Cabinet Approves Bt100 Billion Hi-speed Rail Construction Plan

[webfact]

Cabinet approves Bt100 billion hi-speed rail construction plan

BANGKOK, Nov 11 (TNA) – Thailand's business ministers meeting approved an investment plan to build a high-speed railway with a Bt100 billion budget for four main routes linking the Thai capital to the country's four regions.

According to Deputy Prime Minister, Korbsak Sabhavasu, four routes will depart from Bangkok to the northern province of Chiang Mai (745km), to Nong Khai on the Mekong River in the northeast (615km), to the eastern province of Chanthaburi (330km), and to Padang Besar on the Thai-Malaysian border in Thailand's southern province of Songkhla (985km).

Mr Korbsak said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva insisted to first build the short eastern route, for it would take less time to execute the work than constructing a long route to begin with.

Transport Ministry was assigned to study a clear investment plan and to report its result within 45 days to propose to the Cabinet so that a decision could be made regarding the investment plan before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Finance will seek lenders for investment funds, particularly China, which had proposed a US$400-million loan to Thailand.

However, the government wants the private sector to co-invest in the project as in a public-private partnerships (PPP) venture.

The economic ministers meeting also acknowledged a plan to establish a sub-company to run Bangkok's Airport Link, while a special unit would be set up to manage the rail system, assets, and the mechanical team. (TNA)

-- TNA 2009/11/11

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[Crossy]

Hmmm, are they talking 'real' high speed rail (TGV style) or an extension of the airport express (which is simply express rail)?

TGV costs between 4 and 10 million US per km, in Thailand it would have to be mostly elevated (imagine a TGV hitting a 2 ton elephant at 350kph).

To be honest, I don't expect either to happen in my lifetime, we've been mucking about with the Red Line for pushing 10 years, not a pile has been driven in anger.

[Ulysses G.]

How about Phuket?

[mca]

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva insisted to first build the short eastern route, for it would take less time to execute the work than constructing a long route to begin with.

What was Aphasit's major at Oxford? A Bachelor of Arts in the Blindingly Obvious?

I have to say that despite the fact he's urbane, debonair, handsome and an Oxford graduate he doesn't seem the sharpest tool in the box.

[webfact]

Bt100 bn high-speed train projects endorsed

By The Nation

The economic ministers on Wednesday approved the Bt100 billion high-speed train construction in four routes, from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Nong Khai, Chanthaburi and Padang Besar.

Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu said that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva instructed the Transport Ministry to first focus on the eastern route as it is the shortest. The detailed investment plan must be completed within 45 days, to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval by the end of this year.

The Finance Ministry was instructed to finalise the financing options, including China's offer to loan US$400 million and private companies' participation.

The ministers also acknowledged the planned establishment of a subsidiary to operate the Airport Rail Link project. Meanwhile, a special unit will be established to oversee asset management, rail management and maintenance.

"This should not draw complaints from the labour union, as this is what they proposed for the sake of safety."

-- The Nation 2009/11/11

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[Chunkton]

If this was a Taksin plan, after reading Thai Visa, I now know that it would be just about corruption. The Thai Visa website has done more than any institute to condemn Taksin as a rabid criminal. I applaud their complete fearlessness of him ever returning. However as we now have a government lead by an Oxford graduate that is squeaky clean and honestly elected by popular vote, then I applaud the foresight of this plan.

[mca]

elected by popular vote,

Pity that vote didn't include the Thai electorate.

[Tongdee]

Excellent Idea. The technology is here, the need is great, the implimentation??? The skytrain & the underground improved Bangkok enourmously. Rapid transport fot much of the country Bring it on.

[otherstuff1957]

I can understand the shortest being built first. At the rate these things get completed, we probably won't live long enough to see the longer ones finished.

But Chantaburi? It's a nice place, but how many people actually go there?

[tso310]

Very concerned that I don't see the word 'hub' anywhere. Looks like a lot of people are going to get rich.

