Govt denies Sino-Thai railway project will be cancelled

[webfact]

Govt denies Sino-Thai railway project will be cancelled
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Government Spokesman Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd denied Monday that the Sino-Thai double-track railway project linking Nong Khai, to Map Ta Phut in Rayong and Bangkok would be cancelled.

He said it was just a rumour. He said the fifth meeting of a joint committee of the two countries will be held this month and the estimation of the construction cost will be done in August for the construction to start within this year.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Govt-denies-Sino-Thai-railway-project-will-be-canc-30261406.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-02

[jackinthebox]

That's it. There will not be a "21. century train" in thailand. The project will probably not be cancelled, but they won't start building it in this decade, maybe 2021 (and then cancel it after two or three years because of corruption and various new governments). ....and they lived happily ever after with their merry-go-round train from the 1920s.

[ChrisY1]

Yet another denial of a rumour that means it's most likely true!

[BSJ]

The burden of debt would probably drown Thailand in the 50 years to come....unless of course the Chinese match the Japanese interest rate....which would make it much easier to payback the loan.

[asiamaster]

There is a big difference between the "Japanese" line Chiang Mai - Bangkok and the "Chinese" line from Nong Khai to Map Ta Phut Rayong. The latter is part of the China driven New Silk Road / Maritime Silk road project and it's main purpose is the transportation of goods to and from China. It all depends on the outcome of the ongoing talks concerning the South China Sea.

[Estrada]

BTS Group have announced that they are seeking to JV with the Chinese to build these lines.

[webfact]

Govt confirms to proceed with Thai-Chinese railway project

BANGKOK, 2 June 2015 (NNT) – The Thai government has given assurances that it will carry on with the joint railway construction project with China, saying the Bangkok-Kaeng Khoi-Khorat section will begin to take shape within this year.

Following speculations that the government has canceled its planned cooperation with China on railway development, Deputy Government Spokesperson Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd has rejected the information as false. Instead, he disclosed that both sides have agreed on the China-proposed construction of a medium-speed system on the Nong Khai-Khorat-Kaeng Khoi-Map Ta Phut section and Kaeng Khoi-Bangkok section, totaling a distance of 873 kilometers.

The Deputy Government Spokesperson said the new system will connect with another Chinese-Lao rail line via Nong Khai and Vientiane. The project is set to be discussed at the fifth meeting of the Thai-Chinese Joint Committee late this month while route survey and cost assessment will be finished within August as scheduled. Construction is expected to commence on the Bangkok-Kaeng Khoi-Khorat section by the end of this year.

Maj Gen Sansern insisted that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has a clear policy on forging cooperation with neighboring countries in order to develop the Thai railway system and raise the regional logistics efficiency.


-- NNT 2015-06-02

[Sydebolle]

The Chinese want this link and they will get it. Thailand is not asked but "invited" to an offer the latter simply cannot refuse. Same, same in Laos - what do you actually think? China is stretching its muscles and nobody, including the Japanese, are pissing into China's soup pot. See the Northmost Laotian province of Phongsaly; the Chinese operate there without any hinderance to their liking; the locals can participate or not - it's done the Chinamen way!

[maidee]

can someone please explain why thailand does not invest themselves in their own infrastructure ?

is there no loss of face involved that they cannot handle anything themselves ?

and how they are going to cheat the foreign investors with their losing 49% owning what they invested 100% of the money in ?

[phoenixdoglover]

So the major new railway line, which is still the subject of talks, and for which a final cost estimate has not yet been developed, and for which financing has not been finalized, will begin construction before the end of the year.

Does anybody believe this?

[deckape]

can someone please explain why thailand does not invest themselves in their own infrastructure ?

is there no loss of face involved that they cannot handle anything themselves ?

and how they are going to cheat the foreign investors with their losing 49% owning what they invested 100% of the money in ?

Maybe the trough is a little deeper when the money comes from elsewhere. And the off chance that the foreign investors can be fleeced as well as the public.

[ourmanflint]

Why doesn't the railway go direct across to Chachoengsao from Bangkok instead of looping north for miles. Seems like a huge waste of money

[yooyoo]

The burden of debt would probably drown Thailand in the 50 years to come....unless of course the Chinese match the Japanese interest rate....which would make it much easier to payback the loan.

Kick backs have not been agreed to yet.. Chinese want more then the Thais

[lostinisaan]

The hub of lost dreams. The MRT's in Bangkok are made by Siemens/Germany. Of course do these trains have all sorts of security built in. For example electronic sensors to stop the train immediately, if there's another vehicle.Even when the driver's sleeping.......

It was pretty much in the beginning, when a train driver had switched all the (not??) useful electronic off and a train had hit another one.

You can't beat human stupidity, can you?

Not long after the accident, they're seeking German train drivers in the Bangkok Post and other medias.Just wondering who'll drive a Chinese high speed train in Thailand?

And even in a high tech country like Germany did accidents happen with high speed trains, because of some problems with the wheels. These wheels have to get X-Rayed permanently and of course are many other safety standards necessary.

Looking at the existing Thailand railway, I find it hard to believe that there're people out there who even think about such an investment. How many derailed trains have you read of in the last years, not even mentioning the always broken locomotives, which already seems to be standard here.

What this country needs, is a complete reform of their educational system. Education usually creates professionals, but not when cheating is part of the game. Even if they'd make it happen and have high speed trains, doing 280 km/h, who'd service them? Chinese engineers, perhaps?

Who'd trust a Thai engineer with his/her life? Not even ten buffaloes would bring me on a Chinese high speed train.

