Thai-Chinese High-Speed Rail Project Faces 350-Day Delay

[snoop1130]

Pictures courtesy of Matichon

 

The Thai-Chinese high-speed railway project has encountered another setback, with a 350-day extension approved by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) board due to rental buildings hindering construction. This delay moves the completion deadline to March 10, 2026, for the Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima stretch of the railway, affecting contract sections 3 to 5 of phase 1.

 

SRT chief Veerith Amrapal confirmed the extension after a board meeting, clarifying that no additional costs would be incurred by the Construction Supervision Consultant or Project Management Consultant. The delay primarily resulted from the SRT's failure to promptly clear the construction site of 60 obstructive rental buildings, which led to legal action against tenants. Following negotiations, the area was vacated by May 13 last year, allowing for site clearance and subsequent progress approval by the SRT board.

 

 

Considered a flagship endeavour to boost regional connectivity, phase 1 of the project covers 12.38 kilometres, from Khok Kruat to Nakhon Ratchasima. Yet, as of January, only 12.42% of civil works were completed, with SPTK Joint Venture Co., Ltd. overseeing construction at a budget of 7.75 billion baht.

 

Despite this being the latest in a series of delays, officials remain hopeful that site clearance will now streamline construction. However, persistent missed deadlines and bureaucratic challenges foster doubt regarding the high-speed rail's future completion and operational readiness, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-06

 

 

[JoePai]

This bunch could not arrange a p*** up in a brewery

[kickstart]

3 hours ago, JoePai said:

This bunch could not arrange a p*** up in a brewery

They will get they in the end, more than can be said for the UK's HS2 ,2019 costs 20.5 billion GBP, recent estimates Jan 2025, 49 billon GBP, and it will be at least 6 years over the original   completion date, the section near me, Mortlec  Saraburi is about done.

Now, how cold not organize at rice pudding at Ambrosia.

[NoDisplayName]

4 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

phase 1 of the project covers 12.38 kilometres, from Khok Kruat to Nakhon Ratchasima. Yet, as of January, only 12.42% of civil works were completed, with SPTK Joint Venture Co., Ltd. overseeing construction at a budget of 7.75 billion baht.

Isn't the Thai section mostly on flat land?

 

The entire line from Kunming to Vientiane, consisting of mostly tunnels and bridges, was completed ahead of schedule and within budget of about $6 billion, 2016-2021.

 

Delayed once due to the Rail Minister's corruption trial.

 

A Chinese court has given former Railways Minister Liu Zhijun a suspended death sentence for corruption and abuse of power, state media report.

Liu was accused of accepting bribes totalling more than 64m yuan ($10m; £6m) over 25 years.

Prosecutors said he awarded government rail contracts in return for bribes.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-23222240

[Classic Ray]

Land acquisition delays almost every rail project in Thailand (as well as in some other countries). 
 

The Government need to get better at planning and preparation before announcing projects and appointing Contractors.

 

The other big delays usually centre around utilities diversion.

[Sydebolle]

350 days is not a year like when the Thais had the AEC2015 moved from 1 January to 31 December 😉 

[kingstonkid]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Pictures courtesy of Matichon

 

The Thai-Chinese high-speed railway project has encountered another setback, with a 350-day extension approved by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) board due to rental buildings hindering construction. This delay moves the completion deadline to March 10, 2026, for the Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima stretch of the railway, affecting contract sections 3 to 5 of phase 1.

 

SRT chief Veerith Amrapal confirmed the extension after a board meeting, clarifying that no additional costs would be incurred by the Construction Supervision Consultant or Project Management Consultant. The delay primarily resulted from the SRT's failure to promptly clear the construction site of 60 obstructive rental buildings, which led to legal action against tenants. Following negotiations, the area was vacated by May 13 last year, allowing for site clearance and subsequent progress approval by the SRT board.

 

 

Considered a flagship endeavour to boost regional connectivity, phase 1 of the project covers 12.38 kilometres, from Khok Kruat to Nakhon Ratchasima. Yet, as of January, only 12.42% of civil works were completed, with SPTK Joint Venture Co., Ltd. overseeing construction at a budget of 7.75 billion baht.

