Thai-Chinese standard-gauge rail network will be in use by 2018, PM says

[Lite Beer]

Thai-Chinese standard-gauge rail network will be in use by 2018, PM says

BANGKOK, 21 March 2015 (NNT) - Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has indicated during his weekly television program that the 1.435-meter standard-gauge rail network project under the Thai-Chinese cooperation will become concrete in 2018.

Speaking during his “Returning Happiness to the People” program yesterday, the Prime Minister said Thailand and China inked the MoU on the railway construction in late-2014 in line with Thailand's seven-year strategy on the development of transportation from 2015-2022. A joint committee was also set up to oversee the project.

He summarized that the construction would proceed under a G2G agreement with Thailand responsible for conducting environmental impact assessment and land expropriations, and China responsible for project design and construction.

The project comprises four routes including 133 kms between Bangkok and Kaeng Khoi, 246.5 kms between Kaeng Khoi and Map Ta Phut, 138.5 kms between Kaeng Khoi and Nakhon Ratchasima, and 355kms from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai.

Gen Prayut said Thailand also had a cooperation agreement with Japan on the development of the East-West Corridor project establishing transportation links between Kanchanaburi and Laem Chabang and a route between Bangkok and Aranyaprathet. Once completed, the project is expected to help expand Japanese trade and investment to Thailand. It will also link Thailand with Cambodia and Myanmar.

-- NNT 2015-03-22

[ExPratt]

They may have 1 Route ready by 2018 , But I'll be my Nuts they will not have it all finished. Best bet for the whole thing 7 years is my very optimistic guess

[boomerangutang]

Hopefully, it won't become another series of concrete remnants, like the monoliths going from Bkk to Don Muang airport.

[JOC]

Hopefully, it won't become another series of concrete remnants, like the monoliths going from Bkk to Don Muang airport.

The PM has already answered your question.............

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has indicated during his weekly television program that the 1.435-meter standard-gauge rail network project under the Thai-Chinese cooperation will become concrete in 2018.

Will become concrete...............

[JAG]

What's he going to do, sprinkle his Hornby train set with izzy wizzy dust to make it full size?

[ExPratt]

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Hopefully, it won't become another series of concrete remnants, like the monoliths going from Bkk to Don Muang airport.

The PM has already answered your question.............

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has indicated during his weekly television program that the 1.435-meter standard-gauge rail network project under the Thai-Chinese cooperation will become concrete in 2018.

Will become concrete............... alt=coffee1.gif width=32 height=24>

Yes , will become concrete when they abandon the railway works and build a road instead

[Chris Lawrence]

Every child should have their own train set?

[trainman34014]

No chance whatsoever. Talk is cheap, railways are expensive and time consuming to build and maintain. Can't wait to see the finished product.....if i can live that long !

[NongKhaiKid]

Hopefully, it won't become another series of concrete remnants, like the monoliths going from Bkk to Don Muang airport.

The PM has already answered your question.............

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has indicated during his weekly television program that the 1.435-meter standard-gauge rail network project under the Thai-Chinese cooperation will become concrete in 2018.

Will become concrete...............

So his words will be set in stone !

[Ricardo]

I fear that the PM is being slightly optimistic here.

[Thai at Heart]

Other than land what is the Thai part of this? Not an awful lot I hope.

[ExPratt]

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Other than land what is the Thai part of this? Not an awful lot I hope.

I think from article the other day Thailand will build the Track and do the simple formation. Chinese. Viaducts , Tunnels. Signalling , Traction current. Operated by China for first 3 years then handover to Thailand. But it could be BS

[Chris Lawrence]

It’s a dam big project, with a lot of land acquisitions. 873 kilometres of track.

While determining prices for compensation, factors that are to be taken into consideration include the ongoing market prices, the acquisition, the condition and location of the property and the damage suffered by the owner. This can be a big job.

Environmental impact studies are also a big job.

What is the best route to take and who will determine this?

China is going to do the design, construction and tendering? How will they get paid? and by who? How much?

A really great headline, but that is all it is.

Maybe the General should just start one job first and at least get it underway?

[joebrown]

What's he going to do, sprinkle his Hornby train set with izzy wizzy dust to make it full size?

What you suggest is a distinct possibility. I understand Hornby actually have a production facility in China!!

[Strangebrew]

Concrete by 2018 broke down by 2017 sounds about right and paid off never.

[Ricardo]

What's he going to do, sprinkle his Hornby train set with izzy wizzy dust to make it full size?

What you suggest is a distinct possibility. I understand Hornby actually have a production facility in China!!