Edited June 2, 2015 by lostinisaan

[Thai at Heart]

Why doesn't the railway go direct across to Chachoengsao from Bangkok instead of looping north for miles. Seems like a huge waste of money

Coz there is a bloody big national park in the way.......

[Ulic]

A cancellation starts with a denial of a rumour.

[mike324]

The hub of lost dreams. The MRT's in Bangkok are made by Siemens/Germany. Of course do these trains have all sorts of security built in. For example electronic sensors to stop the train immediately, if there's another vehicle.Even when the driver's sleeping.......

It was pretty much in the beginning, when a train driver had switched all the (not??) useful electronic off and a train had hit another one.

You can't beat human stupidity, can you?

Not long after the accident, they're seeking German train drivers in the Bangkok Post and other medias.Just wondering who'll drive a Chinese high speed train in Thailand?

And even in a high tech country like Germany did accidents happen with high speed trains, because of some problems with the wheels. These wheels have to get X-Rayed permanently and of course are many other safety standards necessary.

Looking at the existing Thailand railway, I find it hard to believe that there're people out there who even think about such an investment. How many derailed trains have you read of in the last years, not even mentioning the always broken locomotives, which already seems to be standard here.

What this country needs, is a complete reform of their educational system. Education usually creates professionals, but not when cheating is part of the game. Even if they'd make it happen and have high speed trains, doing 280 km/h, who'd service them? Chinese engineers, perhaps?

Who'd trust a Thai engineer with his/her life? Not even ten buffaloes would bring me on a Chinese high speed train.

What you say is absolutely correct but we can't wait till the the education is reformed. Thailand is already more than two decades behind in terms of trains infrastructure. The education ministry has the highest budget, yet nothing is done to make it better.

Back to the train issue, I think the Thai-Chinese route is good. I just hope they scratch the plan with the bullet trains with their cooperation with the Japanese, its not even worth studying.

[lostinisaan]

It's time to wake up this not so old thread and see what has changed so far. Will German train drivers drive Chinese high speed trains?

I assume that nobody and I mean nobody would want to sit on a Chinese train.

Please Google "high speed train accidents in China and you'll rethink your decision, Mr. Good General.

[pedro01]

The hub of lost dreams. The MRT's in Bangkok are made by Siemens/Germany. Of course do these trains have all sorts of security built in. For example electronic sensors to stop the train immediately, if there's another vehicle.Even when the driver's sleeping.......

It was pretty much in the beginning, when a train driver had switched all the (not??) useful electronic off and a train had hit another one.

You can't beat human stupidity, can you?

Not long after the accident, they're seeking German train drivers in the Bangkok Post and other medias.Just wondering who'll drive a Chinese high speed train in Thailand?

And even in a high tech country like Germany did accidents happen with high speed trains, because of some problems with the wheels. These wheels have to get X-Rayed permanently and of course are many other safety standards necessary.

Looking at the existing Thailand railway, I find it hard to believe that there're people out there who even think about such an investment. How many derailed trains have you read of in the last years, not even mentioning the always broken locomotives, which already seems to be standard here.

What this country needs, is a complete reform of their educational system. Education usually creates professionals, but not when cheating is part of the game. Even if they'd make it happen and have high speed trains, doing 280 km/h, who'd service them? Chinese engineers, perhaps?

Who'd trust a Thai engineer with his/her life? Not even ten buffaloes would bring me on a Chinese high speed train.

If you drive a car here or fly on a Thai airline, you are relying on Thai engineers...

[Thian]

The hub of lost dreams. The MRT's in Bangkok are made by Siemens/Germany. Of course do these trains have all sorts of security built in. For example electronic sensors to stop the train immediately, if there's another vehicle.Even when the driver's sleeping.......

It was pretty much in the beginning, when a train driver had switched all the (not??) useful electronic off and a train had hit another one.

You can't beat human stupidity, can you?

Not long after the accident, they're seeking German train drivers in the Bangkok Post and other medias.Just wondering who'll drive a Chinese high speed train in Thailand?

And even in a high tech country like Germany did accidents happen with high speed trains, because of some problems with the wheels. These wheels have to get X-Rayed permanently and of course are many other safety standards necessary.

Looking at the existing Thailand railway, I find it hard to believe that there're people out there who even think about such an investment. How many derailed trains have you read of in the last years, not even mentioning the always broken locomotives, which already seems to be standard here.

What this country needs, is a complete reform of their educational system. Education usually creates professionals, but not when cheating is part of the game. Even if they'd make it happen and have high speed trains, doing 280 km/h, who'd service them? Chinese engineers, perhaps?

Who'd trust a Thai engineer with his/her life? Not even ten buffaloes would bring me on a Chinese high speed train.

If you drive a car here or fly on a Thai airline, you are relying on Thai engineers...

As long as there's a Japanese at the end of the productionline who does the qualitycontrol it's no problem.

[LawrenceChee]

I jus took the high speed train from Shanghai to Tianjin. 5.5 hours going at 305kmh and was in the business class cabin for about USD $220

Had a nice service crew in mini skirt attached to the cabin , train was 4 mins late to arrival time and train terminal in Shanghai and most big cities resemble an airport with all sorts of shopping eateries and no hated security check lines

Lines were orderly and had a lot of work and meetings done on the train that was stable and quiet

Join the 2.5 millions who used the high speed trains daily in China.

Google the pictures of the cabins ....and yes no spitting sounds in the business class / first class cabin I have not seen one yet and I travel frequently in China

[LawrenceChee]

Even the recent four Seasons hotel app had a feature on it and how much the guests enjoyed it and we know the four season folks are not your 30baht plate customers