Thai Transport Minister asserts rail development going as planned

[webfact]

Transport Minister asserts rail development going as planned

BANGKOK, 10 June 2015 (NNT) – Thailand’s cooperation with China and Japan on railroad development projects are moving forward as planned, according to the Transport Minister.

The Minister of Transport ACM Prajin Juntong has explained to the Cabinet that the cooperation projects between Thailand - China, and Thailand - Japan under the ministry’s rail transport development project 2015-2022 are proceeding according to plan, adding that he is confident that the projects will be completed within the designated timeframe.

The rail transport development cooperation between Thailand and China includes the construction of northeastern Bangkok - Nong Khai, and Kaeng Khoi - Maptaphut, a 973 kilometer railway line utilizing the standard gauge 1.435 meter track, allowing trains to operate at speeds of 180 kilometers per hour.

The Chinese rail project is aimed to serve passengers and accomodate light and high value cargo. The construction will be divided into four phases, with Bangkok - Kaeng Khoi and Kaeng Khoi - Maptaphut designated for the first two phases.

The construction of the first two phases is scheduled to commence October 2015 with a 30 month timeframe. The later phases, Kaeng Khoi - Nakhon Ratchasima - Nong Khai, will begin construction February 2016 with a 36 months timeframe.

The northern Bangkok - Chiang Mai High Speed Train line's construction will be carried out in cooperation with Japan, using the Japanese Shinkansen train system on the standard gauge 1.435 meter track. The 672 kilometer high speed line will be capable of train services at over 200 kilometer per hour speed.

The Japanese train project will mainly serve passengers. The construction for the high speed line is set to commence in mid 2016.

Thailand and Japan is now studying the feasibility of the eastern line Bangkok - Aranyaprathet and Bangkok - Laem Chabang railway projects, to either use the standard 1.435 meter gauge system or the 1 meter gauge system that is currently used in Thailand. The eastern line project will be mainly designated for cargo transportation.


-- NNT 2015-06-10

[timber]

Finally starting to talk freight.

[Ricardo]

"The Chinese rail project is aimed to serve passengers and accomodate light and high value cargo."

That's a change isn't it ? The Chinese line was previously for freight to the ports.

And "light and high value cargo" surely moves by air, not containerised rail and ships ?

[ExPratt]

"High Speed" not happening then ? Even the Shinkansen is only 200k

Its still progress of course and good luck to them . I was interted to see the Bangkok - Laem Chabang route being mainly for Freight. Shorely that will interfere with the Bangkok-Pattaya Bullet trains tearing up and down at 300kph, Perhaps they will build 2 adjacent Railways

[Jeremy50]

30 months to build a 900k railway. They'd better start right away then.

[ExPratt]

30 months to build a 900k railway. They'd better start right away then.

Agree That is nonsense , Maybe when all the Civils and formations are complete . It would be possible to build 2 x 900K (1800k of Track) if you had several work fronts , Bringing in 2k a day between them I believe, Then comes the difficult bit , The signaling and Overhead Traction current commisioing From start to finish I'd hazard a guess of 7 to 8 years, thats going by a 350k double tracking project in this part of the world that took 5 years

Edited June 10, 2015 by ExPratt

[Srikcir]

All these rail projects are good for both Japan and China to help their economies grow.

For Thailand it will take 20+ years to get a payback because the Junta is financing the projects by borrowing from the Japanese and Chinese.

Welcome to Junta Economics 101.

[Ricardo]

All these rail projects are good for both Japan and China to help their economies grow.

For Thailand it will take 20+ years to get a payback because the Junta is financing the projects by borrowing from the Japanese and Chinese.

Welcome to Junta Economics 101.

Whereas the previous administration proposed to borrow for 50 years, with no transparency or oversight, which was better because ?

[Robby nz]

All these rail projects are good for both Japan and China to help their economies grow.

For Thailand it will take 20+ years to get a payback because the Junta is financing the projects by borrowing from the Japanese and Chinese.

Welcome to Junta Economics 101.

Whereas the previous administration proposed to borrow for 50 years, with no transparency or oversight, which was better because ?

Simple. Because they had a minister of finance who admitted to telling lies and considered it gave investors confidence.

[bamnutsak]

The Bangkok Post reported yesterday that compulsory detailed surveys will delay construction of a Bangkok-Chiang Mai high-speed railway and an east-west double-track route - both Japanese projects - by one or two years.

In other news...

Thailand treads delicate path between China and Japan on rail projects

China is "one to two years" ahead of Japan in helping Thailand upgrade its outdated rail network, Thai deputy Prime Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula said in Hong Kong on Thursday.

He denied reports that a Japan-backed project is to be the country's first high-speed rail line, and noted Thailand is a "small country" which has to be friendly to both China and Japan.

"Japan hadn't said that they will do high-speed or medium-speed yet. We always say ‘up to high speed'," he said, noting Japan will do a feasibility study before deciding the speed with Bangkok.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2015-06/25/content_21105329.htm