 

Despite this being the latest in a series of delays, officials remain hopeful that site clearance will now streamline construction. However, persistent missed deadlines and bureaucratic challenges foster doubt regarding the high-speed rail's future completion and operational readiness, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-06

 

 

Thailand's version of the Cali rail project 

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-03-21/high-speed-rail

[sandyf]

12 hours ago, kickstart said:

They will get they in the end, more than can be said for the UK's HS2 ,2019 costs 20.5 billion GBP, recent estimates Jan 2025, 49 billon GBP, and it will be at least 6 years over the original   completion date, the section near me, Mortlec  Saraburi is about done.

Now, how cold not organize at rice pudding at Ambrosia.

Indeed, in this day and age new rail projects have a lot more hurdles to deal with than previously.

When it comes to screwing things up the UK is a front runner on HSR.

[J Branche]

I hope they can complete it in the next 5 years.  The speed they are going at around Pak Chong I hope I'm still alive to see it completed.  

 

I would think they would need months and months of testing and adjustments once the rail is finished.  

 

The next problem is the train stops.  The public transportation from the train stops would need to be developed.  Ever left from North Pattaya Bus Terminal or Mo Chit in Bangkok and thought did anyone think this through. I want to move thousands of people through these depots with No efficient mass transit to the terminals. That's why people get off at the BTS stop along the bus route to get into Bangkok.

[damian]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

SRT chief Veerith Amrapal confirmed the extension after a board meeting, clarifying that no additional costs would be incurred by the Construction Supervision Consultant or Project Management Consultant.

What about the civil contractor? I find it hard to believe that after you (SRT) caused the 350 day delay, contractors will not apply for an extension of time for their almost 1 year of additional costs.  

[Photoguy21]

7 minutes ago, J Branche said:

I hope they can complete it in the next 5 years.  The speed they are going at around Pak Chong I hope I'm still alive to see it completed.  

 

I would think they would need months and months of testing and adjustments once the rail is finished.  

 

The next problem is the train stops.  The public transportation from the train stops would need to be developed.  Ever left from North Pattaya Bus Terminal or Mo Chit in Bangkok and thought did anyone think this through. I want to move thousands of people through these depots with No efficient mass transit to the terminals. That's why people get off at the BTS stop along the bus route to get into Bangkok.

Don't hold your breath as you may very well be disappointed

[LALes]

I read it too fast.  I thought it said a 365 year delay!  Probably more accurate.

[sandyf]

1 hour ago, Classic Ray said:

Land acquisition delays almost every rail project in Thailand .

Indeed. Getting people to sell up and move wasn't as easy as they thought. U-tapao has scaled back expansion on the basis it may never happen.

 

From the EEC committee meeting 4 years ago.

5. The progress of high-speed rail linking 3 airports, expediting the handing over of land, opening up the areas for construction and ensuring the project’s completion as scheduled The meeting considered the on-going progress of the high-speed train linking 3 airports project, noting that the project was progressing according to the plan of the committee that has been assigned to expedite the project. The progress includes the relocation of public utilities to allow for the construction work to commence. Most of the land will be ready for handing over by the end of March 2021. As for the handing over of the land that will need to be expropriated, the matter is now at the stage of concluding the purchase agreement by the Railway Authority of Thailand, which will then hand over the land for construction of the railway by the end of September 2021 at the latest. 

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.eeco.or.th/en/filedownload/2762/file-the-1-2021-meeting-of-the-policy-committee-of-the-eastern-economic-corridor-eec-special-development-zone

[sandyf]

19 minutes ago, J Branche said:

The next problem is the train stops.  The public transportation from the train stops would need to be developed.  Ever left from North Pattaya Bus Terminal or Mo Chit in Bangkok and thought did anyone think this through. I want to move thousands of people through these depots with No efficient mass transit to the terminals. That's why people get off at the BTS stop along the bus route to get into Bangkok.

I can only assume you have never seen the HSR train stops in Laos, all part of the same project, Kumning to Singapore.

[apetley]

Seven years ago The Nation reported that the Bangkok Nong Khai section would be connected to Laos in 2022....this truly is the farce that keeps on running and running and running.

[factual monk]

3 months ago travelled to Ubon... 4 weeks ago Traveled to Khon kaen and last week to buriram to see the Thai Moto Gp by train... seeing the work progress... the conditions... keeping in mind the weather, Inflation and US tariffs announcements... 

