Cabinet is due to consider Thai-Chinese high-speed train project in January

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The long overdue Thai-Chinese high-speed train project is now in the process of being considered in details before a full report of the project can be wrapped up and submitted to the cabinet for consideration in mid-January, Transport Deputy Permanent Secretary Phirapol Thavornsupacharoen said on Monday.

 

The report and the cabinet’s decision on the project and recommendations – if there are any – will be presented for discussion at the Thai-Chinese joint railway cooperation during January 16-18, said Mr Phirapol, adding that, once there is an approval of the report by the joint committee, the project can proceed initially with the handover of land for the construction.

 

Regarding the light Red Line railway route between Bang Sue and Hua Mark and between Bang Sue and Hua Lampong, the deputy permanent secretary said could be held in March.

 

As for the 95 billion baht worth of high-speed project between Bangkok and Hua Hin and the 152 billion baht worth of Bangkok-Rayong high-speed train project, he expected bidding to take place in the third quarter of next year under public-private sectors joint investment platform.

 

Under the PPP platform, Mr Phirapol explained that the private sector could present their land for commercial development on land beside the rail lines and would be required to conduct feasibility study and environmental impact assessment at its own costs.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/cabinet-due-consider-thai-chinese-high-speed-train-project-january/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-12-27

This is the project that was scheduled to start in Sept 2016???

"...The long overdue Thai-Chinese high-speed train project is now in the process of being considered in details before a full report of the project can be wrapped up and submitted to the cabinet for consideration in mid-January..."

 

Then what ???

 

I'm sure it will be great when it's finished....now, if only they could get it started.

" Under the PPP platform, Mr Phirapol explained that the private sector could present their land for commercial development on land beside the rail lines and would be required to conduct feasibility study and environmental impact assessment at its own costs. "

 

I wonder what commercial opportunities there are, for extra business generated by a train whizzing past at 150 kph, perhaps they're talking about land only near stations, where the passenger-train would have to slow-down & stop & then re-start ? And wasn't the Chinese proposal for a medium-speed freight-railway anyway ?

 

Surely the SRT are the main potential partners, given that they already own the thin strip of land, along which the current lines run ?

I'll believe it when I see it connecting to the  Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry 

Considering some of the faulty crossing signals on the existing track which goes right thru Hua Hin, I can hardly wait (i.e. hopefully forever).  But I'm sure the new ones will be much better... not.

High speed rail should not be a priority.  There are so many basic problems that this money could be used for.  It's very cheap to fly in Thailand.

 

The government doesn't even have proper computers, computer systems, networks.  It will be a money losing proposition because the tickets will be too expensive, unless the government subsidizes them.  If you could rely on business travelers to keep it going, it would be plausible, but that's not going to happen

This is the project that was scheduled to start in Sept 2016???

Be fair, I'm sure it was October!

2 hours ago, Langsuan Man said:

I'll believe it when I see it connecting to the  Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry 

Oh yea of little faith. I thought the Japanese were in on this as well. Need a score card to keep up. 

Work on high speed rail-link to Nong Kai has already been underway for several months in Khon Kaen! Maybe this is a different project.