Thailand and China start historic railway cooperation

BANGKOK: Thailand and China today entered a historic cooperation in railway development project when both countries held a ground breaking ceremony in Ayutthaya to herald the start of the construction of two rail routes covering a total distance of 873 kilometres.

Thailand’s deputy prime minister ACM Prajin Juntong presided over the ceremony held at Chiang Rak Noi station in Bang Pa-in district of Ayutthaya province.

China was represented by its state councillor Mr Wang Yong.

The two sides will install a flag to symbolize an official start of the 500 billion baht project.

At the Chiang Rak Noi station, an exhibition about the Thai-China railway development project was also held.

Similar exhibition was also held at Hua Lampong station in Bangkok.

At the exhibitions, visitors will have chance to see models of locomotive, carriage and engine that will be used in the project in the future.

Under the project, the Chiang Rak Noi station will be developed as the main station and the operation control center. The station is also a planned site for the operation control center of the Thai-Japanese rail development project.

The Thai-China joint railway development project covers constructions of 1.435-meter standard gauge railways along two routes.

The first route connects Nong Khai province bordering Laos, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Kaeng Koi district in Saraburi province and Bangkok.

The other route links Bangkok, Kaeng Koi district and Map Ta Phut port in Rayong province.

China will submit result of a feasibility study on the first-phase of project to the Thai Transport Ministry which will then be forward to the cabinet for consideration.

Blueprint for the first phase, covering a construction of railway linking Nakhon Ratchasima province, Kaeng Koi district and Bangkok, is 80 percent complete and the Transport Ministry is expected to kick off the construction in 2016.

The second phase covers constructions of railways between Kaeng Khoi district and Map Ta Phut port and between Nong Khai province andNakhon Ratchasima province.

Its design is now 50 percent complete and China is set to submit a feasibility study on this phase to Thailand early next year.

As to unsettled lending rate, the transport minister has said it would raise the issue for discussion during the 10th round of talk in China in February 2016.

China has set an interest rate on loans to finance the project at 2.5 percent, but Thailand considered the rate too high and wanted below 2 percent.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thailand-and-china-start-historic-railway-cooperation

-- Thai PBS 2015-12-19

So, not only double tracking but double gauging. 1 metre in place and 1.435 (4'81/2") to be laid.

George Stephenson would be smiling.

As would Brunel, who had to convert the GWR from broad-gauge to standard-gauge, over just a week-end.

So the financing is yet-to-be-agreed, the rolling-stock finalised (else how could models of it be displayed), while the first-phase feasibility-study has yet to be received & considered by the Cabinet, the first line is 20% not-yet-blueprinted and the second-phase only 50% designed, but no feasibility-study completed.

But at least they know where they will plant the flag !

I'm tempted to wonder what might be on the menu, for lunch-packs on the less-important passenger-operations, perhaps former-PM Yingluck can give them some of her ideas ?

'Historic' it is, for the Chinese! A milestone in their expansionist plans, rule the land, rule the seas, ...rule the people, ...rule the World!

It has always been the wet dream of the imperialist powers planning to hold all of Asia in their palm, to have a railway following the 'backbone' of Asia, from up close to the Russian border to down to the Indian Ocean...

The 'Western' powers didn't come to it in their time, the Nippon Empire could not achieve it, but now the Chinese will!

And, (big) cherry on the cake, although it's pure profit for the Chinese in the first place (and they would probably have financed the whole operation out of their pocket), they found their new-vassals-in-the-make ready and willing to pay for it, isn't it wonderfull?

Don't make me say it will not be profitable at all for Thailand, I'm quite sure it will be, though I don't have the list with the names of the Thais who will profit, big time, from this operation, and when I would, I would hide it the best I can, for sure not talking about it to anyone...

Judging by the lack of dignatories in the 'photo it looks like they all caught the train to the wrong station. Maybe a sign of things to come!

There were 5 major unresolved issues. But it looks like Prayut just conceded everything to meet his promise that the railway project would start before end of 2015.

NACC should investigate whether the government made good faith negotiations to protect the nation's interest in the project or was negligent in its lack of negotiations for ulterior purposes.

'Historic' it is, for the Chinese! A milestone in their expansionist plans, rule the land, rule the seas, ...rule the people, ...rule the World!

It has always been the wet dream of the imperialist powers planning to hold all of Asia in their palm, to have a railway following the 'backbone' of Asia, from up close to the Russian border to down to the Indian Ocean...

The 'Western' powers didn't come to it in their time, the Nippon Empire could not achieve it, but now the Chinese will!

And, (big) cherry on the cake, although it's pure profit for the Chinese in the first place (and they would probably have financed the whole operation out of their pocket), they found their new-vassals-in-the-make ready and willing to pay for it, isn't it wonderfull?

Don't make me say it will not be profitable at all for Thailand, I'm quite sure it will be, though I don't have the list with the names of the Thais who will profit, big time, from this operation, and when I would, I would hide it the best I can, for sure not talking about it to anyone...

