Thai-Chinese railway project on schedule

[webfact]

TRASPORTATION NETWORK
Thai-Chinese railway project on schedule
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The 873-km Thai-Chinese railway project for the country's northeastern line got underway yesterday as scheduled, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said.

"The project was not delayed," he said, adding that even though more details would be added to the system design criteria work, everything was expected to be delivered within December.

As planned, the Thai-Chinese railway project will feature a double track with a standard gauge (1.435 metres), carrying trains with speeds of up to 180 km/hour for the Bangkok-Kaeng Khoi and Nakhon Ratchasima-Nong Khai-Kaeng Khoi-Map Ta Phut routes. The project is being developed as a government-to-government deal.

Arkhom said that after the ninth meeting between the two nations takes place in Bangkok on Thursday, the details on construction and financial costs as well as percentage of investments of each side should be revealed between January and February.

The railway project along the Lower East-West Corridor from Kanchanaburi to Laem Chabang via Bangkok and the Bangkok to Aranyaprathet route will have a total length of 574 km.

Also on a government-to-government basis, Thailand and Japan recently signed a memorandum of cooperation to improve the single-track railway, upgrade it to double track and develop two missing links between Kanchanaburi and Ban Nam Phu Ron for 26 km and between Aranyaprathet and Khlong Luek.

Arkhom said this project was important to both Thailand and Myanmar's strategic transport plans as it passes four special economic zones (SEZs): Myanmar's Dawie SEZ, Kanchanaburi SEZ, super cluster Eastern Seaboard, and Sa Kaeo SEZ.

The railway project will also link Myanmar's Dawei deep-sea port with the Laem Chabang deep-sea port in Thailand.

In January, Japan will acquire three 12-foot containers to try out the Nong Pladuk-Laem Chabang deep-sea port route.

After that, Thailand and Japan will form a joint venture for route operations and carriage procurement as well as upgrading the track from single to double.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Thai-Chinese-railway-project-on-schedule-30274057.html


-- The Nation 2015-12-01

[Ricardo]

"The 873-km Thai-Chinese railway project for the country's northeastern line got underway yesterday as scheduled, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said.

"The project was not delayed," he said,"

It's as fully-advanced as the frequently-announced expansion of Swampy !

[Langsuan Man]

If it is on schedule then why has the General ordered a Thai team to Beijing to continue the negotiations on the interest rate

China want's 2.5%, Thailand only wants to pay 2%

[aussieinthailand]

So anyone like to give the numbers for fast trains and infrastructure for this Government and numbers of the last government?

I don't think they will quite match up...

And sorry but a train that travels at 180 klm's isn't exactly a fast train, not when Japan's fast trains push 300klm's, so it seems not all is quite what it was supposed to be???

[craigt3365]

Long article in the Post yesterday about how this project has been delayed many times. Now, due to the high interest rate the Chinese are demanding. The article stated Japan is pushing hard for this also.

[trainman34014]

More bullshit. Pictures please of construction that has 'apparently' started on schedule....Lol.

[natway09]

This is not the story we heard today. Delayed, overpriced & interest rate too high.

General, my suggestion is that Thailand has been unable to run any proper train service as SRT are corrupt, underworked

lazy & incompetent.

Spend a fraction of this investment to double track the existing lines & upgrade rolling stock along with some decent management

& leave the multi billion baht over the top glitzy, commission making project to an elected government

[taony]

More bullshit. Pictures please of construction that has 'apparently' started on schedule....Lol.

would love to see a map of the planned route at a minimum.

[jerojero]

Project is started, but financial and investment costs not yet revealed. Close barn door after horses have fled. Yep, makes perfect T. sense. Wonder how many millions baht detoured to government officials' "fees"? China operates similarly on greased palms.

[bark]

So anyone like to give the numbers for fast trains and infrastructure for this Government and numbers of the last government?

I don't think they will quite match up...

And sorry but a train that travels at 180 klm's isn't exactly a fast train, not when Japan's fast trains push 300klm's, so it seems not all is quite what it was supposed to be???

The Minister in charge of the Thai State railway; noticed that the picture( Train Picture) in the government office lobby had chips off the paint.

He said that this was causing the trains to de-rail. He had the picture restored; and said there would be no more problems.

He took the next train to the north of Thailand; to prove it was safe. This train jumped the tracks 4-5 hours outside of Bangkok.

If it is the same guy in charge of this project. The rail line will be delay for about 5 years !!

[JAG]

If it is on schedule then it is the only rail related activity in the country that runs to time!

[tbthailand]

money's in the bank, then???

