Samak Hopes To Build High-speed Trains

[george]

Samak hopes to build high-speed trains

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said Friday that his government would like to build high-speed trains capable of running at 120 kilometres per hour or 200 kmph.

He was speaking at a seminar organized by the National Economic and Social Development Board on the visions for Thailand for 2027.

-- The Nation 2008-08-15

[Florin]

Talk about a lot of information...where would these trains go? Are any studies currently being conducted? When he says "his government", does he mean that things will start soon or are a pipe dream to be completed in 2020?

Maybe he's referring to linking up with the Malaysian network's speedup and the Pan-Asian rail corridor plans...

[frenchFARANGbkk]

120 km/h are you sure?

That was the Japanese Shinkansen or French TGV speed 30 years ago !

[davehowden]

Maybe Samak should stick to cooking, never mind about building trains!.

[sjaak327]

Maybe he is talking about upgrading the existing network, I guess this would cut down in travel time, as the trains are slow now.

[dotcom]

I think George means 200 kph or 120 MPH.

Yeah that would be on the tracks they are going to lay in the Gulf of Thailand off Hua Hin & Cha Am .

Be cool if he could fix Bangkok traffic.

[Florin]

Yeah, more than 120-160 is not really feasible on Thailand's narrow-gauge network, it's the same issue that Malaysia faced...but it would still be more than double what's being used now, so bring it on, if possible!

[PhilHarries]

If he's talking about say a single dedicated line linking up with Malaysian railways then it is a possibility if he can get the committment and investment but where would it link to? Obviously Bangkok but then where? Could go through Laos into China but now we are talking international although if Chinese investors could be attracted it's a possibility.

But if he's talking about upgrading the existing system, or even part of it, that would be a major leap forward. Much of Thailand's rail network barely rates 19th century and would need vast investment to bring it up to standard for 120 kph traffic never mind 200.

btw 120 kph is not fast, around 75 mph. British Rail were running trains at 125 mph (200 kph) back in the late seventies onwards and that was on standard track.

[think_too_mut]

The Shinkansen (Hikari type, older than the newest Nozomi 700) from Tokyo to Nagoya goes about that - 200km/h - and the price for the 360km ride is about 4000 (4 thousand) baht. There is still a levy on petrol to pay for the cost of Shinkansen.

Many takers in Thailand for a 4000B ride between, say, Bangkok and Surat Thani?

Big difference between offering free train rides today and Shinkansen type of service in 20 years....

Edited August 15, 2008 by think_too_mut

[Plus]

He's a troll, don't feed him.

Samak, that is.

And before someone jumps in saying that his idea deserved some consideration - it doesn't. Thailand SRT is no position to build or upgrade anything. By October it won't have enough money even to pay salaries to its workers.

And restructuring SRT is an impossible task, even Thaksin had no idea how to do it. These guys just won't let anyone near their company.

[sriracha john]

Samak hopes to build high-speed trains

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said Friday that his government would like to build high-speed trains capable of running at 200 kmph.

I believe ovenman had some early photos of the proposed train cars that are pre-positioned...

The track does actually go East but into the Map Tha Phut Industrial Estate so if there's any hobo in the OP he could maybe try his luck jumping onto a freight train to get furher on down the line.

Yes, I knew about the freight line running out that way to the chemical waste dump known as Mapthaput. I was referring to some story from the TRT days about the SRT having a bullet-train like Japan has that went down the Eastern seaboard...

Edited August 15, 2008 by sriracha john

[Beacher]

Yeah, right!

I wonder if it will be fueled by that surplus of hot air that comes out of Samak everytime he opens his mouth.

[cloudhopper]

Another puff piece for domestic consumption. They can't even get the cockroaches out of their trains.

[Plus]

Those cockroaches are from farang backpacks, remember? They are born from all the dirty underwear they stuff in those backpacks.

[sriracha john]

I thought the rat population kept a lid on the cockroach infestations...

[Gary A]

Railway warning crossings often fail to work and even when they do, many people try to go around them. Imagine what would happen if the train was moving much faster.

High speed rail requires a lot of money even for a very wealthy country. Don't hold your breath waiting for this to happen here.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Isn't a lot of the slowness caused by waiting for other trains to pass, due to a lot of the rail network being single-track? Making everything double would already gain a lot of speed.

But basically I think rail travel in Thailand is dead; all the investment has already been in the road network, meaning that buses will always be faster for the foreseeable future.

Possibly they could keep some rail lines for higher-end boutique tourism purposes, like the Eastern & Oriental 5 star line.

[zink]

The Shinkansen (Hikari type, older than the newest Nozomi 700) from Tokyo to Nagoya goes about that - 200km/h - and the price for the 360km ride is about 4000 (4 thousand) baht. There is still a levy on petrol to pay for the cost of Shinkansen.

Many takers in Thailand for a 4000B ride between, say, Bangkok and Surat Thani?