I think if this project completes by 2028 end or mid 2029... it should be considered as good luck... 

[Nid_Noi]

The delay shows the BRI (Chinese Belt and Road Initiative) is facing hurdles.

Many countries have delayed their implementation due to the amount of debt owed to China and other dependencies to China.

 

https://www.cfr.org/blog/countries-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-whos-and-whos-out

 

https://chinahandsmagazine.org/2024/09/20/promises-and-pitfalls-the-hidden-costs-of-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative/#:~:text=While the Belt and Road,projects highlight the risks involved.

[Samh]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Pictures courtesy of Matichon

 

The Thai-Chinese high-speed railway project has encountered another setback, with a 350-day extension approved by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) board due to rental buildings hindering construction. This delay moves the completion deadline to March 10, 2026, for the Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima stretch of the railway, affecting contract sections 3 to 5 of phase 1.

Considered a flagship endeavour to boost regional connectivity, phase 1 of the project covers 12.38 kilometres, from Khok Kruat to Nakhon Ratchasima. Yet, as of January, only 12.42% of civil works were completed, with SPTK Joint Venture Co., Ltd. overseeing construction at a budget of 7.75 billion baht.

 

 

 

-- 2025-03-06

 

So the "whole" of phase 1 completion is now March 2026? "Yet, as of January, only 12.42% of civil works were completed" Who writes this bull<deleted>. Completing next year and less that 13% of the civils is complete. So 87% to go then all the non civils works to complete. Who the f**k is project managing this? Should that be March 2036? Now I know damn all about this Project except that it seems to have been going on for ever and that is the best explanation that they can come up with?

[trainman34014]

3 hours ago, Classic Ray said:

Land acquisition delays almost every rail project in Thailand (as well as in some other countries). 
 

The Government need to get better at planning and preparation before announcing projects and appointing Contractors.

 

The other big delays usually centre around utilities diversion.

Forward Planning is not a strong point in Thailand; tomorrow or the next day is about their idea of 'vision' of the future !

[trainman34014]

Easy to forget now that Yingluck promised the HST from BKK to CNX would be completed by 2016; she even designed the on-board Lunch Boxes !

[Burma Bill]

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This delay moves the completion deadline to March 10, 2026, for the Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima stretch of the railway,

 

So, how many light years away before it is completed to Vientiane?

 

[milesinnz]

I wonder what happened to the submarine ? maybe it is a stealth submarine so we won't hear any more about it ?

[portisaacozzy]

21 hours ago, kickstart said:

They will get they in the end, more than can be said for the UK's HS2 ,2019 costs 20.5 billion GBP, recent estimates Jan 2025, 49 billon GBP, and it will be at least 6 years over the original   completion date, the section near me, Mortlec  Saraburi is about done.

Now, how cold not organize at rice pudding at Ambrosia.

that happens when you hold your meetings in a brewery

[kickstart]

11 hours ago, J Branche said:

I hope they can complete it in the next 5 years.  The speed they are going at around Pak Chong I hope I'm still alive to see it completed.  

 

I would think they would need months and months of testing and adjustments once the rail is finished.  

 

The next problem is the train stops.  The public transportation from the train stops would need to be developed.  Ever left from North Pattaya Bus Terminal or Mo Chit in Bangkok and thought did anyone think this through. I want to move thousands of people through these depots with No efficient mass transit to the terminals. That's why people get off at the BTS stop along the bus route to get into Bangkok.

That has been the vein of my life ever since the Morch bus terminal opened 25years ago now? getting they, coming up from the city by BTS, having to get off at Morchit , then a bus to the main terminal, with the BTS line just up the road why not put a station in for the bus terminal, ......answers on a post card to.....

[josephbloggs]

10 hours ago, Nid_Noi said:

The delay shows the BRI (Chinese Belt and Road Initiative) is facing hurdles.

Many countries have delayed their implementation due to the amount of debt owed to China and other dependencies to China.

 

https://www.cfr.org/blog/countries-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-whos-and-whos-out

 

https://chinahandsmagazine.org/2024/09/20/promises-and-pitfalls-the-hidden-costs-of-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative/#:~:text=While the Belt and Road,projects highlight the risks involved.

Not so. Thailand is paying for this, not China. China is lending experience, and providing design, signalling and trains, but Thailand is not borrowing money from China for it.