Proposed Electric Train Network

[Jai Dee]

TRANSPORT MINISTRY WILL PRESENT AN INVESTMENT PROPOSAL FOR ELECTRIC TRAIN NETWORK TO THE CABINET TODAY

The transport Ministry will present an investment project for the electric train network to the cabinet meeting today. The project is expected to cost around 550 billion baht.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinnawat (ทักษิณ ชินวัตร) will preside over the meeting today. Issues to be discussed during the meeting include the 550-billion-baht investment projects for the electric train network, which comprise of the blue line, the red line from Makkasan to Ayuddhaya (อยุธยา), and the light red line from Bang Sue to Nakornpratom (นครปฐม). The projects are expected to finish within five years.

In addition, the Transport Ministry will also report on the progress of the ministry’s megaprojects on transports and logistics, worth 400 billion baht to the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Social Development and Human Security Ministry will ask the cabinet to approve the housing project for low-income households or the Ur-Arthorn (เอื้ออาทร) housing project phase 5. It will also request a budget to improve community infrastructures.

The Education Ministry will request a budget of about 125 billion baht to develop the country’s education system and human capital. Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry will submit for approval 3 plans to promote public health, which are expected to cost around 95 billion baht.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 November 2005

[WhiteShiva]

TRANSPORT MINISTRY WILL PRESENT AN INVESTMENT PROPOSAL FOR ELECTRIC TRAIN NETWORK TO THE CABINET TODAY

The transport Ministry will present an investment project for the electric train network to the cabinet meeting today. The project is expected to cost around 550 billion baht.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinnawat (ทักษิณ ชินวัตร) will preside over the meeting today. Issues to be discussed during the meeting include the 550-billion-baht investment projects for the electric train network, which comprise of the blue line, the red line from Makkasan to Ayuddhaya (อยุธยา), and the light red line from Bang Sue to Nakornpratom (นครปฐม). The projects are expected to finish within five years.

In addition, the Transport Ministry will also report on the progress of the ministry’s megaprojects on transports and logistics, worth 400 billion baht to the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Social Development and Human Security Ministry will ask the cabinet to approve the housing project for low-income households or the Ur-Arthorn (เอื้ออาทร) housing project phase 5. It will also request a budget to improve community infrastructures.

The Education Ministry will request a budget of about 125 billion baht to develop the country’s education system and human capital. Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry will submit for approval 3 plans to promote public health, which are expected to cost around 95 billion baht. 

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 November 2005

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Are these numbers for real? Woudl have thought you could have built goldplated, elevated train lines for 550 billion (!) baht.

[andyfletch]

Are these numbers for real?   Woudl have thought you could have built goldplated, elevated train lines for 550 billion (!) baht.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Lets put it in perspective. The budget for the KL Monorail, a significantly lighter construction, and only 8.6km long, about 5 years ago was aprrox 1.7 billion ringgitt, or 19 billion baht, or just over 2.2billion baht/km, including all civil works, systems works and trains(built in Malaysia) - and that was done on the cheap!!!!

The lines being proposed total well over 120km, including underground sections, heavy rail standard gauge viaducts, imported trains and systems, so the figures are not that far off, taking into account 5 years worth of inflation, the additional construction costs and additional systems costs.

Edited November 15, 2005 by andyfletch

[johnh101]

I still never understand why they are not considering a rail link or skytrain from the new airport to Pattaya.

It would reduce traffic.

It would reduce petrol consumption.

It would reduce pollution.

It would be significantly quicker

And making the major tourist resort more accessible to tourists would surely encourage more tourists to come.

[marquess]

I still never understand why they are not considering a rail link or skytrain from the new airport to Pattaya.

It would reduce traffic.

It would reduce petrol consumption.

It would reduce pollution.

It would be significantly quicker

And making the major tourist resort more accessible to tourists would surely encourage more tourists to come.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The reason why it won't happen, is because it is common sense. Something that is not likely to be found here anytime soon!

[Greer]

I still never understand why they are not considering a rail link or skytrain from the new airport to Pattaya.

It would reduce traffic.

It would reduce petrol consumption.

It would reduce pollution.

It would be significantly quicker

And making the major tourist resort more accessible to tourists would surely encourage more tourists to come.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The reason why it won't happen, is because it is common sense. Something that is not likely to be found here anytime soon!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Absolutely...but the Thai government is not the only one blessed with this form of logic - there USED to be a train line from Brisbane to the Gold Coast, until the Queensland government ripped it up to use the steel during the war in the early part of last century - and they only rebuilt it toward the end of the century when it became obvious "to Blind Freddy" that the Gold Coast really needed the link.

I am very impressed that our governement is now thinking far enough ahead even to contemplate improving the public transport system - when I first moved to Thailand the traffic was unbelievable (correction - MORE unbelievable than now). So our Sky Train and underground systems are a huge leap forward.

These new proposals are great news. Well done! Maybe we can make the suggestion to the minister that they consider adding the Pattaya link to the project proposals - couldn't hurt...

OK granted they have yet to be implemented, but it's a real start, and quite unexpected.

Edited November 15, 2005 by Greer

[andyfletch]

So much for that idea then.............this in todays Nation:

Ministry wavers on mega-project plan

Published on November 16, 2005

The Transport Ministry yesterday withdrew the Bt280-billion mega-project plan from the Cabinet’s meeting agenda.

