Bangkok-Chiang Mai High Speed Rail Ready By 2018: Transport Ministry

[rubl]

BANGKOK, 25 January 2012 (NNT) - On his first day in office, newly appointed Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan says his ministry's priority is to repair flooded roads and infrastructure, while promising to work in a transparent manner.

The transport minister as well as his deputy Chadchart Sittiphan paid respect to a Buddha image and the spirit house at the ministry for good fortune. Mr Jarupong also officially accepted the position from Air Chief Marshal Sukampol Suwannathat, former Transport Minister who is now Defense Minister.

On January 25th this year being his first day in office as Transport Minister k. Jarupong promised to be honest and adhere to righteousness. He said the urgent issues for his ministry are repairing infrastructure damaged by the flood, increase Thai logistics potentials, speeding up electric train railways, and clarify the truth on former Permanent Secretary for Transport Supoj Saplom's corruption case (i.e. the chap who thought hiding your money in a suitcase under the bed was a good idea).

With such a list moving a high-speed link to 2018 makes sense

[MILT]

Japan seems to be the experts in this type of a mass transport system.

Chinese cover up? Now it is making sense.

[Reasonableman]

I didn't even know there was a Ministry for Good Fortune. Hope it blesses this project, too. Probably not necessary, since enough good fortunes will be made without any blessing.

[planr]

Never mind the technical feasibility what about the economic feasibility?

How muchwill the tickets cost and how many Thais will be able or willing to fork out huge sums of money to buy one?

How many people per day actually want to make these journeys?

Have the Thais been polled to ask if they this is needed and how much use they would make of it?

Why no mention of these basic questions?

Economic Feasibility is an integral component of the proposed feasibility study. First the technical elements are analyzed, then a demand forecast, then a cost estimate, then an analysis of the Economic and Financial Internal Rates of Return.

Towards the end of the previous administration (Dec 2010 to be exact), an HSR market sounding session was held to share very preliminary information on what you discuss above. I will share the information I gathered from that gathering below as it pertains to your questions

1) The projected fare for the full (one-way) trip from BKK to Chiang Mai was 1,200 baht

2) The projected ridership in the first year (indicated as 2017 when these figures were released) would be just shy of 30,000 people per day. Note that this includes people boarding / alighting at various stops along the way. To put this in perspective, in 2010, about 7,500 people per day flew between Bangkok and either Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok, or Sukhothai. As HSR will draw people out of cars, and to a lesser extent buses and SRT rail, the 30,000 figure may be reasonable

3) Unknown but unlikely

4) The English-language Thai press often leaves much to be desired, does it not?

[bendead]

Well... High speed train are really new to this world. Wait, french had the TGV for over 35 years...

Come on Thailand, make some kind of vacuum Maglev, instead, of spending money on submarine, aircraft carrier and Chinese giant touch pad.

[chiangmaicharlies]

Why just Chiang Mai why not go up a few more miles to Chiang Rai too, whilst I would welcome a faster service, it seems like a certain family are doing the best they can to benefit their own home town.

True but it does make sense to open up that end of the country to future links with China. Personally I don't know why anyone would take a train, high speed or not, rather than fly. Flights are not expensive and they're a lot faster.

You're obviously not a fan of Paul Theroux - many people prefer trains..... and buses. They often go to the centre of the city, save a lot of money (eg I go from Chiang Mai to Bangkok for B350, comfortably - try doing that on a plane) and lots of time and hassle getting from the airport to where you want to go

[RubbaJohnny]

If worth an extension to C Rai maybe can reach the railway car abandoned 5km S of the Golden Triangle in fact why not all the way to Yunnan in case the Chinese wish invade by rail..

Shany housin will emerge along the tracks.Unless whistleblowers realize all such projects respond to envelopes sooner than ratinal use of resources,environmental impact nor infra-structure amelioration.

[Pseudolus]

dam_n these glasses. I thought it read

"Transport Ministry cashing in on another "unlikely to happen" project and says the tea chests are already filling nicely. Will announce delay of speed rail by 2018"

[planr]

Also - the only rail connection Thailand will ever have with Burma is through Kanchanaburi to the new Dawei Port development, and even that's not a guarantee.

The Chinese do wants to connect Thailand (down to Singapore) with the mainland (Kunming / Yunnan) by going through Laos. This is the rationale behind the Bangkok - Nongkhai HSR route mentioned in the press release.

[majhiggins]

Don't know what is a more mind-blowing thought 1. The idea that they really could build this by 2018 or 2. The thought of being on a 300 km/hr train that was a Thai creation and driven by some senior Thai VIP bus driver. It sure can't run on the existing narrow-gage tracks. Even in America now that would be a good feat.

[chiangmaicharlies]

Why just Chiang Mai why not go up a few more miles to Chiang Rai too, whilst I would welcome a faster service, it seems like a certain family are doing the best they can to benefit their own home town.

True but it does make sense to open up that end of the country to future links with China. Personally I don't know why anyone would take a train, high speed or not, rather than fly. Flights are not expensive and they're a lot faster.

You're obviously not a Paul Theroux fan. Many people prefer trains and buses to flying. Certainly point to point, flights are quicker, but they're more expensive and leave you often way out of town with lots of hassle and cost to get where you really want to be.

