Government mulls lunch boxes for high speed trains; sees new 'pinto' for upscale travelers

BANGKOK, Aug 22 - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has assigned a government agency to create a special lunch box for use the yet-to-introduced high speed train, which will carry priority travelers to various locations.

Government spokesperson Sansanee Nakpong said the premier asked the Thailand Creative and Design Centre (TCDC) to imagine well ahead of the existence of the high speed train in Thailand selling OTOP (One Tambon One Product) products to passengers, perhaps like in-flight sales on airlines.

Citing the Japanese omnipresent bento or home-packed meal in some venues, Ms Yingluck reportedly said she would discuss the idea with Chumpol Silapa-archa, deputy prime minister and minister of tourism and sports. Selling OTOP products aboard Thailand's high speed train would give a lot of visibility to the nation's handcrafts and local-level manufactures.

Ms Sansanee envisioned the launch of the lunch box, patterned after Thailand's tradition pinto or multi-level portable food container, at the tourist-oriented Hua Hin railway station.

The TCDC has joined with the Prime Minister’s Office to demonstrate the Thai pinto at the 2012 OTOP Midyear Fair this week, Aug 18-25.

Ms Sansanee said the prime minister urged the Cabinet to attend the event in order to be updated on new innovations and products created by Thai people.

Meanwhile, Deputy Finance Minister Thanusak Lek-uthai said the government will organise an event, entitled “Government meets the people, funds quality of life,” at Rachamangkala Stadium, Aug 25-26 to promote the government’s accomplishments of the past year.

Eleven government-initiated projects will be exhibited to create better understanding among the people, he said, adding that people will also be told about the availability of various funds offered by the government. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-08-22

Did I miss the "satire' subheading on this one?

Only in Thailand......

lol - she had an idea! All on her own....

Hope they do not start filling the food boxes now for use on the train.......2090 is a long time after their expiry date.

One assumes the millions of baht feasibility studies currently under way have a predetermined outcome. Or the PM is an idiot. Or both.

I am confused....what is this high speed train?? They would need to make the rails first before they worry about the food.

Only in Thailand. No route. No date for startup. No partners but already discussing food on the trains. Nice to know they have their priorities sorted.

Why bother will pre-packed lunch boxes when you can buy you lunch en-route

Only in Thailand. No route. No date for startup. No partners but already discussing food on the trains. Nice to know they have their priorities sorted.

Well, discussing food has always been a top priority in Thailand.

Why bother will pre-packed lunch boxes when you can buy you lunch en-route

High speed train. That is just too funny!

Seriously though, talk about jumping the gun for a bit of press coverage.

Let's face it. We are all here because we love it. There is NEVER a dull moment in this place.

I visualize the the government agency being entrusted by noone else than the Prime Minister of the Land with this "mother-of-all-meal-box-problematics" to be solved on a timeline which will not end during the lifetime of any living creature today!

What a task!

They haven't even produced a plan for it yet, but in typical Thai fashion, the food is sorted out, it will be a big, central contract and someone will get richer.

The Full Monty- "The lunchbox has landed"

Let's face it. We are all here because we love it. There is NEVER a dull moment in this place.

I visualize the the government agency being entrusted by noone else than the Prime Minister of the Land with this "mother-of-all-meal-box-problematics" to be solved on a timeline which will not end during the lifetime of any living creature today!

What a task!

There's a few layers of highly rewarded committees to get in place first.

Only in Thailand. No route. No date for startup. No partners but already discussing food on the trains. Nice to know they have their priorities sorted.

Well, discussing food has always been a top priority in Thailand.

Stuffing lunchboxes with goodies has always been the way to get things done in Thailand, just ask the Shinawatra clan about that, they know all about it!

Why not have a restaurant car in each train instead? Serving food, snacks, wine, beer etc.

When is this high speed train supposed to be ready? Have they started already Did I miss sonething?

And the next headine will be :

Thailand to be the hub of food boxes

High speed lunch ?

Why not have a restaurant car in each train instead? Serving food, snacks, wine, beer etc.

And a King Power Duty Free Shop. I'm sure the PM could legislate to make the train a Duty Free Zone with special exemptions on imported perfumes, handbags and Black Label Ear Medicine.

Thailand's equivalent to Marie Antoinette has a really great idea to prepare food for a high speed railway that will (may) be built (started) in the next 10-15 years. Curious, but there wasn't any mention of cake. Getting a head start on filling the pockets of "friends" is very considerate.

Only in Thailand. No route. No date for startup. No partners but already discussing food on the trains. Nice to know they have their priorities sorted.

Well, discussing food has always been a top priority in Thailand.

Stuffing lunchboxes with goodies has always been the way to get things done in Thailand, just ask the Shinawatra clan about that, they know all about it!

Wonder if the Four Seasons has stuffed lunchboxes available

No trains, no tracks, no training schedule for staff, no start date for construction... And we get a news article about the idea of having lunch boxes on high speed trains.

Like others have said... never a dull moment.

Her name will live forever, every passenger will have "Yingluck's Box".

Why lunch-boxes on trains should be a cabinet level decision,

just shows how clueless this cabinet is.

Her name will live forever, every passenger will have "Yingluck's Box".

Any bets on the logo being a square head?

What's wrong with you people, this is important national business.

Yes, maybe they could consider getting the train beyond the concept (wish) stage first...

As far as restaurant cars - unlikley - they have to be dragged along as a load that will not hold extra paying passengers, they only sell food - so I doubt it very much.

Well, just hope that these boxes are not prepared near a bank. Anyone remembering the lunchboxes, which arrived at the court (supreme court - do not remember) when ruling on a "hot potato" and, wonder-over-wonder, the boxes contained cash rather than food.

Possibly the caterer though to leave all options open so the diner, ahem, judge, could order any food against cash rather than cold, soggy, fried rice with smelly shrimps from yesteryear..........

Why not have a restaurant car in each train instead? Serving food, snacks, wine, beer etc.

You're using logic? TIT