[ratcatcher]

Somewhere, presumably in the vicinity of Nong Khai, there must be some heavy machinery and activity. Maybe a member in that north eastern province can shed some light? You do not build railways behind closed doors.

[smutcakes]

According to the headline ticker in the BP, the whole deal has been shelved by Khun Somkid, so it does not exactly seem like its going on schedule!

Is it that difficult for Govt persons to get on the same page. I suspect like any of these projects, like Govt house, there are just so many agencies, all full of ego's all wanting their 'cut of the pie' that its literally impossible to get anything done effectively.

[Ricardo]

Yes, I think you're right, that would explain the eager rush of people, all trying to announce the project and thus appear worth sweetening.

This applies to more than just the long-planned/frequently-announced Chinese freight-railway.

[smutcakes]

Yes, I think you're right, that would explain the eager rush of people, all trying to announce the project and thus appear worth sweetening.

This applies to more than just the long-planned/frequently-announced Chinese freight-railway.

I also believe that the Chinese economy is very very close to having a large blow out, so the less involved the Thais are the better.

Whatever happens it will be difficult, but i would try and mitigate to some extent. Far better to get in bed with the Japanese, there economy has been down the pan for years, so you would hope the only way is up. I would also suggest they are more trustowrthy and have the capacity to build a better railway.

[bluesofa]

According to the headline ticker in the BP, the whole deal has been shelved by Khun Somkid, so it does not exactly seem like its going on schedule!

Is it that difficult for Govt persons to get on the same page. I suspect like any of these projects, like Govt house, there are just so many agencies, all full of ego's all wanting their 'cut of the pie' that its literally impossible to get anything done effectively.

You beat me to it! I was just reading the same report. It's claimed the latest sticking point is to do with the Chinese and the rubber they were supposed to be acceppting in part-pament..

The Chinese apparently now attached a new condition where they will only accept new rubber. Originally they agreed to accept new and old rubber.

On schedule ...using Thai time.

[JAG]

Somewhere, presumably in the vicinity of Nong Khai, there must be some heavy machinery and activity. Maybe a member in that north eastern province can shed some light? You do not build railways behind closed doors.

chinrail.jpg

No, but I suspect that the doors remain firmly closed on the room in which the financial " construction" is under way.

That is probably the real focus, the actual railway is incidental.!

[ginjag]

money's in the bank, then???

Would have been if Yingluck had overseen the rice corruption as chairperson. UNDERSTAND.

[Ricardo]

Yes, I think you're right, that would explain the eager rush of people, all trying to announce the project and thus appear worth sweetening.

This applies to more than just the long-planned/frequently-announced Chinese freight-railway.

I also believe that the Chinese economy is very very close to having a large blow out, so the less involved the Thais are the better.

Whatever happens it will be difficult, but i would try and mitigate to some extent. Far better to get in bed with the Japanese, there economy has been down the pan for years, so you would hope the only way is up. I would also suggest they are more trustowrthy and have the capacity to build a better railway.

But the project is mainly intended to help China's export-trade get to Thai ports, the few planned Thai passenger-trains are an add-on, so if China can't finance/build it then it's unlikely to happen IMO.

One hopes that, since it's in their long-term economic interests, China would build a reasonable-standard line.

[phoenixdoglover]

There is no project until there is funding. There is no funding until there is a financing agreement. There is no financing agreement.

In other news today:

- the FAA downgraded Thai aviation, and the government said, not to worry, everything is fine

- the PM announced large reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in Thailand over the next 15 years despite pushing for coal-fired power plants

- Thailand is well on its way to reducing traffic deaths by 80%

We are indeed living in a golden age of optimism.

[craigt3365]

Interesting discussion on how China negotiates loans:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/26/business/international/chinas-global-ambitions-with-loans-and-strings-attached.html

With its elevated status, China is forcing countries to play by its financial rules, which can be onerous. Many developing countries, in exchange for loans, pay steep interest rates and give up the rights to their natural resources for years. China has a lock on close to 90 percent of Ecuador’s oil exports, which mostly goes to paying off its loans.

...............

China also has a shaky record when it comes to worker safety, environmental standards and corporate governance. While China’s surging investments have created jobs in many countries, development experts worry that Beijing is exporting its worst practices.

[aussieinthailand]

money's in the bank, then???

Would have been if Yingluck had overseen the rice corruption as chairperson. UNDERSTAND.

AS in my previous post,

care to provide the numbers for trains and all infrastructure from this junta and then the numbers and infrastructure from the last government??? UNDERSTAND.