PM Prayut expedites High-Speed Rail Project for tourism purpose

[webfact]

PM expedites High-Speed Rail Project for tourism purpose



BANGKOK, 3 March 2015 (NNT) - Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is pushing forward two high-speed rail projects linking Bangkok with Hua Hin, and Bangkok with Pattaya and Rayong, which are all famous tourism destinations, revealed Transport Minister Prajin Juntong.

The BKK-Pattaya-Rayong route will run alongside the existing Airport Rail Link and split at the Suvarnabhumi Airport before turning to U-Taphao airport on the eastern coast. Once completed, it will link U-Taphao with Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang.

According to the Transport Minister, the high-speed rail system is a separate project from the 1.435-metre standard gauge railways (to be built on the Nong Khai-Nakhon Ratchasima-Kaeng Khoi-Map Ta Phut route and on the Kaeng Khoi-Bangkok route) which are joint projects between Thai and Chinese governments.

He said the Ministry had already conducted a study on the high speed train project but the report was sent back for reconsideration as the new project also involves tourism perspective, not only economic and social ones. Moreover, a committee will be set up to consider the best method of investment in the project. Final decision on investment pattern is expected within this year.

The minister added that all of the railway projects have different objectives. The Chinese-Thai standard gauge railway is aimed at transferring goods and passengers from Nong Khai to Map Ta Phut. The Airport Rail Link mainly serves the travel between main cities and airports while the high-speed rail is primarily for tourists.


-- NNT 2015-03-03

[baboon]

Why is this in the remit of a government which is merely in place to stabilise the country and hand it back over to democratic civilian control next year? Yes, it is a rhetorical question..

[ExPratt]

Won't Happen. High speed rail for Tourists ?, they really are talking out of their arse

i think they may be trying to distract people From the Nong Khai -Khorat line . I recall the announced it would be finished in 2 years , 6 months ago, Personally I don't think they will break ground for another year at least

[shirtless]

another white elephant tourists are not coming to Thailand anymore fix the scams and move into the 21 st century

[ExPratt]

"He said the Ministry had already conducted a study on the high speed train project but the report was sent back for reconsideration as the new project also involves tourism perspective,"

​How in the name of God could you do a feasibility study for Bangkok- Pattaya and Bangkok- Hua Hin and not take into account "Tourism Perspective".

[cumgranosalum]

so where is the information? The papers, research and reports that this "decision" is based on? Is it a reality-based decision that will inprove the life of Thais or is it by any chance just a populist project designed to enhance the image of the current government.

BTW - do they intend to see this through to the end?

[jacko45k]

Yes let us get on with it! Just what Pattaya needs, construction along the railway line Rd to go with the chaos currently being caused by the tunnel construction!

I have to wonder if the construction of the Pattaya Railway line bypass, followed by the Hwy 7 extension and flyyover, and now the tunnel were all small 'fixes', when a more ambitious elevatedd highway project many years ago would have produced an efficient Pattaya and Eastern Seaboard road network, rather than what we are struggling to put a Bandaid on now.

[Emster23]

May wish to rethink building next to existing line, as ordinary trains tend to fall off the un maintained rails... Money would be so much better spent on bringing lines up to 19th century standards to move goods and ordinary people (there are some here, dear general). Best to learn to walk before you try flying imho. And people thought rice scheme was a boondoggle. At least some money got to the hoi polloi.

[janpoo]

He must pushes for democracy and election.

[IamNoone88]

Sadly, it will happen. The simple alternative to boosting tourism ........... is to allow tourists back on the beach with their own chairs and an umbrella. They have driven a knife through the heart of beach tourism in Thailand and made a fool of themselves in the process.

[jlwilliamsjr18]

Why would this be part of a reform, to clean up government? Why? Simply put, they aim to stay on forever, to secure the country for those special people... a train for tourist, reminds me of whites only toilets.

[ExPratt]

Of course they may just be attempting to burn all of Thailand's Money for the next 20 years to stop any "Peoples" type party that is elected doing anything Meaningful.

[tonysilly]

This sounds nice, But the tourist do not have a problem getting to Hua Hin from Bkk and Bkk to smelly Pattaya. Save the money. Fix all the dangerous roads. Help schools. Educate taxi and mini van drivers. Stop the Freaking scams. Put drug dealers in jail. Pay the police more money. Give teachers more money.

[sawati]

Why is this in the remit of a government which is merely in place to stabilise the country and hand it back over to democratic civilian control next year? Yes, it is a rhetorical question..

Because the money under the table somebody is going to reap.Can you image the amount of money in all those rail proyects??

The coup was made for to change the " beneficiaries"

[Bobobirdiebuddy]

Prospective engineers are in training so they can run away from the horrible accidents that are going to occur. Sorry, but the work ethic here makes one think that accidents are bound to happen. And I see China will supply the trains and one only has to ride the BTS to see the difference between the Chinese made cars and the German made cars

[Jim walker]

how safe would a tourist feel in a high speed train in Thailand waiting for the inevitable to happen gripping on to your seat and checking your seat belt every few seconds until the train runs out of track or the last remaining elephant in Thailand is on the track ahead

[6NS]

"He said the Ministry had already conducted a study on the high speed train project but the report was sent back for reconsideration as the new project also involves tourism perspective,"

​How in the name of God could you do a feasibility study for Bangkok- Pattaya and Bangkok- Hua Hin and not take into account "Tourism Perspective".

It just went back for an attitude adjustment.