[OzMick]

"Politics is when you say you are going to do one thing while intending to do another. Then you do neither."

Saddam Hussein

[TheCure]

Don't know what is a more mind-blowing thought 1. The idea that they really could build this by 2018 or 2. The thought of being on a 300 km/hr train that was a Thai creation and driven by some senior Thai VIP bus driver. It sure can't run on the existing narrow-gage tracks. Even in America now that would be a good feat.

The absolute maximum speed ever achieved on meter gauge track was 160 kph, and that was in Japan and Australia .

No <deleted> way you can do 300 kph on meter gauge track.

The high speed tracks in Thailand are abosolute, complete <deleted>.

.

[ginjag]

The engine will need one of those American V front bumper to skim off the track buffalo, washing lines, venders, motor bikes, jay walkers, red shirt village signs, suicide potentials, straying motor vehicles.

[ratcatcher]

If worth an extension to C Rai maybe can reach the railway car abandoned 5km S of the Golden Triangle in fact why not all the way to Yunnan in case the Chinese wish invade by rail..

Shany housin will emerge along the tracks.Unless whistleblowers realize all such projects respond to envelopes sooner than ratinal use of resources,environmental impact nor infra-structure amelioration.

Sentence of the week:

"Unless whistleblowers realize all such projects respond to envelopes sooner than ratinal use of resources,environmental impact nor infra-structure amelioration".

....................................................

[bangkokrick]

The engine will need one of those American V front bumper to skim off the track buffalo, washing lines, venders, motor bikes, jay walkers, red shirt village signs, suicide potentials, straying motor vehicles.

Given that the Chinese high speed trains run on elevated track. It would have to be one hell of an athletic buffalo to get up there.

[ginjag]

The engine will need one of those American V front bumper to skim off the track buffalo, washing lines, venders, motor bikes, jay walkers, red shirt village signs, suicide potentials, straying motor vehicles.

Given that the Chinese high speed trains run on elevated track. It would have to be one hell of an athletic buffalo to get up there.

my silly little dig at the rail here was not to be taken seriously, also can you imagine this to come off ??? elivated to CM-CR Hope passengers have individual ejector seats.

[Reasonableman]

The engine will need one of those American V front bumper to skim off the track buffalo, washing lines, venders, motor bikes, jay walkers, red shirt village signs, suicide potentials, straying motor vehicles.

Given that the Chinese high speed trains run on elevated track. It would have to be one hell of an athletic buffalo to get up there.

Perhaps a flying pig, then?

[khaowong1]

Pity you didn't shown the train crash involving Amtrak outside Nevado. Huh, double standards - are you a Thai Politician

That's Nevada for those who speak English.

[moonbarman]

555,555,555,555,555,555,555,555, baht, thats the tea money sorted then. and of course it will be ready for high season 2015, yee ha.

[besth]

If there is a will and there is a budget, there is a way. And if there is a strong will to get a budget, even more so.

If wills and budgets get diluted along the way, it probably will be called TIT

In any case, if they start it, it will most likely be completed (Hopewell a strong reason not to say "for sure") and if it is, it will definitely be a good thing for the country. Dates may change, but the project is positive.

[gand]

They will obviously build it so there will be no crossings by cars or pedestrians, I hope?

[louse1953]

Nice to have a government of action and not only words.

300 baht...tablets...high-speed rail...beats hot air balloons, submarines & wars with our neighbours!

Only words so far.You can fool some of the people some of the time,and the gullible all the time.

[bumpkin]

Pity you didn't shown the train crash involving Amtrak outside Nevado. Huh, double standards - are you a Thai Politician

Is the California Zephyr a High Speed Train ?

There are rail accidents every day somewhere in the world. Why is the Reno crash relevant to this discussion about High Speed trains ?

[gand]

First you sell the tickets, then you build the rail link, just like condos yes?

[ginjag]

They will obviously build it so there will be no crossings by cars or pedestrians, I hope?

With RR trent engines fitted it'll get there in no time, no need for elevated track.,Thai Airways will not run it as they prefer 20+ year old craft.

[louse1953]

Here we go with a bunch of stupid ignorant negative comments about something positive the Thais are trying to do to improve conditions. Go home.

Yes,it positively won't happen.

[bumpkin]

Never mind the technical feasibility what about the economic feasibility?

How muchwill the tickets cost and how many Thais will be able or willing to fork out huge sums of money to buy one?

How many people per day actually want to make these journeys?

Have the Thais been polled to ask if they this is needed and how much use they would make of it?

Why no mention of these basic questions?

Are there any independantly audited accounts / budgets for building and operating High Speed trains from any country ?

I believe that none are profitable on straight economic terms. Cost v. direct income.

They are justified on "social" terms, or political grounds. Terms such as "green benefits" "national prestige" begin to surface. mmmm !

BUT, the truly worrying aspect must be "high speed" anything in any country where corruption is prevalent

[prefabs]

It took 3 years to widen and pave 4km of Thappraya Road between Pattaya and Jomtien. How in the world will this ever happen in 6 years?

You jest, surely? it was more like 5 years

[gand]

Has to be better than going through the airport?