And where is the Burirum/Surin/Sisaket/Ubon link ?

[h90]

Hmmm, are they talking 'real' high speed rail (TGV style) or an extension of the airport express (which is simply express rail)?

TGV costs between 4 and 10 million US per km, in Thailand it would have to be mostly elevated (imagine a TGV hitting a 2 ton elephant at 350kph).

To be honest, I don't expect either to happen in my lifetime, we've been mucking about with the Red Line for pushing 10 years, not a pile has been driven in anger.

Samak brought the idea of an high speed rail, which had a max of 200 km/h.

High speed only in compare with the speed now.

Advantage: Old and cheap technology which is not different than the current used. Pretty cheap.

I bet an elephant that they don't plan elevated rail to everywhere, even with the copied Chinese system there is no way to finance that.

2675 km at lets say 2 million (considering 100% Chinese Clone) USD=1.765x10^11 Baht not even include the tea money.

[Ricardo]

imagine a TGV hitting a 2 ton elephant at 350kph.

The som-tam lady tells me, they have an ingenious 'fix' for this problem, the trains will in fact be pulled by specially-trained teams of hi-speed Thai elephants, thus both saving on diesel-fuel while also providing a long-term future for Thailand's declining-population of working pachyderms.

The exact details of how to keep the mahouts on-board, at speeds of up to 350kph, are a closely-guarded secret, for commercial reasons (she says its because they haven't yet found an adhesive strong-enough).

High-speed refueling of elephants will be achieved by flying airborne-tankers, ex-RTAF presumably, next to the line while the elephants attempt to insert their trunks into the fuel-nozzle.

[jamesjdaly]

Would YOU get on a high speed/TGV Thai train built and operated by Somchai !!?

[trogers]

Would YOU get on a high speed/TGV Thai train built and operated by Somchai !!?

Why not? It's WantToGo at ground level...

[apetley]

Why on earth specify that the shortest be built first?

Surely the link that will provide the most financial benefit should be the first so that it can drive further network?

How a link into an unimportant part of Cambodia can be deemed priority is beyond me.

Look north, that's where the benefit of a high speed rail network will be most felt.

[IvanDobsky]

imagine a TGV hitting a 2 ton elephant at 350kph.

The som-tam lady tells me, they have an ingenious 'fix' for this problem, the trains will in fact be pulled by specially-trained teams of hi-speed Thai elephants, thus both saving on diesel-fuel while also providing a long-term future for Thailand's declining-population of working pachyderms.

The exact details of how to keep the mahouts on-board, at speeds of up to 350kph, are a closely-guarded secret, for commercial reasons (she says its because they haven't yet found an adhesive strong-enough).

High-speed refueling of elephants will be achieved by flying airborne-tankers, ex-RTAF presumably, next to the line while the elephants attempt to insert their trunks into the fuel-nozzle.

[khundon]

It is going to be a normal train and tracks, but, and here is the clever bit, they will be using coach drivers to drive them. Hence the HI Speed bit.

[avidflyer]

It is simply about zipping tourists to the Eastern Seaboard (Patttaya, Rayong, Khoa Chang, etc.) to the benefit of those invested in that area. Lots of pristine beaches down there and plenty of room for a few casinos and maybe a beer bar or two.

[Ricardo]

Now a line from Bangkok to Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya, that might actually make sense, given the number of potential-passengers who currently travel between those places. Isn't the current journey-time some 3 hours operating once-daily by rail-car ?

But if the Chinese are to be asked to finance this dream, I suspect they will insist upon something which they see as having some commercial-advantage for themselves, such as the lines/routes being for moving their rising volume of exports down to Singapore for onward-shipment by sea. Passengers will be lucky to get a look-in.

Are there any rail-transport experts on TV, who might give us a professional's view, of the proposed projects ?