[wabothai]

Mr. general does not seem to understand what attracts tourists to Thailand.

Go ahead mr. general, make Thailand happy.

I thought you were there to maintain peace and order.

putting that plan into effect will cost you and your fellow generals credibility among most Thais.

Not only that, tourists will not take that train and your beloved project will go into bankruptcy the first year, leaving Thailand with yet another scam.

[lapd]

BKK-Pattaya-Rayong route will run alongside the existing Airport Rail Link...

This is the part I don't get. The Rail Link is fairly recent and they had planned for the possibility of extending it to Rayong when they built it. Why put up an entirely new link right beside it? Why not just extend the Rail Link and save billions? I'm guessing that the Rail link is probably not capable of going as fast as they want...but at what additional cost? The express is plenty fast going between the airport and downtown. They could probably make it go even faster.

[bikerbri]

How can a military installed government,which by its own admission is only temporary, commit a budget of billions of Baht and by doing so constrain any future civilian government to spending it cannot afford? Could the answer be that any future government will stay under the control of the military junta?

[SunsetT]

how safe would a tourist feel in a high speed train in Thailand waiting for the inevitable to happen gripping on to your seat and checking your seat belt every few seconds until the train runs out of track or the last remaining elephant in Thailand is on the track ahead

So you think it will have seat belts?

[mike324]

No high speed train please if they are talking about bullet trains, there are like only 2-3 routes in the entire world that is profitable. I believe only one line in Japan and one in France that is actually turning a profit, the rest are incurring massive debts. A high speed rail in China linking two cities (Chong Quing, the other I forgot) with populations of 20 million estimate it will only turn a profit after something like 100 years.

But I believe they are talking about high speed rail that moves around 200-250km/hr to replace existing system, then that is something I would support as it would be affordable for low to mid income folks.

Edited March 3, 2015 by mike324

[asdecas]

Some proposals in Thailand, one just knows that they will not turn out well....

[DaveinAsia]

High speeds trains will be outdated in about 10 years so why not invest in something more modern like Elon Musk's Hyperloop or is that asking for too much?

[Daniel Ingalls]

Really? Do you think tourist will fly to Thailand in large numbers just to ride a fast train? How about investing money into more industry? Investing in the tourist trade is enough. You need to versify the economy in all areas, not just Rice and Tourism. The other day I saw a Thai working in a Thai fast food restaurant. A four year graduate from college in engineering working for 300 baht a day as a waiter. Be more creative for college grads. Tourism, whether it be as a bus driver, guide, or a worker in a stall selling hand made products, is not a career field. Only temporary until something better is found. The longer Thailand is focused primarily in tourist trade as main revenue, the longer it will remain a third world country. Look at Japan, South Korea. Tourism is not their main sourse of income. Build factories and products manufactured here in Thailand. Instead of importing goods and levying a heavy tax, manufacture it here. Build the factories 50-70 kilometers away from Bangkok. The City is too congested, and has reached its breaking point. Move the people out of Bangkok to where the jobs will be. ....outside of Bangkok! And what plans are being made when the tide starts rolling into Bangkok? Yet more and more High Rise building are being built.

Do you think a sea wall 20 feet high will stop the flow into the city? Do you think a High-speed Rail system funded by the tourist trade will build this sea wall? Thailand is becoming over exploited through tourism. It is slowly loosing its heritage

and slow pace lifestyle I once knew 40 years ago. Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar. Are all in competition

for tourism trade. Its not who will be the biggest and best in tourism, but who will be the best at versifying their resources and moving their country forward independantly from the tourist industry.

[tomacht8]

He said the Ministry had already conducted a study on the high speed train project but the report was sent back for reconsideration as the new project also involves tourism perspective, not only economic and social ones.

At every university in the world, any student who is studying tourism, would, when submitting such a term paper, fall through! Not pass the test! Inadequate! Brainless!

And the taxpayers even have to pay for this nonsense study?

[PattayaPhom]

Yes let us get on with it! Just what Pattaya needs, construction along the railway line Rd to go with the chaos currently being caused by the tunnel construction!

I have to wonder if the construction of the Pattaya Railway line bypass, followed by the Hwy 7 extension and flyyover, and now the tunnel were all small 'fixes', when a more ambitious elevatedd highway project many years ago would have produced an efficient Pattaya and Eastern Seaboard road network, rather than what we are struggling to put a Bandaid on now.

The new line is further out by highway so won't impact on the road parralel to Suk

[Nbarch]

Of course he can say this for some good publicity today, but by the time it is built, if ever, he will not be in power.

(This sentence, somehow sounds so wrong?)

[Johnny S]

Mr. general does not seem to understand what attracts tourists to Thailand.

Go ahead mr. general, make Thailand happy.

I thought you were there to maintain peace and order.

putting that plan into effect will cost you and your fellow generals credibility among most Thais.

Not only that, tourists will not take that train and your beloved project will go into bankruptcy the first year, leaving Thailand with yet another scam.

Sure it will go bankrupt but Government will just keep on pouring good taxmoney into the dead project - Thai Air comes to mind ...

[Dublin]

PM Prayut pushes for High-Speed Rail Project to help boost tourism !!!!

Yes I can see families all over the world discussing their holiday's,, ya yes lets all to Thailand to ride on the high speed train whoop De Do ....Seriously what a ridiculous statement to make.... there is obviously a hidden agenda going on here,.... their will that many incidents that any tourist in their right mind will fear riding on a high speed train....