Phuket Rail Link Gathers Steam

[webfact]

Phuket rail link gathers steam

Phuket Gazette

Artistic rendering of the proposed Patong Tunnel, which will be presented to the Cabinet this month.

Yet another project to be presented to Cabinet for funding and approval is the elevated Klong Koh Pee Road project.

PHUKET: -- The move to build a rail link from Surat Thani to a point just north of the bridges onto Phuket gained momentum on Friday when it was confirmed as one of the projects to be presented to the Cabinet during the minister’s meeting in Phuket on March 19-20.

The news was announced at a meeting chaired by Phuket Governor Tri Akaradacha at Phuket Provincial Hall.

The meeting, attended by provincial government representatives from Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Trang and Ranong provinces, was called to confirm which projects from those provinces will be presented to the Cabinet for approval.

Each province can present up to 10 projects, but the total budget for each province cannot exceed 100 million baht, Gov Tri explained to the Phuket Gazette.

A proposal to allocate a budget of 95 million baht to start developing the train line extension will be among the requests presented.

Phuket Tourist Association (PTA) President Somboon Jirayus voiced his support for developing a rail network along the Andaman seaboard.

“This could really help promote tourism throughout Trang, Krabi, Phang Nga and Phuket. It will provide easier ways for tourists to travel in the Andaman provinces. If this project is approved by the Cabinet, a rail network could be developed [throughout the Andaman provinces] for a total budget of about 25 billion baht,” he said.

He also voiced his support for the bureaucrats tackling of Phuket’s traffic problems.

“Public transportation has been a long-term problem and if it is not solved soon, then it will be worse in four to five years,” he said.

Phuket will also present the light-rail project; thePatong Tunnel; the construction of an elevated road across the Klong Koh Pee mangrove forest in Saphan Hin; and other projects to further develop medical services, water resources and education, among others, Gov Tri said.

Meanwhile, projects to be presented by Phang Nga officials include a pier and buildings on Koh Yao Noi for 60mn baht and a pier and buildings at Tub Lamu for 31mn baht.

Other projects to be presented by Ranong, Krabi and Trang include a 30mn baht plan to improve public traffic infrastructure; 30mn baht for the development of an International Andaman boy scout training project; and more than 18mn baht to dredge a channel at Koh Lanta in Krabi.

Gov Tri also confirmed the conference hall of the Prince of Songkla University Phuket campus as the venue for the Cabinet meeting.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12504.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-03-06

[Katipo]

I love how all these renderings show trees and greenery.

[fire and ice]

Great for tourists who can get a train from (?)PHuket town to (say) Karabi(?) for only 450 baht after paying the tuk tuk & taxi mafia 7,000baht for the one way trip from Patong to Phuket town.

[madmitch]

Great for tourists who can get a train from (?)PHuket town to (say) Karabi(?) for only 450 baht after paying the tuk tuk & taxi mafia 7,000baht for the one way trip from Patong to Phuket town.

Try re-reading the article and the related one a couple of days ago.

The rail link is not planned for Phuket itself, but just north of the island. Theoretically no involvement at all from Phuket politicians and the various transport co-operatives, which can only be a good thing.

[keestha]

The rail link would substantially stimulate tourism at the Andaman coast, tourists definitely prefer travelling by train instead of by bus. It would even be better if the railway would go all the way to Phuket Town, also stopping at the airport.

[TheWizardofRnR]

Heard this story 25 years ago , they are having a hard time trying to figure out their cut on the deal!

So another 5million Baht to study the proposal first!

Edited March 15, 2012 by metisdead
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[KarenBravo]

On the bypass road, on the left hand side is an abandoned hotel; totally gutted and falling apart.

It used to be called the Phuket Lodge, or something like that.

When it opened, nobody could figure out why they chose that site, which was out in the middle-of-nowhere.

Then it came out that there was a plan to connect Phuket and Surat Thani by rail.

The Phuket terminal, according to this plan, would be at the by-pass road and airport road T-junction.

Course.........it never happened and the investors lost there arse on that one.

Slightly off topic.

[keestha]

That abandoned hotel always intrigued me, isn't it supposed to be haunted? Sorry, driving further down off topic road.