Construction on 1st leg of Bangkok-Korat rail line to start in Sept

[webfact]

Construction on 1st leg of BKK-Nakhon Ratchasima rail line to start in Sept

BANGKOK, 29 July 2016 (NNT) – Representatives from Thailand and China have agreed to begin construction of the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed rail line on the first 3.5-kilometer section within September this year.

Thai Minister of Transport Arkhom Termpittayapaisith has held a discussion with Mr Wang Xiaotao, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission of China, as part of the 12th Meeting of the Joint Committee on Railway Cooperation between Thailand and China. The minister affirmed after the meeting that both sides agreed to adhere to the plan to start building the first section of the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima route this September.

The first section, with a distance of 3.5 kilometers, connects Klang Dong Station in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima to the province’s border with Saraburi. Financial sources will include the central state budget and domestic loans. Details are set to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval next month.

As for the second portion of the route, stretching 11 kilometers from Pak Chong Station to Khlong Khanan Chit Station, Chinese officials reported that the softness of the soil in the area would be difficult for rail construction. As further discussions will need to be held on the idea of changing the course of the tracks, the deadline for plan submission has been extended from October to November.

The total budget for all four sections of the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima route is estimated at 179 billion baht. China has proposed that Thailand seek loans in the Yuan currency at an interest rate of 3.2 percent, whereas Thailand has expressed its wish to obtain the lowest interest rate available, preferably at 2 percent.


-- NNT 2016-07-29

[ClutchClark]

Has China insisted on providing only Chinese labor for this project or will Thai laborers be used as well?

In several Chinese mega-projects around the globe, China has insisted on providing labor and materials.

Thanks

[sungod]

I cant help thinking that these 3.5 KMs will become an everlasting monument to failure such as the concrete pillars of the Hopewell project in Bangkok, I hope I am wrong.

[mtls2005]

As for the second portion of the route, stretching 11 kilometers

"Stretching", is this an Onion article?

[Alive]

He should connect PakChong to Korat first that way the people in Korat at least can have a smooth ride to Pak Chong. Doing Saraburi to Pakching is more for Bangkok people as usual. This isn't about Esarn it's about more and more ease for the people of Bangkok so they can get to their summer cottages in Kao Yai or get away for that Sunday ChokChai steak in quick time.

[ChrisY1]

Continuing nonsense......! Nothing will happen!

[neal david]

would it not make sense to start from one end say the the bkk end ...or the korat end ..... why on gods earth would you just start in the middle ...really you could make shit like this up .... but this is thai-ness at its best yet again ...what a <deleted> joke .....and the good army general said a few months ago on his friday night soap show that it would be up and running by the end of this year ....there really is no hope for this country ....

[Bob12345]

Has China insisted on providing only Chinese labor for this project or will Thai laborers be used as well?

In several Chinese mega-projects around the globe, China has insisted on providing labor and materials.

Thanks

I would guess Thai laborers are allowed, but knowing how many Lao, Burmese, and Cambodians are used in other construction projects all around Thailand I doubt there will be many Thais signing up for doing the hard labor.

[Bob12345]

"China has proposed that Thailand seek loans in the Yuan currency at an interest rate of 3.2 percent, whereas Thailand has expressed its wish to obtain the lowest interest rate available, preferably at 2 percent."

We can learn something here; this is how high-stakes negotiations work.

Instead of asking to pay as much as possible these smart Thai negotiators ask for a low rate to save themselves money.

Wow, this is really strategy 101.

This is so eye-opening for me, next time I buy something at a market I will ask for a discount instead of asking to pay more than the asking price, lets see if that will save me money...

[swerver]

Has China insisted on providing only Chinese labor for this project or will Thai laborers be used as well?

In several Chinese mega-projects around the globe, China has insisted on providing labor and materials.

Thanks

I would guess Thai laborers are allowed, but knowing how many Lao, Burmese, and Cambodians are used in other construction projects all around Thailand I doubt there will be many Thais signing up for doing the hard labor.

Ever heard when studying history of the Tower of Babel??? It was started with people speaking many different languages but this problem caused it never to be completed.

Looks to me Thailand is trying to best the Tower of Babel.

[sahibji]

good beginning.

hope it be completed on schedule and the balance

built progressively.

[Srikcir]

In March 2016 former Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanich called on the government to revise the starting schedule, reasoning it is not worth investment, and will bring the country in heavy interest burden.

Transport minister Arkhom Termpittayaphaisit reaffirmed the government’s faith in the project stating that they were worth the cost as projections have revealed that 60% of revenues will be generated from real estate and commercial developments along the routes while the remaining 40% will come from passenger fares. That's all good and well for the entire 250 kilometre line. But such revenues won't amount to much if the line is built in short stretches. Short piecemeal construction will not only result in higher consruction remobilization costs (which Thailand will bear 100%) but may actually result in negative net revenues.