Thai Government pushing the land bridge more vigorously?

Just looking at an item posted elsewhere that demonstrates the fallacy behind the much touted Southern land-bridge. Why are the Thai Government pushing so hard for such a moronic idea to bankrupt the nation - to skim large amounts of money for themselves?

Slightly edited quote: Post-Panamax/New Panamax ships can carry 8,000-14,000 containers taking 24-72 hours to unload, Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCV) can carry 18,000-24,000 containers taking 48-120 hours to unload. So add to a possible 5 days unloading time the fact that a truck carries only 2 at a time, that would be up to 12,000 (polluting?) trucks to transport containers to the Ranong port to be loaded back onto a waiting ULCV. This assumes any shipping company would be stupid enough to keep an empty ULCV in Ranong to ferry containers. Trains? A standard freight train can carry between 100 to 400 only. So the best possible scenario means 60 trains to clear one ship. It seems the Thai Government either share one defective brain or corruption is totally maxxed out now!

How can any halfway sensible person seriously claim economic benefits for this scheme apart from those constructing the infrastructure. Those shipping companies queried had apparently already vetoed using the transshipment idea as it is far quicker to simply transit the straits as they now do plus they don't need to station one or more empty ULCV ships waiting to load from an endless procession of trucks or trains just to cross the gulf of Thailand. This is total madness until one remembers the PM owns a construction company so has a personal stake. The only viable option ignoring cost issues is a ship canal capable of allowing passage of 2-way ULCV traffic. Such a canal would effectively sever most of the South from the rest of the country but given the blinkered approach at the moment no one would probably care in Government at the incredible environmental damage creating either option would entail.

Edited May 17May 17 by cliveshep