Expanding the New Silk Road AND having Thailand pay for it. Kudos to the Chinese. The next thing we should hear from Bangkok is there plan to tax the rural poor in order to pay for the 1/2 Trillion THB price tag. Just saying...

'Historic' it is, for the Chinese! A milestone in their expansionist plans, rule the land, rule the seas, ...rule the people, ...rule the World!

It has always been the wet dream of the imperialist powers planning to hold all of Asia in their palm, to have a railway following the 'backbone' of Asia, from up close to the Russian border to down to the Indian Ocean...

The 'Western' powers didn't come to it in their time, the Nippon Empire could not achieve it, but now the Chinese will!

And, (big) cherry on the cake, although it's pure profit for the Chinese in the first place (and they would probably have financed the whole operation out of their pocket), they found their new-vassals-in-the-make ready and willing to pay for it, isn't it wonderfull?

Don't make me say it will not be profitable at all for Thailand, I'm quite sure it will be, though I don't have the list with the names of the Thais who will profit, big time, from this operation, and when I would, I would hide it the best I can, for sure not talking about it to anyone...

"...to have a railway following the 'backbone' of Asia, from up close to the Russian border to down to the Indian Ocean... The 'Western' powers didn't come to it in their time, the Nippon Empire could not achieve it, but now the Chinese will!"

Unfortunately, anyone with a knowledge of S.E.Asia, can see that to get to the Indian Ocean from China, all they have to do (and are doing) is to run right past west of Laos and Thailand to the deepwater ports in neighboring Myanmar (Burma).

http://www.myanmarburma.com/article/807/major-ports

Of course, the Japanese knew that and aimed to join Bangkok to Burma via Three Pagodas and the tragedy of the death Railway followed.

Freight moving from China via railway to the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, will arrive in Europe much faster from Burmese ports than from Mapthaput/Laem Chabang via Singapore and Malacca Straits.

500 billion Baht,mouth watering possibilities here for two countries known for their ingenious methods of skimming the cream from the top. The planning meetings were a success but i cant remember the full details of the menu but they served a beaujolais so good that there was no better beajolais even in beaujolais.

Historic it certainly is!

Where else in the world would a groundbreaking ceremony on such a large infrastructure project take place before negotiations on contracts and funding had been agreed and feasibility studies completed?

There were 5 major unresolved issues. But it looks like Prayut just conceded everything to meet his promise that the railway project would start before end of 2015.

NACC should investigate whether the government made good faith negotiations to protect the nation's interest in the project or was negligent in its lack of negotiations for ulterior purposes.

Absolutely.

No need to rush this. Who needs proper infrastructure to the NorthEast of Thailand anyway? Better spent all on Bangkok again.

Thailand....Hub of Nationalist flag waving and useless clap trap. Just watch the whole thing end in tears.

There were 5 major unresolved issues. But it looks like Prayut just conceded everything to meet his promise that the railway project would start before end of 2015.

NACC should investigate whether the government made good faith negotiations to protect the nation's interest in the project or was negligent in its lack of negotiations for ulterior purposes.

Absolutely.

No need to rush this. Who needs proper infrastructure to the NorthEast of Thailand anyway? Better spent all on Bangkok again.

A bit of transportation infractructure for the South, on the way to Malaysia, and Singapore, also, maybe...? Or no, like for the Kra Isthmus canal, no? OK, I know Thaksin has been putting a lot of weigh on Dawei and the Chinese railroad, but, but, isn't he 'out of the picture' (for now...)? Or is it as usually here, that nothing is what it seems to be, and the little, sorry, no disrespect, the BIG, men-in-green have a 'secret agenda' (can't get that audiotape out of my mind...)?

Apart from making a healthy profit from the loan, this is presumably an opportunity for China to use up a sizable chunk of the 77 million tonnes steel surplus. It would be interesting to see a detailed breakdown of the cost of this grandiose project, which will doubtless be"fast tracked" along with other ambitious infrastructure schemes the next elected government is destined to inherit from the present caretaker administration.

'Historic' it is, for the Chinese! A milestone in their expansionist plans, rule the land, rule the seas, ...rule the people, ...rule the World!

It has always been the wet dream of the imperialist powers planning to hold all of Asia in their palm, to have a railway following the 'backbone' of Asia, from up close to the Russian border to down to the Indian Ocean...

The 'Western' powers didn't come to it in their time, the Nippon Empire could not achieve it, but now the Chinese will!

And, (big) cherry on the cake, although it's pure profit for the Chinese in the first place (and they would probably have financed the whole operation out of their pocket), they found their new-vassals-in-the-make ready and willing to pay for it, isn't it wonderfull?

Don't make me say it will not be profitable at all for Thailand, I'm quite sure it will be, though I don't have the list with the names of the Thais who will profit, big time, from this operation, and when I would, I would hide it the best I can, for sure not talking about it to anyone...

