She said if the Bt2.2-trillion loan is approved, the province could have automatic immigration channels that could cater to thousands of tourists passing through the border daily. Sa Kaew province has requested Bt37 million to upgrade the immigration system.

"if ... could". A loan followed by automatic immigration channels for thousands of tourists? Oh boy, that's nice. Now we only have to wonder what to do with the remaining 2,199,998,000,000 trillion Baht

Don't worry, they'll think of something.

This will make commuting much for convenient for well connected, wealthy Thai murderers and other convicted criminals who need to spend time in Cambodia but still have important business and family affairs to take care of in Thailand, while waiting for new laws that will make them ineligible for prison, if they have to look after elderly parents or can produce a doctor's certificate to prove they are too infirm to suffer time in prison.

I'd love for the BKK - Aranyapratet train to at least run all the way to the border, although the moto drivers would just hate this.

It would be great for the Visa runners and the casino Gamblers. But not good for the ratbag mini and coach bus drivers and good riddance to them.

They are not finished yet. They will probably protect and blockade the line like the ratbag tuk tuk and taxi drivers in Phuket preventing the use of the new airport buses.

Is there no limit to this stupidity? the reason the link hasn't been used is because there is nothing to link - the Cambodian metre gauge tracks have been out of use for years, and while there are plans to refurbish the line AFAIK it is far from complete.

Too true. A friend of mine was hired as a consultant to assess the state of the Cambodian railway system. One train a week I think he said...the rest is used by the enterprising Cambodians with trolley style motorised transport who lift the buggies on and off the rails if and when they encounter a train. he also commented on the excellent workshop facilities that were built to maintain the then locomotives (steam). Lathes that could handle massive wheels. Not sure what the high speed link will achieve when it hits the Cambo dorder