Cabinet gives green light to first phase of high-speed rail project

[snoop1130]

Cabinet gives green light to first phase of high-speed rail project

 

 

BANGKOK, 11 July 2017 (NNT) – The first phase of the high-speed train project has been endorsed by the Cabinet, with a budget of over 179 billion baht. 

Following the Cabinet meeting, Vice Minister to the Office of the Prime Minister Kobsak Pootrakool revealed that approval was granted to the State Railway of Thailand’s plan to construct the first part of the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail system, which will link Bangkok to the border province of Nong Khai. With the budget earmarked at 179.41 billion baht, the first section covers a distance of 253 kilometers from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima. 

A government-to-government contract on the high-speed rail project is to be signed between Thailand and China in the near future. Thailand will be the sole investor in this project, which will run for four years. After having received Cabinet approval, the matter will now be forwarded to the National Legislative Assembly for final deliberation. 

As for land expropriation for the first phase, a total of 2,815 rai in Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Sara Buri and Nakhon Ratchasima will have to be reclaimed. The fare for the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima route is initially set at 535 baht per trip. 

 

-- nnt 2017-7-11

[amdy2206]

Wow!!! What a surprise!! I thought everything was already approved. 

[CLW]

Like in another thread on TV, 535B one way Bangkok-Korat will never work.

Let's say the final fare to Nong Khai is 1500B, thank you, I can fly for this price to there or Vientiane.

They need to make it dual-track, regular speed so that the costs are lowered and also freight trains can use and pay for the tracks.

Never ever this will work out economically.

 

 

 

[ZAKY]

The track was supposed to start to Kunming China going through Thailand, Malaysia ending in Singapore. 

[CLW]

I don't know about the track layout but if you drive by car to Korat you have to pass some hills (or mountains).

Considering the restrictions for high speed railway I guess they'd need to drill some tunnel which is not a one-day task, and costly as well.

I'm waiting for the day when they announce "High speed railway project cancelled because of exploding costs"

Hopewell disaster is greeting...

 

 

[brucec64]

"With the budget earmarked at 179.41 billion baht..."

 

Let the plundering begin! 

[williamgeorgeallen]

wonder what the conversion rate is for projects approved to projects completed.

[Chris Lawrence]

The picture looks nice.

[Cadbury]

Just amazing how Thailand does everything backwards. They have just approved the HS train in Cabinet and the first thing they do before even a sleeper is laid is to set the fare price at 535 baht.

On this progression basis the next logical step for this ship of fools is to have the tickets printed and the conductors uniforms made.

Edited July 11, 2017 by Cadbury

[Cadbury]

4 hours ago, brucec64 said:

"With the budget earmarked at 179.41 billion baht..."

 

Let the plundering begin! 

The HS train plundering will have to wait. Submarines, helicopters, planes and tanks and APCs plundering has to be completed first. 

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, Cadbury said:

the first thing they do before even a sleeper is laid is to set the fare price at 535 baht.

That's already a fare increase!

July 12, 2017:

"A source within the ruling military government revealed that passengers on the Bangkok to Nakorn Ratchasima route would pay less than 2 baht per kilometer.  

That means a fare of no more than 500 baht for a journey that is expected to take one hour and seventeen minutes." 

[JAG]

1 hour ago, Cadbury said:

Just amazing how Thailand does everything backwards. They have just approved the HS train in Cabinet and the first thing they do before even a sleeper is laid is to set the fare price at 535 baht.

On this progression basis the next logical step for this ship of fools is to have the tickets printed and the conductors uniforms made.

 

Sorted....

[steven100]

This project is great for Thailand and the contractors as it will create many jobs but still the usual nayers. Seems you just can't pls some  ..... 

Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha ....

[smutcakes]

5 minutes ago, steven100 said:

This project is great for Thailand and the contractors as it will create many jobs but still the usual nayers. Seems you just can't pls some  ..... 

Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha ....

Stop trolling

[steven100]

2 minutes ago, smutcakes said:

Stop trolling

just speaking the truth ...

[Srikcir]

11 hours ago, CLW said:

Like in another thread on TV, 535B one way Bangkok-Korat will never work.

Let's say the final fare to Nong Khai is 1500B, thank you, I can fly for this price to there or Vientiane.

They need to make it dual-track, regular speed so that the costs are lowered and also freight trains can use and pay for the tracks.

Never ever this will work out economically.

 

 

 

Suggested reading - Government position on viability:

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/990947-several-benefits-of-“double-track”-railway-project-to-both-thais-and-foreigners/?utm_source=newsletter-20170705-0659&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news

 

Personally I think there's too many variables to project economic viability of this project at this time. Especially since it seems financing the project by Chinese loans for which have not been finalized can add substantially to the final cost. Prayut's use of Article 44 to move the project forward bypasses otherwise required economic studies to prove economic viability.

 

One argument made by the government was that additional (albeit indirect) benefits stemming from near-rail private development would substantially contribute to the project's overall economic viability. How such speculative development occurs is particularly questionable since there is no government plan for off-rail infrastructure nor demonstrated demand for such development. Also, there is a question as to whether Chinese-backed companies will get priority to near-rail access.

[smutcakes]

4 minutes ago, steven100 said:

just speaking the truth ...

