Third meeting with China on Isaan railway project today

[webfact]

1.435-METRE STANDARD GAUGE RAILWAY
Third meeting with China on Northeast railway project today
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong said yesterday that a third meeting on Thailand and China's cooperation on railway infrastructure development will be held today in Nong Khai, where both sides will consider making preparations for railroad construction.

China has agreed to be part of the double-track rail project for the 734-kilometre Nong Khai-Nakhon Ratchasima-Kaeng Khoi-Map Ta Phut route and the 133km Kaeng Khoi-Bangkok route.

This project will be Thailand's first 1.435-metre standard gauge railway, with trains running at speeds of up to 180kmh. The project is expected to cost about Bt400 billion.

"The funding for the project will come from domestic loans, while rolling stock and the signalling system will use technology from China, which will come along with credit," Deputy Transport Minister Arkom Termpitayapaisit said.

He said the two sides were expected to come to a resolution on the setting up of a joint venture. He added that China was offering loans at 2 per cent per annum, but Thailand will ask for the repayment period to be extended to 25 to 30 years with a grace period of seven to 10 years.

China initially offered a repayment period of 20 years with a five to seven years as a grace period.

"Details on the loan size and investment ratio between the two sides will be clear after results of a survey and construction designs are released in August," Arkom said.

The project will cover four sections, the first is the 133km part from Bangkok to Kaeng Khoi Industrial Estate in Saraburi province and second is the 246km leg from Kaeng Khoi to Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate in Rayong.

Construction of the first two sections will begin in September and services will open in December 2017.

Construction of the other two sections - the 138km from Kaeng Khoi to Nakhon Ratchasima and the 355km from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai is expected to commence in December and open for service in March 2018.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Third-meeting-with-China-on-Northeast-railway-proj-30255768.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-11

[trainman34014]

How many more meetings before something actually happens that looks like it may end up as a railway ? How many times have the dates been moved back ?

When it's finished and we can ride SAFELY on it please let us know, until then SHUT IT !!

[Jim walker]

and who will be getting a big boost to their bank account today wife away to order her new Merc 500

[Robby nz]

How many more meetings before something actually happens that looks like it may end up as a railway ? How many times have the dates been moved back ?

When it's finished and we can ride SAFELY on it please let us know, until then SHUT IT !!

So you think they should just forget about negotiating a better deal, work out who is going to be responsible for which part of the project, arranging financing and all the other things and just tell the Chinese to do it and send the bill.

From what I have seen the dates have not been moved back but have been brought forward with this going ahead at a very fast pace.

Seems very reasonable to keep people up to date as to whats happening, but I suppose that's a matter of opinion.

[rubl]

400 billion Baht.

Anyone still have the records on how much it was supposed to cost, six months and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 years ago?

Somehow the price seems to go down the last year. Maybe a bike instead of a Merc500