July 16, 2025Jul 16 Popular Post Picture courtesy of MGR online Transforming Travel: Bangkok to Nong Khai in Record Time BANGKOK - The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is gearing up to open bidding for the cutting-edge Bangkok to Nong Khai high-speed railway in 2026. This ambitious project promises to revolutionise regional connectivity by reducing travel times and boosting economic growth. SRT chief, Veerath Amrapal, unveiled the plans during a public consultation, highlighting the strategic significance of this Thai-Chinese collaboration. Veerath emphasised the importance of gathering diverse perspectives to ensure the project meets both public and business needs. By leveraging the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the initiative aims to modernise Thailand’s infrastructure, engaging private entities in system installation, management, and maintenance. Participation from both local and international firms is encouraged, with Chinese investors showing keen interest. As part of the roadmap, a private sector consultation is slated for October 2025. The feedback will inform the investment plan and subsequent presentations to the Ministry of Transport by year-end. The Cabinet is expected to review and approve the proposal in early 2026, paving the way for bidding mid-year and an operational launch aimed for 2029. The project is making good progress, with the first phase's civil works from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima currently 45.65% complete. The government plans to procure four train sets equipped with Fuxing Hao CR300AF technology from China. Whoever secures the PPP contract will manage this phase, while the government will oversee the initial installations. Phase two, stretching to Nong Khai, has completed design and environmental assessments, with Cabinet approval secured. Valued at 340 billion baht (approximately 13 billion USD), preparations for the civil contracts are underway. Completion of this phase is anticipated by 2031, propelling Thailand’s rail capabilities to a new level. Once finished, this high-speed railway will cut travel between Bangkok and Nong Khai to roughly three and a half hours. This advancement not only marks a significant progress in Thailand's transport infrastructure but also establishes the country as a leader in high-speed rail excellence. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-17
July 17, 2025Jul 17 Popular Post Another white elephant to add to the submarine purchase and the Kra-not-a-canal plan!
July 17, 2025Jul 17 Popular Post 1 hour ago, JoePai said: The project is making good progress 🤣 How many years late !! Joe if you come the UK --or the USA that comment would be considered laughable.. ..... "California High-Speed Rail, face delays and are not expected to be fully operational for well over a decade, January 6, 2015: The official groundbreaking ceremony for the initial construction was held Not even going to mention the London to Birmingham line --and costs --------------------------------- 52 minutes ago, Hornell said: Another white elephant to add to the submarine purchase and the Kra-not-a-canal plan! Why so ?? do you understand what the main reason for the High speed train is ?-- and not tourist. The best (cheapest) way to move freight is by ship---- the 2nd less expensive way is by rail. There is already large amount of road construction Thailand has built--all over ISSAN just to accommodate the Hugh amount of trucking traveling up from BKK to the land locked country of Laos --its all exports
July 17, 2025Jul 17 1 hour ago, oxo1947 said: Joe if you come the UK --or the USA that comment would be considered laughable.. ..... "California High-Speed Rail, face delays and are not expected to be fully operational for well over a decade, January 6, 2015: The official groundbreaking ceremony for the initial construction was held Not even going to mention the London to Birmingham line --and costs --------------------------------- Why so ?? do you understand what the main reason for the High speed train is ?-- and not tourist. The best (cheapest) way to move freight is by ship---- the 2nd less expensive way is by rail. There is already large amount of road construction Thailand has built--all over ISSAN just to accommodate the Hugh amount of trucking traveling up from BKK to the land locked country of Laos --its all exports This was started back in 2017 - and then only to Korat !
July 17, 2025Jul 17 Sounds like a siren call for some brown envelopes before a general election is called.
July 17, 2025Jul 17 26 minutes ago, JoePai said: This was started back in 2017 - and then only to Korat ! Joe it was started in 2017 and stopped like every other project around the world first months of 2020 -- it is now 36% complete in the BKK to Korat stage * it will be 609 KLM long the UK one (if ever finished) is 225 KLM Do I think its slow--yes , but the only people who throw these things up fast are our good friends the Chinese or on a smaller scale Japan. Its not just the BKK-Lao rail going on--BKK -Pattaya --Rayong also the 6 stations must be updated (most have) Bang Sue Grand Station, Don Mueang, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Pak Chong and Nakhon Ratchasima. Its easy to Knock Thailand--but I dont know of another country (similar to Thailand) that is doing this alone---without giving up to some deal from China. *https://www.railway-technology.com/news/thailand-high-speed-rail-china/
July 17, 2025Jul 17 Popular Post The very short Bangkok to Korat line was started 8 years ago and it's still not complete. I think the Thais simply need to surrender, and let the Chinese take over the railroad construction. The progress that they've made with high-speed trains is astonishing, Thailand is 70 years behind the curve, using antiquated carriages from the 50s and 60s.
July 17, 2025Jul 17 It’s part of the China belt and road - linking Laos to Yunnan China. Of course part of this is also for the new capital in case BKK is shifting 🤣🤣🤣
July 17, 2025Jul 17 9 hours ago, webfact said: to open bidding for the cutting-edge Bangkok to Nong Khai high-speed railway in 2026. an operational launch aimed for 2029. Add another 10 years would be more realistic IMO.
July 17, 2025Jul 17 My understanding of the High-Speed Trains running in Thailand is that they will be operating at less than 150 kph. Can anyone confirm different ?
