Transport Min expects progress in Thai-Chinese rail project in May

[webfact]

Transport Min expects progress in Thai-Chinese rail project in May

BANGKOK, 3 April 2015 (NNT) – Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong has hinted that concrete developments will be seen in the joint railway project between Thailand and China within May this year and that the project involving Japan will be mulled by the Cabinet in the same month.

Speaking of the double-track railway project of Thailand and China, ACM Prajin affirmed that the project has already begun to get off the ground, with field surveys and design works being carried out. He said progress will become more evident this May, adding that China will also provide support for Thailand in the areas of management and safety control.

As for the joint investment with Japan on the development of several rail routes, including the Kanchanaburi-Bangkok-Sa Kaeo route, Bangkok-Laem Chabang route and Bangkok-Chiang Mai route, the Transport Minister stated that the project will come under the Cabinet’s consideration in May, after which the contract will be signed by the two sides.

In the meantime, the minister noted that both public and private agencies are coming together in an effort to find measures to improve safety standards and management efficiency of the Thai transport system.


-- NNT 2015-04-03

[JOC]

>>adding that China will also provide support for Thailand in the areas of management and safety control.<<

A blind leading a blind..........................

[Srikcir]

The NACC was going to investigate this government-to-government deal to make sure there is no corruption involved. The deal does not involve any of the normal competitive bidding processes and few details have been released by the government as to the details of the rail project and to all the commercial development side agreements. But it appears the NACC is overwhelmed with its critical mission to railroad former government officials and seems to have given Prayut a railpass on the project.

[maidee]

wouldn't you love that china pulls out and thailand can go begg japan to build their railroad track

thais know no shame or loss of face ?

why can't they pay for their own rail roads ????

one or two derailments per week, for sure, that is thai railways

[Ricardo]

wouldn't you love that china pulls out and thailand can go begg japan to build their railroad track

thais know no shame or loss of face ?

why can't they pay for their own rail roads ????

one or two derailments per week, for sure, that is thai railways

"why can't they pay for their own rail roads ?"

The main purpose of the proposed medium-speed freight-railway is to move China's containerised-exports to Laem Chabang & Map Ta Phut.

OK, there will be some Thai rice or rubber or cheap-products headed North, but the real economic-benefit of the line goes to China.

Who should therefore pay the bulk of the cost of building it, Thailand is already going to be contributing the land, upon which it's built.

Of course if Thailand contributes relatively little money towards the project, then that will also limit the opportunities for skimming & brown-envelopes, but that too is good, isn't it ?

And the chance to run the occasional medium-speed passenger-train over the freight-line, improving links to the North-East, is a bonus as long as they don't spend too much on stations & passenger rolling-stock, to achieve it.

Edited April 4, 2015 by Ricardo