Big difference between offering free train rides today and Shinkansen type of service in 20 years....

In a case you haven't noticed, everything is much more expensive in Japan. More valid comparison would be China, where high-speed trains are relatively cheap. Fastest traditional train route launched for olympics is running at 350kmph.

[Khun Ngo]

120 km/h are you sure?

That was the Japanese Shinkansen or French TGV speed 30 years ago !

Steam trains were that fast.

Anyway if they got trains with an average speed of 120 kph, that would be just fine

Would cut all routes by up to a couple of hours and would still not waste too much

fuel.

Edited August 15, 2008 by Khun Ngo

[Tony Clifton]

Those cockroaches are from farang backpacks, remember? They are born from all the dirty underwear they stuff in those backpacks.

Don't forget the bedbugs recently blamed on backpackers by some overrated official.

About that high speed train, let me guess, the projected nuclear reactor is in direct path of the tracks.

[mrtoad]

Good old Samak, the only high speed train network that I'd possibly trust him with is this( and thats a great maybe):

But even Samak would probably <deleted> this up, although the Buffet train might be pretty good.

[typhoon]

Samak has a train in his back garden, saw it when he was being interviewed, maybe it was the one that went missing years ago???

Regards.

[dotcom]

About that high speed train, let me guess, the projected nuclear reactor is in direct path of the tracks.

Either way land prices are set to soar.

[jayjayjayjay]

So 120 kmph hour in reverse, how fast will it go forward?

The problems not the train, it's how to manage logistics, here's the first prototype!

http://www.tmz.com/tmz_starcatcher_video?titleid=1733286157

[hammered]

Samak has obviously been very useful to his controllers when kept on a very tight leash but when let off his inability to stay in touch with reality is quite astounding.

[think_too_mut]

The Shinkansen (Hikari type, older than the newest Nozomi 700) from Tokyo to Nagoya goes about that - 200km/h - and the price for the 360km ride is about 4000 (4 thousand) baht. There is still a levy on petrol to pay for the cost of Shinkansen.

Many takers in Thailand for a 4000B ride between, say, Bangkok and Surat Thani?

Big difference between offering free train rides today and Shinkansen type of service in 20 years....

In a case you haven't noticed, everything is much more expensive in Japan. More valid comparison would be China, where high-speed trains are relatively cheap. Fastest traditional train route launched for olympics is running at 350kmph.

Where should I get educated about how expensive Japan is?

If last 5 years of living in Japan have not been enough, I must be a hopeless case.

Why is then Thai Airways on par or slightly more expensive than Japan Airlines and ANA from Tokyo to BKK?

Why are the very same products at the Emporium 10-15% more expensive then in similar shop in Tokyo?

And how do you know that 350km train is cheap? The government is subsidising it as they do pay for China space programs, nobody would make a sqeek in protest.

Edited August 16, 2008 by think_too_mut

[Siripon]

Samak has obviously been very useful to his controllers when kept on a very tight leash but when let off his inability to stay in touch with reality is quite astounding.

Samak should not be underestimated regarding political savviness, here's his plan in my view-

6 months, six measures- appeal to the poor in Bangkok, no need to please Issan and the north, already in the bag.

Double track railway,clear slums for parks for Bangkokians- these appeal to all Bangkokians, especially middle class, wean them away from PAD.

Big projects,ie bus lease, mean big kickbacks to pay for a general election after the King's birthday. It can't be before because Samak has promised the period from the Queen's birthday to The King's will be for reconciliation.

Elections follow, the new PPP, whatever name they choose if disbanded, win an overall majority thus claiming the right to amend the constitution and cease all cases against Thaksin.

A scenario I hope doesn't take place.

[Plus]

If that's the plan, then he must deliver on either double tracks or slum removal or speed trains but it's not going to happen. Bangkokians will believe in something when they see movement on mass transit lines promised three years ago.

Slum relocation is a political hot potato and urban poor will be the first ones to protests.

Samak had tried to relocate that one single community on Ratchadamnoen for all five years in Bangkok Governor seat - no luck.

Was it Makkawan Bridge, the same one used by PAD?

[think_too_mut]

If that's the plan, then he must deliver on either double tracks or slum removal or speed trains but it's not going to happen. Bangkokians will believe in something when they see movement on mass transit lines promised three years ago.

Bangkokians are more sceptical than that, I wonder if they give a dime about what Samak is saying.

4 years ago Thaksin drew criticism from BKK elite, there was a title in the BKK Post something like "PM's To-Do list too long".

Edited August 16, 2008 by think_too_mut

[Plus]

Back in 2005 election season Bangkoians bought mass transit promises, sink, line and hooker.

Still, if PPP wants to win in Bangkok, they've got to deliver. Samak is no Thaksin circa 2005 when it comes to credibility.

Free bus novelty has already worn off.