Correct, they only have design & marketing & management at Westwood (near Margate, Kent) in the UK now, production is all in China.

Which has helped the company to stop going bust every few years. Sad, but true.

[whatawonderfulday]

Other than land what is the Thai part of this? Not an awful lot I hope.

a 30% skim off to the looney General and his mates, Thainess at its best

[BSJ]

I think some of the work could be completed late December 2018. If they fast track the environmental work and land acquisitions it will help greatly.

But the bug in the ointment is the rainy season. A lot of the earthmoving is reduced to a snails pace or stops altogether.

Best case scenario is earthworks will do 10 months work in 12 months. Worse case it maybe 8 months in 12!

[Daniel Ingalls]

And.........What is China getting out of all this?........in ten years, 20,000 Chinese troops running down the whole

corridor from the northern part of Vietnam, through Cambodia and into Bangkok. Traveling speeds up to 150 kilometers per hour. followed by another train with 20,000 troops. then another. Are people blind what is going on here? China wants the rice belt of the Orient. And we are just making the task easier with a rapid train system.

[kimamey]

What's he going to do, sprinkle his Hornby train set with izzy wizzy dust to make it full size?

I bet it isn't a genuine Hornby.

[djjamie]

"He summarized that the construction would proceed under a G2G"

I bet it is not a fake G2G deal either.

[kimamey]

I think some of the work could be completed late December 2018. If they fast track the environmental work and land acquisitions it will help greatly.

But the bug in the ointment is the rainy season. A lot of the earthmoving is reduced to a snails pace or stops altogether.

Best case scenario is earthworks will do 10 months work in 12 months. Worse case it maybe 8 months in 12!

When you say 'fast track the environmental work' do you mean ignore anything that stands in their way for the good of Thailand?

[paz]

And.........What is China getting out of all this?........in ten years, 20,000 Chinese troops running down the whole

corridor from the northern part of Vietnam, through Cambodia and into Bangkok. Traveling speeds up to 150 kilometers per hour. followed by another train with 20,000 troops. then another. Are people blind what is going on here? China wants the rice belt of the Orient. And we are just making the task easier with a rapid train system.

Indeed. It takes someone like you to outsmart the Chinese. Go further, email Thai gov't, open their eyes.

[boomerangutang]

No chance whatsoever. Talk is cheap, railways are expensive and time consuming to build and maintain. Can't wait to see the finished product.....if i can live that long !

Have you seen how regular Thai folks respond to comparative costs of things? If there are four little noodle shops in a row. The one with a bowl of noodles 2 baht cheaper than the others is going to get 90% of the business. It matters little if the other 3 shops add more noodles or add-ons, or are cleaner or quieter. The comparative price is all that matters. It's also a matter of perception. If a farang is selling a car for Bt.50k and a Thai is selling the same car for the same price, the Thai view will be the farang car is more expensive. Reason (in their minds): farang are richer, farang pay too much for everything, so if they're selling something it's probably for too much.

Now segue that outlook to the new train. Regular Thais will automatically see it as too expensive, no matter what the ticket prices. Just the fact that it's shiny and new will bolster that view. Also, it was very expensive to build and was designed/engineered by outsiders who are perceived as richer than them (regular Thai folks). There will always be buses, and buses will always be a cheaper way to travel than trains, at least in Thai peoples' perception. No matter that buses usually take longer, sometimes crash, and they're loud and often too cold.

I acknowledge that moving freight is considered the primary revenue generator of the train. But some of the same perceptions will apply. If businesspeople think they can save 50 satang by trucking, they'll ship it that way. No matter that trucking is more polluting and probably more dangerous (trucks crash every day in Thailand).

[BSJ]

I think some of the work could be completed late December 2018. If they fast track the environmental work and land acquisitions it will help greatly.

But the bug in the ointment is the rainy season. A lot of the earthmoving is reduced to a snails pace or stops altogether.

Best case scenario is earthworks will do 10 months work in 12 months. Worse case it maybe 8 months in 12!

When you say 'fast track the environmental work' do you mean ignore anything that stands in their way for the good of Thailand?

That's rather a crass way to put it! Everything that needs to be done will be done.....quickly though!

[ExPratt]

I'm just wondering how long before Thailand start the land acquisition. Cannot really start until the alignment is confirmed.But they need to be sharp in getting it done. Commercially they could get hammered by the Chinese and even the Thai companies if the work is delayed due to land disputes and there will be some. Unless the Army are just going to clear people out of the way of their super project

Edited March 23, 2015 by ExPratt