July 17, 2025Jul 17 2 hours ago, spidermike007 said: The very short Bangkok to Korat line was started 8 years ago and it's still not complete. You ever heard of this thing called Covid ?? Do you know anything about UNESCO stopping it for a period--- how about the problems with China shutting down the supply. Do I think it could be faster---already said yes. But its nice to see that one of your posts are not blaming Trump for it all....... Yes, the COVID-19 pandemic did cause delays to the Bangkok high-speed train project, particularly affecting the Thailand-China HSR (Phase 1). The pandemic caused disruptions to the supply chain, making it difficult to secure workers and materials, and also impacted the financing and operations of the project. Several factors have contributed to the delays, including financial disputes with China, contractor funding problems, the COVID-19 pandemic, and concerns over the Ayutthaya station's impact on a UNESCO World Heritage site.
July 17, 2025Jul 17 31 minutes ago, cracker1 said: My understanding of the High-Speed Trains running in Thailand is that they will be operating at less than 150 kph. Can anyone confirm different ? Yes, you're wrong. Operational speed will be 250km/h. That particular train is designed for up to 400km/h though, but not in Thailand.
July 17, 2025Jul 17 12 hours ago, webfact said: highlighting the strategic significance of this Thai-Chinese collaboration. No lessons learnt then...
July 17, 2025Jul 17 33 minutes ago, Funkymover said: ah , like a lot of thailand, asia, europe, africa, it will be chinese owned It is Thai owned.
July 17, 2025Jul 17 5 hours ago, spidermike007 said: The very short Bangkok to Korat line was started 8 years ago and it's still not complete. I will be extremely generous and knock off 2 years for covid so 36% in 6 years which is very conveniently a pathetic 6% a year. Back of a fag packet estimate puts completion on the Bangkok to Korat section as 2035. That seems about right. I would love to see their monthly progress reports.
July 17, 2025Jul 17 49 minutes ago, Geoff914 said: I will be extremely generous and knock off 2 years for covid so 36% in 6 years which is very conveniently a pathetic 6% a year. Back of a fag packet estimate puts completion on the Bangkok to Korat section as 2035. That seems about right. I would love to see their monthly progress reports. Still much faster and much much better value than HS2 is managing in the UK.
July 17, 2025Jul 17 In 2016 the Laotians signed a deal with China which promised the first train rolling on 2 December 2021 - a mere 5+ years later. Guess what, they were ready ahead of time, 170'000 Chinese workers, Chinese engineers and hardware fulfilled one of the most challenging infrastructure projects of the 21st century; rugged country, deep valleys, endless number of tunnels etc. 2014 Prayut and his geeks took over Thailand, were informed accordingly and only TEN years later the bidding starts. Then you wonder, why Thailand is considered a developing country as everything here takes tremendous time, thick envelopes and kissing bottoms left, right and centre. Serves you right; stay under your stones
July 17, 2025Jul 17 39 minutes ago, josephbloggs said: Still much faster and much much better value than HS2 is managing in the UK. I don't know about much faster. I wouldn't want to put money on it. But then the UK is cheating by taking the link from Old Oak to Euston out of the scope. Should save a few years.
July 18, 2025Jul 18 15 hours ago, Geoff914 said: I will be extremely generous and knock off 2 years for covid so 36% in 6 years which is very conveniently a pathetic 6% a year. Back of a fag packet estimate puts completion on the Bangkok to Korat section as 2035. That seems about right. I would love to see their monthly progress reports. Thailand is only matched by America in terms of the astonishing lack of progress in developing a more efficient and faster rail system. The difference is that in America the highways are not choked beyond belief due to the lack of alternative cargo transport methods. Thailand has been ignoring this problem for seven decades now, and is in desperate need of alternative methods of quick transport.
July 18, 2025Jul 18 20 hours ago, josephbloggs said: It is Thai owned. Participation from both local and international firms is encouraged, with Chinese investors showing keen interest
July 18, 2025Jul 18 13 minutes ago, Funkymover said: Participation from both local and international firms is encouraged, with Chinese investors showing keen interest International firms will definitely be bidding on the construction but it won't be financed by China unlike the other places you mentioned.
July 19, 2025Jul 19 23 hours ago, josephbloggs said: International firms will definitely be bidding on the construction but it won't be financed by China unlike the other places you mentioned. you mean , like they did not build the new high speed railway ? or the new water systems, or the new mega canal or the new railway link to the 3 airports ?
July 19, 2025Jul 19 50 minutes ago, Funkymover said: you mean , like they did not build the new high speed railway ? or the new water systems, or the new mega canal or the new railway link to the 3 airports ? I said financed.
July 20, 2025Jul 20 On 7/17/2025 at 3:51 AM, webfact said: By leveraging the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, I should imagine that the PPP model is not the only thing being leveraged! I bet there is lots of old fashioned Thai business investment leverage going on ! I thought that they were well past the bidding stage anyway! I saw a mock up at Hualampong some 10 years ago - mind you it was made of cardboard!
July 20, 2025Jul 20 On 7/17/2025 at 4:17 PM, Funkymover said: ah , like a lot of thailand, asia, europe, africa, it will be chinese owned A consultant friend of mine was involved with the on-again, off-again negotiations with the Chinese during the previous administration. In exchange for providing the financing, one of the concessions the Chinese demanded at one stage was not just ownership of the rail bed, but "rights" to the swath of land extending 1000 m on either side of the track. This wasn't agreeable to the Thai government at the time but there's no telling if this has been revisited in subsequent negotiations. BTW, for such a major piece of strategically important national infrastructure that has allegedly already been through several stages of public notice and community approval, are there any route maps for the final, as yet unconstructed two-thirds of the line existing in the public domain? There's also the debate on how exactly this will dovetail with the existing Lao high-speed at the Mekhong River border.
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