A ministry source said that Transport Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal pulled the proposal because Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, who oversees the ministry, would like the project to be considered by an economic screening committee first.

The Finance Ministry is also worried that the project, which includes the first construction phases of four mass-transit lines, might not be financially feasible.

For instance, if only a few people use the services and the country does not reduce its energy consumption as expected, there could be an impact on the current-account deficit, inflation and interest rates, the source said.

The four lines are the Purple (Bang Yai-Bang Sue); Blue (Bang Sue-Ta Phra and Hua Lampong-Bang Kae); Dark Red (Makkasan-Ayutthaya); and Light Red (Bang Sue-Nakhon Pathom).

The ministry also did not submit the national strategic logistics development plan to the Cabinet as expected. The National Economic and Social Development Board had asked the ministry to revise and prioritise projects within the plan since it would require a total investment of as much as Bt620 billion, the source said.

The logistics plan, covering this fiscal year to 2009, comprises 214 projects, of which 194 – valued at Bt420 billion – would be implemented by the Transport Ministry, leaving the rest for the Energy, Interior and Industry ministries.

Government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said some mega-project investment plans, including the 25 river basin development projects, needed to be delayed because of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s new ideas.

Thaksin told the Cabinet that foreign investors should be encouraged to get involved in selected projects so that the country can benefit from foreign techniques and know-how.

The international biddings for those projects would become more open to investors to present plans that might include, for example, fund-raising methods and expenditures tailored to the needs of the country, Surapong said.

The new concept requires a review of government procurement procedures, which the premier assigned to his deputy Wissanu Krea-ngam to consider, and the issue of transparency.

All parties, including independent organisations such as the National Counter Corruption Commission and the Auditor-General’s Office, would assist Parliament to provide checks and balances, he said.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation

Also interesting to note the difference in project values:

yesterday - 550 billion baht

today - 280 billion baht

which is correct??.................. ..........and where has the other 270 billion baht gone

Edited November 16, 2005 by andyfletch

[Crossy]

Link to the article in The Nation.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/11/16...s_19167950.html

What a bunch of total tossers

This will NEVER get built!!!

[andyfletch]

And also this in the Bangkok Post:

"Four projects need changes

CHATRUDEE THEPARAT

The cabinet wants changes in four megaprojects, telling officials they need to apply more international knowledge before proposing the investment plans.

The projects are the Transport Ministry's electric train and logistics development project costing 555.73 billion baht, a 240.7-billion-baht water development project by the Natural Resource and Environment Ministry, and 137.23 billion baht worth of Education Ministry programmes.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday that he wanted all ministries to use foreign expertise in order to promote development, adding that clear bidding and procurement rules were also essential.

A spokesman said progress was being made on several other projects under a spending plan estimated at 1.8 trillion baht over the next five years.

Some projects that do not require foreign expertise have been approved. They include the procurement of 250,000 computers for schools, and housing worth 161.95 billion baht under the Social Development and Human Security Ministry."

[marquess]

So much for that idea then.............this in todays Nation:

Ministry wavers on mega-project plan

Published on November 16, 2005

The Transport Ministry yesterday withdrew the Bt280-billion mega-project plan from the Cabinet’s meeting agenda.

A ministry source said that Transport Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal pulled the proposal because Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, who oversees the ministry, would like the project to be considered by an economic screening committee first.

The Finance Ministry is also worried that the project, which includes the first construction phases of four mass-transit lines, might not be financially feasible.

For instance, if only a few people use the services and the country does not reduce its energy consumption as expected, there could be an impact on the current-account deficit, inflation and interest rates, the source said.

The four lines are the Purple (Bang Yai-Bang Sue); Blue (Bang Sue-Ta Phra and Hua Lampong-Bang Kae); Dark Red (Makkasan-Ayutthaya); and Light Red (Bang Sue-Nakhon Pathom).

The ministry also did not submit the national strategic logistics development plan to the Cabinet as expected. The National Economic and Social Development Board had asked the ministry to revise and prioritise projects within the plan since it would require a total investment of as much as Bt620 billion, the source said.

The logistics plan, covering this fiscal year to 2009, comprises 214 projects, of which 194 – valued at Bt420 billion – would be implemented by the Transport Ministry, leaving the rest for the Energy, Interior and Industry ministries.

Government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said some mega-project investment plans, including the 25 river basin development projects, needed to be delayed because of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s new ideas.

Thaksin told the Cabinet that foreign investors should be encouraged to get involved in selected projects so that the country can benefit from foreign techniques and know-how.

The international biddings for those projects would become more open to investors to present plans that might include, for example, fund-raising methods and expenditures tailored to the needs of the country, Surapong said.

The new concept requires a review of government procurement procedures, which the premier assigned to his deputy Wissanu Krea-ngam to consider, and the issue of transparency.

All parties, including independent organisations such as the National Counter Corruption Commission and the Auditor-General’s Office, would assist Parliament to provide checks and balances, he said.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation

Also interesting to note the difference in project values:

yesterday - 550 billion baht

today - 280 billion baht

which is correct??..................   ..........and where has the other 270 billion baht gone   

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just goes to show that the only hope for decent transport system, for Bangkok and the sourrounding areas, is the BTS. If we wait for the gov to get their act together, then well we will just have to keep waiting and waiting!