Govt assures high speed train route would reach Nong Khai

[webfact]

Govt assures high speed train route would reach Nong Khai

BANGKOK, 14 Oct 2014, The government has reaffirmed that the high speed train, part of its 2.2 trillion baht infrastructure development projects, will reach Nong Khai Province.

According to Prime Minister's Office Deputy Spokesperson Lieutenant Sunisa Lertpakawat, construction of the Nong Khai route will be completed at the same time as the northern route in Chiang Mai, following the approval of the 2014 budgetary bill. The construction is expected to take 7 years.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt said his ministry's proposed budget for the high-speed train project had been given a nod by the cabinet. According to him, the 2014-15 budget will be spend on the costs of feasibility study of high speed railways construction from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai, the Environmental Impact Assessment, and project design, as well as the expenses of producing project bidding documents.

When the required studies are completed, the projects will be ready for auction in 2016, said the Minister, adding that, with the estimated construction time of 4 years, the high speed railways projects in Chiang Mai and Nong Khai will be up and running in 2021.


-- NNT 2013-10-14

[mike123ca]

Interesting, high speed trains are more expensive to operate. To succeed you need two large urban centers at the end of each track to ensure a fair amount of traffic. If it starts in Bangkok, but its going to need some other larger destinations than Nong Khai

[apetley]

Beijing?

[siampolee]

Might do well to recall the Autobahn building campaign initiated by one Herr Schicklrgruber in Germany in the early to mid 1930's.

When his grand plan for world domination opened with his European grand tour his employees traversed Europe with amazing speed and efficiency.

Many branch offices were opened and staffed by his nationals in alien sovereign states, sadly though the benefits they brought were not that impressive and there was a general dislike of the grand tour throughout the world, which of course resulted in many other nations emulating the grand tour scenario in which many were killed and injured, displaced and general chaos reigned for some 5 or so years.

I certainly would state without fear of contradiction that all these latter day schemes so enthusiastically backed and subsequently financed by China are based on Herr Schicklegrumers original draft plan, the only difference being the location I.E. Asia and its bordering regions.

[Patje]

Govt assures high speed train would reach Nong Khai,

if they have enough speed at the end of the track !!!

[rollrunna]

and why not Bridge it over to Vientiane.... then could call it International and maybe Laos would kick in a few baht...... naaa.. silly idea..

[Coss]

and why not Bridge it over to Vientiane.... then could call it International and maybe Laos would kick in a few baht...... naaa.. silly idea..

Laos and China are mid-meal in talks to provide a China via Vientiane to Nong Khai rail line

[quiuvo]

It is now seven years. It was said it would take three years, which included all the studies etc and construction.

[Sydebolle]

Well, the Chinese are blasting a huge railtrack straight through Laos while we speak/write. The raillink from Nongkhai to Thanalaeng in Laos is operational (albeit only two services a day with absolutely nobody on the train).
But yes, the Chinese want the railway and they are getting/paying for it. The trillions of Baht needed will be bartered in one or the other way.

[bender92]

Weren't the regular trains just shut down due to poor/no maintenance???

[MK1]

Without sounding too pessimistic, given the track record to date on building the Bangkok Mass Transit System, with an average 11km of elevated track taking an average of 6 years to build and commission, I dare say the estimate on building a high speed rail system from Bangkok to Nong Khai and Chiang Mai by 2021 sounds like; someone has been spanking somebody’s monkey.

Edited October 14, 2013 by MK1

[Carrerakiss]

Without sounding too pessimistic, given the track record to date on building the Bangkok Mass Transit System, with an average 11km of elevated track taking an average of 6 years to build and commission, I dare say the estimate on building a high speed rail system from Bangkok to Nong Khai and Chiang Mai by 2021 sounds like; someone has been spanking somebodys monkey.

Easier to build across rice fields than through the middle of Bangkok, but your point is well taken. This will be a multi decade project and 2021 is very optimistic.

But who cares? It's obviously easier to fly from Bangkok to Beijing and anywhere in between isn't going to draw very many passengers at all. The only people pushing this will be those with the potential to put snouts in trough.

[marell]

Without sounding too pessimistic, given the track record to date on building the Bangkok Mass Transit System, with an average 11km of elevated track taking an average of 6 years to build and commission, I dare say the estimate on building a high speed rail system from Bangkok to Nong Khai and Chiang Mai by 2021 sounds like; someone has been spanking somebody’s monkey.

Given conventional logic this makes sense. However, consider the players involved. If China decides that Thailand needs a high speed rail system (or anything else, for that matter) then it will very likely happen. According to their priorities, their system requirements and their timetable.

Edited October 14, 2013 by marell

[asdecas]

"Would reach Nong Khai"?

Would if it could? Would if some mug laid out the money for it? Would if it didn't derail every ten kms? Would if the driver hadn't fled the scene?

I would like to be told.

[MK1]

Without sounding too pessimistic, given the track record to date on building the Bangkok Mass Transit System, with an average 11km of elevated track taking an average of 6 years to build and commission, I dare say the estimate on building a high speed rail system from Bangkok to Nong Khai and Chiang Mai by 2021 sounds like; someone has been spanking somebody’s monkey.

Given conventional logic this makes sense. However, consider the players involved. If China decides that Thailand needs a high speed rail system (or anything else, for that matter) then it will very likely happen. According to their priorities, their system requirements and their timetable.

It may very well happen indeed, but in terms of delivering the project on time and within budget is another thing. Moreover, what concessions are needed in order to build the project? …such as allowing a sufficent amount of foreign workers into the country to fill the shortage of ‘Skilled Labour’ required and whether or not the public will allow this to occur will be a significant influencing factor. More than likely, these skilled shortages in the end will presumably be sourced and filled by willing and able Chinese workers.

Edited October 14, 2013 by MK1

[Ulic]

All part of the big plan. China buys rice/rubber at inflated prices to grease the wheels and get the contracts. Various

officials will skim, skim, skim, as contracts for equipment, services, raw materials are awarded. Win-Win for everyone

except the people paying the inflated prices for the next 50 years.

[jimbeam1]

Beijing?

Right on the nail.

jb1