]

4 hours ago, moe666 said:

What is the interest rate on the loan China made. Did they also get the concessions along the rail line they ask for as well.

This project is not funded by China in any way. Thailand is just buying the technology and know how, they are not borrowing from China.

[josephbloggs]

8 hours ago, dyertribe said:

This is the perfect way for China to quickly move tanks, equipment and troops through South East Asia once they fire the starting gun.

What a load of absolute nonsense. 

Yeah, I am sure they are planning to catch a train to invade Thailand, that'll be the thinking behind this. I imagine that would only give the Thais around 8-10 hours' notice, how on earth would they find a way to stop a train in that time?  Impossible right?  Do they construct the rails from special indestructible material? Bridges too? And the electricity supply will also be indestructible. 

Just swallow your western propaganda without questions, good boy.

Oh, and how many countries have been invaded by train before? Ever thought about why they normally begin wars from the air?

[borderhopper2005]

July 23, 2011, Chinese High Speed Train disaster took place.

That accident is named Wenzhou train collision.  And it claimed over 200 lives. 

 

 

 

 

After that case, the government of China said death toll is no more than 35. And promptly buries the whole site including the doomed train.

I can imagine the similar can  happen in Thailand in the future if they introduce Chinese bullet train.

Thai State Rail is struggling to maintain their existing railroad. How can you expect they can handle more complicated  faster trains better?

I certainly will not ride such a suicide toy...

Wenzhou train collision - Wikipedia

Edited March 25 by borderhopper2005
spell correction