Highway 7 To Open By Month’s End

[Rimmer]

Highway 7 to open by month’s end

Sawittree Namwiwatsuk

PATTAYA:-- The entirety of the Chonburi-Pattaya Motorway will open before the end of March, marking the end of a four-year project to relieve traffic congestion and create a convenient link between Pattaya and Bangkok International Airport.

Atit Keowkam, an engineer with Naowaratpattanakarn, the firm leading construction of Highway 7, said the last phase of the 2 billion baht project will be turned over to the Highway Department March 22.

Full story

HERE

-- Pattaya Mail

2010-03-12

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[LennyW]

I for one am looking forward to it, i know it is nearly there.

My biggest concern however is the inbound traffic all heading towards the lights at Siam Country Club road???????

[FarangBuddha]

Pattaya keeps getting better and better

There was also a story in the paper today about the gov't. getting ready to start construction of Thailand's first "high-speed" rail line...from Bangkok to Rayong (passing through/near Pattaya no doubt).

Edited March 12, 2010 by FarangBuddha

[LennyW]

Pattaya keeps getting better and better

There was also a story in the paper today about the gov't. getting ready to start construction of Thailand's first "high-speed" rail line...from Bangkok to Rayong (passing through/near Pattaya no doubt).

That will depend on "local donations"

[wpcoe]

I read an article in one of today's newspapers at a coffee shop about the high-speed rail line to Rayong, and quite conspicuous by its absence was the word "Pattaya."

I was also curious if they were going to upgrade the existing tracks that run through Pattaya close to Sukhumvit, or if this were going to be an entirely new set of tracks elsewhere. If the latter, I would not be surprised a bit to see it totally bypass Pattaya...

[LennyW]

I read an article in one of today's newspapers at a coffee shop about the high-speed rail line to Rayong, and quite conspicuous by its absence was the word "Pattaya."

I was also curious if they were going to upgrade the existing tracks that run through Pattaya close to Sukhumvit, or if this were going to be an entirely new set of tracks elsewhere. If the latter, I would not be surprised a bit to see it totally bypass Pattaya...

Cant think why it would bypass Thailand's most important tourist destination?

In order for it to run elsewhere the state railway board would need to buy more land, can't see that when they could easily do it by upgrading their existing lines , time will tell i guess, but as we all know - anything is possible here!

[doggie888888]

Meanwhile, on Thappraya Road....

[Chang_paarp]

I read an article in one of today's newspapers at a coffee shop about the high-speed rail line to Rayong, and quite conspicuous by its absence was the word "Pattaya."

I was also curious if they were going to upgrade the existing tracks that run through Pattaya close to Sukhumvit, or if this were going to be an entirely new set of tracks elsewhere. If the latter, I would not be surprised a bit to see it totally bypass Pattaya...

It will come near Pattaya, the station will be called Siam Country Club. No bonus points for guessing at the end of which soi that will be.

Edited March 13, 2010 by Chang_paarp

[Basil B]

I read an article in one of today's newspapers at a coffee shop about the high-speed rail line to Rayong, and quite conspicuous by its absence was the word "Pattaya."

I was also curious if they were going to upgrade the existing tracks that run through Pattaya close to Sukhumvit, or if this were going to be an entirely new set of tracks elsewhere. If the latter, I would not be surprised a bit to see it totally bypass Pattaya...

It will come near Pattaya, the station will be called Siam Country Club. No bonus points for guessing at the end of which soi that will be.

Will that mean the golfers and caddies will have keep crossing the lines?

Reminds me of Don Moung...

[wpcoe]

I read an article in one of today's newspapers at a coffee shop about the high-speed rail line to Rayong, and quite conspicuous by its absence was the word "Pattaya."

I was also curious if they were going to upgrade the existing tracks that run through Pattaya close to Sukhumvit, or if this were going to be an entirely new set of tracks elsewhere. If the latter, I would not be surprised a bit to see it totally bypass Pattaya...

Cant think why it would bypass Thailand's most important tourist destination?

In order for it to run elsewhere the state railway board would need to buy more land, can't see that when they could easily do it by upgrading their existing lines , time will tell i guess, but as we all know - anything is possible here!

One idea that passed my mind was that certain folks owning the land that a new rail line would traverse, could benefit from the government's land purchase...

As far as why it could/would bypass Thailand, the old "TiT" chestnut comes to mind. However, Chang_paarp seems to have the "inside info" that the rail line will *not* bypass Pattaya entirely.

[PhilHarries]

I for one am looking forward to it, i know it is nearly there.

My biggest concern however is the inbound traffic all heading towards the lights at Siam Country Club road???????

That would be my concern. As it is at present it can take half an hour to get from Sukhumwit to anywhere Beach/2nd road central Pattaya. It would be like when the M3 first opened from Sunbury to Basingstoke, it just ended at a set of traffic lights.

As for the high speed rail link, what is their definition of "high speed"? It's not just a matter of upgrading the existing track, it requires twin tracks, new signalling and isolation (strong fencing) from the public. They've attempted it with the motorway and that seems to work reasonable well but level crossings, if they are retained and not replaced with bridges, need to be more secure. Then you have to educate the Thais that when the lights start flashing and the bells ring the MUST STOP and not just wiggle through the barriers.

I hope it goes ahead and not just Bangkok-Rayong but north to Chiang Mai, south through Hua Hin and beyond. Thailand is learning, like the rest of the world, that you cannot just keep building more and bigger roads ad infinitum.