How is a high speed train between korat and bangkok going to be beneficial for Thailand? 

 

There are many rail projects which could be beneficial to Thais and give contractors money if that is your benchmark for a sucessful project, but surely high speed rail at 600 baht a trip to korat where no one goes is not one of them. It is destined to become a money pit if it gets that far. And talk of mataphut is ridiculous. Mataphut is a heavy industry deep seaport. When was the last time heavy freight was shipped on a high speed passenger train.

 

 

[Srikcir]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand will be the sole investor in this project, which will run for four years.

This has been contradicted repeatedly with other references to a 60:40 investment split between Thailand and China in a joint venture partnership.

June 26, 2017: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ex-democrat-mp-doubts-transport-minister-tells-truth-thai-chinese-train-project/

So it remains to be seen whether there is or not a joint venture. A JV means shared risk in timely on-budget project completion. Given that China is supplying high speed rail technology, there may be considerable risk otherwise in the project beyond Thailand's ability to complete successfully on its own should the Chinese withdraw mid-project.

 

But what is clear is that up to Bt170 billion of the project will be financed by China. But after eleven meetings between Chinese and Thai negotiators, the terms of the loan still continue to be a major sticking point!   http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/opinion/30319724

 

[anon6596585]

Ya seems like a weird place to start. Why not Bangkok to pattaya or Bangkok towards phuket? Lots of tourists love going to nong khai? Or is this train faster just for the visa runners?

Expensive to. 

Good luck!

Edited July 12, 2017 by jabsjabs

[Rancid]

Presumably all part of the Chinese New Silk Road project. Thing is if it actually does work out then not being a participant will see countries sidelined in future trade.

 

Australia has decided it wants nothing to do with it and doesn't want its northern port of Darwin integrated, yet another imbecile decision seeing us supporting the declining empire and opposing the emerging one, brilliant how we mange to get on the wrong side of history.

 

As for Thailand, just maybe they have made the right choice, regardless it will improve infrastructure. Much better than wasting money on weapons.

[fforest1]

There is plenty of stink coming from this project....

It seems now favored projects can override all kinds of laws and

be approved in record time with seemingly unlimited budgets.

 

 

[CLW]

Where are the European and Japanese Investors/companies?

[steven100]

1 hour ago, Rancid said:

Australia has decided it wants nothing to do with it and doesn't want its northern port of Darwin integrated

what do you expect from a country that has zero energy management policies in place and effectively cost consumers the most expensive electricity & gas prices in the world.

That also has no plan in place to create thousands of jobs which should be number one priority,  and where ATM bank fees at one of the most expensive in the world.

Where food prices are higher than EU or US.

Where petrol prices are at record highs.

Australia=loser

Anyway, enough of that ....   Thailand will benefit from this HSR project.

Edited July 12, 2017 by steven100

[Dave67]

I saw in article this morning speed was 250kph so it is classed as high speed

[Dave67]

15 hours ago, CLW said:

I don't know about the track layout but if you drive by car to Korat you have to pass some hills (or mountains).

Considering the restrictions for high speed railway I guess they'd need to drill some tunnel which is not a one-day task, and costly as well.

I'm waiting for the day when they announce "High speed railway project cancelled because of exploding costs"

Hopewell disaster is greeting...

 

 

Yep TBMs will be busy

[longtom]

9 hours ago, jabsjabs said:

Ya seems like a weird place to start. Why not Bangkok to pattaya or Bangkok towards phuket? Lots of tourists love going to nong khai? Or is this train faster just for the visa runners?

Expensive to. 

Good luck!

What makes you think a train project has to satisfy primarily tourists and even visa runners? 

 

Mind you  I am against this useless and overpriced nonsense but for projects that benefit a majority of Thais (and at the same time also tourists).

 

 

[ben2talk]

On 7/11/2017 at 7:54 PM, amdy2206 said:

Wow!!! What a surprise!! I thought everything was already approved. 

They gave them a green light.

What that means is anybody's guess in Thailand - you've seen traffic lights here.

[Cadbury]

12 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Suggested reading - Government position on viability:

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/990947-several-benefits-of-“double-track”-railway-project-to-both-thais-and-foreigners/?utm_source=newsletter-20170705-0659&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news

 

Personally I think there's too many variables to project economic viability of this project at this time. Especially since it seems financing the project by Chinese loans for which have not been finalized can add substantially to the final cost. Prayut's use of Article 44 to move the project forward bypasses otherwise required economic studies to prove economic viability.

 

One argument made by the government was that additional (albeit indirect) benefits stemming from near-rail private development would substantially contribute to the project's overall economic viability. How such speculative development occurs is particularly questionable since there is no government plan for off-rail infrastructure nor demonstrated demand for such development. Also, there is a question as to whether Chinese-backed companies will get priority to near-rail access.

Sorry, Thai military no understand common sense. Please talk to brick wall. Easier and more productive.

[JAG]

On railways in the UK, if you "give a green light" it means slow down ready to stop. So if you are controlling a shunting move at night, you do so by waving a white light, across the body to tell the driver to move towards you, back and forth to tell him away from you. You change the colour to green to slow him down to a crawl before a steady red light tells him to stop.

Is "give a green light" a good metaphor?