"...to have a railway following the 'backbone' of Asia, from up close to the Russian border to down to the Indian Ocean... The 'Western' powers didn't come to it in their time, the Nippon Empire could not achieve it, but now the Chinese will!"

Unfortunately, anyone with a knowledge of S.E.Asia, can see that to get to the Indian Ocean from China, all they have to do (and are doing) is to run right past west of Laos and Thailand to the deepwater ports in neighboring Myanmar (Burma).

http://www.myanmarburma.com/article/807/major-ports

Of course, the Japanese knew that and aimed to join Bangkok to Burma via Three Pagodas and the tragedy of the death Railway followed.

Freight moving from China via railway to the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, will arrive in Europe much faster from Burmese ports than from Mapthaput/Laem Chabang via Singapore and Malacca Straits.

Maybe it's to get imports easier from Australia? Stuff like iron & copper?

I don't know, except I hear the Chinese import a lot of raw materials from Australia.

This step child railroad for the Chinese to move their goods will do nothing for Thailand. We already have a railroad to Nong Khai and no one uses it. A real bad deal at 2.5% plus the Chinese will operate it for the first 5 years. Welcome aboard the Dim Sum Train.

As an engineer, I personally do like rail transport. I think Thailand needs to spend a lot more money on existing rail routes, track conditions, track crossings etc.

So, not only double tracking but double gauging. 1 metre in place and 1.435 (4'81/2") to be laid.

George Stephenson would be smiling.

Just wait until you see the double gouging.

another Hopewell project?

Just wait until the Chinese discover how many projects in Thailand are delayed or abandoned due to corruption, superstition, or general incompetence.

Maybe it's to get imports easier from Australia? Stuff like iron & copper?

I don't know, except I hear the Chinese import a lot of raw materials from Australia.

Coal & iron-ore are moved direct to China by bulk-shipping, and volumes are well down due to the recession, the new mainly-freight railway is for Chinese exports rather than raw-material imports, which is why they ought to be the people paying for it.

Well done, let's stop talking and start digging, compacting and laying them concreted with rubber mounted 150 lbs rail lines , erecting those LCD clock face automatic signalling systems and getting those 5,000 Horsepower GM or GE or Beijing built locomotives and I make a promise that I will not comment again on this rail project until it is fully functional operating state of the art railway system, because I am sick of reading the promos and B/S. .............................. .

The only thing "historical" around here is the orgasm I heard last night 2am in the room next to mine. 555

Still haven't resolved the lending rate yet! You can bet it won't be "Peanuts".

Well done Mr General. You have been pushing very hard for this Sino Thai link up.

Now you can all line your pockets with the bags that get lost.

Thailand has now officially sold their soul to the Chinks. Bad karma to follow I am sure

'Historic' it is, for the Chinese! A milestone in their expansionist plans, rule the land, rule the seas, ...rule the people, ...rule the World!

It has always been the wet dream of the imperialist powers planning to hold all of Asia in their palm, to have a railway following the 'backbone' of Asia, from up close to the Russian border to down to the Indian Ocean...

The 'Western' powers didn't come to it in their time, the Nippon Empire could not achieve it, but now the Chinese will!

And, (big) cherry on the cake, although it's pure profit for the Chinese in the first place (and they would probably have financed the whole operation out of their pocket), they found their new-vassals-in-the-make ready and willing to pay for it, isn't it wonderfull?

Don't make me say it will not be profitable at all for Thailand, I'm quite sure it will be, though I don't have the list with the names of the Thais who will profit, big time, from this operation, and when I would, I would hide it the best I can, for sure not talking about it to anyone...

"...to have a railway following the 'backbone' of Asia, from up close to the Russian border to down to the Indian Ocean... The 'Western' powers didn't come to it in their time, the Nippon Empire could not achieve it, but now the Chinese will!"

Unfortunately, anyone with a knowledge of S.E.Asia, can see that to get to the Indian Ocean from China, all they have to do (and are doing) is to run right past west of Laos and Thailand to the deepwater ports in neighboring Myanmar (Burma).

http://www.myanmarburma.com/article/807/major-ports

Of course, the Japanese knew that and aimed to join Bangkok to Burma via Three Pagodas and the tragedy of the death Railway followed.

Freight moving from China via railway to the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, will arrive in Europe much faster from Burmese ports than from Mapthaput/Laem Chabang via Singapore and Malacca Straits.

Maybe it's to get imports easier from Australia? Stuff like iron & copper?

I don't know, except I hear the Chinese import a lot of raw materials from Australia.

I don't know, except I hear the Chinese import a lot of raw materials from Australia.

Yes, they do indeed.

The Australian iron ore mines of the Pilbara area, ship out of Port Hedland on the north coast of W.A. through the Indonesian archipelago to the Java sea and direct to Chinese ports. No need to involve Thailand.