[Meridian007]

45 days to develop the investment plan, start ASAP on the shortest line possible, get it done quick. If he can do it, this will make Abhisit look like a leader who does things instead of talks about them.

The problem is, I don't think he can do it. There are too many whose motives hinge upon making Abhisit look bad, and have enough power to stall the process. Look at the airport link...

Edited November 12, 2009 by Meridian007

[jayjayjayjay]

Hi Speed as with Thailand's internet!

Should read Slightly Faster Train (SFT)

[carbine1125]

These threads starting to get very boring. why all the negative comments from farangs?

[Yoshitaka]

What's the cut for Thaksin? 10% or 20%?

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Would YOU get on a high speed/TGV Thai train built and operated by Somchai !!?

You get on a plane operated by "Somchai" don't you?

Disgusting and racist remark IMHO.

Anyway, time for some at the trough to get their snouts in some good spending while they still can..

And a high speed rail East to Pattaya.. Excellent.

[jackinthebox]

again, as with Skytrain/Underground and public transport in BKK in general I would say: Don't try to go for the moon, don't try to build like countries with a 5 times higher GDP! The problem is: The cost of modern transportation system (Tracks, Trains, maintenance) is in nearby exponential association with the speed, so a system that allows a maximum speed of let's say 250km/h is nearly two times expensive of a system that is designed fo a max. of maybe 200km/h. For only a little advantage of some minutes you have to build much more tunnels, bridges, more robust trains, high-tech brakes, special overhead contact-lines and so on. All this in a country with extremely heavy rains and and many other constant natural threats. It would cost billions and billions! 2000 or 3000 kilometers of this will not be build in Thailand, not in this century!

So here`s my proposition: Switch to double standard gauge, buy or build new (electrical) trains and keep your tracks in a shape and condition that allows a maximum speed of maybe 140km/h, so that you can reach an average speed of 100 or 110 km/h (instead of 55-60 nowadays). That would be more than enough, you could get to hadYai in 8 hours instead of 15 and to ChiangMai in 7 instead of 13. This is an aim Thailand maybe could reach, so better stop dreaming of TGV or Shinkansen...

sorry for my english, I'm german (so here it is called the ICE :-)

[stumonster]

unless the SRT gets a thorough overhaul ( mass sackings of the corrupt and useless ) like the Indian State Rail company had , this plan will not help much.

[jackr]

imagine a TGV hitting a 2 ton elephant at 350kph.

The som-tam lady tells me, they have an ingenious 'fix' for this problem, the trains will in fact be pulled by specially-trained teams of hi-speed Thai elephants, thus both saving on diesel-fuel while also providing a long-term future for Thailand's declining-population of working pachyderms.

The exact details of how to keep the mahouts on-board, at speeds of up to 350kph, are a closely-guarded secret, for commercial reasons (she says its because they haven't yet found an adhesive strong-enough).

High-speed refueling of elephants will be achieved by flying airborne-tankers, ex-RTAF presumably, next to the line while the elephants attempt to insert their trunks into the fuel-nozzle.

:D

Would YOU get on a high speed/TGV Thai train built and operated by Somchai !!?

You get on a plane operated by "Somchai" don't you?

Yes but luck has it that Somchai doesn't build them.

[Ricardo]

Happily the specially-trained hi-speed packyderms are self-replicating, here in Thailand, so will not consume valuable hard-currency. Indeed there may eventually be an export-market.

Further news from the som-tam lady, the earlier problem with their exhaust-products has now been resolved, by installing an elegant stream-lined splatter-shield welded to the front of the first carriage. However future-passengers will be reminded, by frequent announcements on the p.a.-system, of the importance of not putting their heads out of the windows.

[xminator]

I'm hoping for a copy of Shanghais experimental high speed system.

[phetaroi]

Pity that vote didn't include the Thai electorate.

Oh hang it up. The Bush -v- Gore election is long over. Oh sorry, parallel realities I guess.