Italian - Thai win contract for dual track train project linking Hua Hin and Prajuab - building to start September.

 

Image: Daily News

 

Ambitious plans to develop a new railway line that will run along existing tracks between Hua Hin and Prajuab Khiri Khan have been announced.

Following a bidding exercise that was entered by 11 companies the State Railway have said that Italian-Thai Development Company Limited has won the contract after their proposal of 5.8 billion baht was accepted.

After final checks are made of the proposals contracts are expected to be signed next month that will mean the line can begin building in September.

The work involves a track following the existing route for 84 kilometers.

Two new railway bridges and twelve stations will be constructed.

Yards for storage and commercial use will be constructed at Sam Roi Yot station and Thung Mamao station.

Drainage work, pedestrian overpasses, a flyover and U-turn work also form part of the proposed construction.

The track will be one meter gauge.

 

Source: Daily News

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-07-29

I live in Hua Hin. Like most of Thailand where tracks pass through a city, the Thais have built right up to the tracks. I did see some of those building being torn down. And they just built a new traffic circle which I am thinking will now have to be torn out. (?)

 

I will be interesting to see how they will deal with traffic during construction. As it is now, when a train passes through town, traffic backs up east/west sometimes for a block or two as the train cuts the town in half. Of course a train arrives everyday during rush hour.

 

By the way, this is what passes as excitement here in Hua Hin.

Not surprised that as usual Italian-Thai won the "bidding".  We all know who has the majority shares in that company so hence no surprise.

Just now, Father Fintan Stack said:

They have killed a few workers in the last couple of months. Several lifting related accidents with many fatalities. 

Not just the last few months, the last few years and they are still allowed on to the bidders list. their safety record is appalling

15 minutes ago, gummy said:

Not just the last few months, the last few years and they are still allowed on to the bidders list. their safety record is appalling

Money and safety are worlds apart in Thailand. No cigar for guessing which is first and which is last.

It's nice to know that Thais have no prejudices, even if a company can hardly get a construction done without producing corpses.

Another Death Railway!!

Metre guage, sooner or later they will make the change although metre guage does save money but no high speed here then, short horizons as per usual.

What about the high speed track from Bangkok to South Thailand? Are they starting it two years later, looking for another route or rebuilding the one which just have been finished? And only two bridges. It needs at least a dozen. The benefit of a new railway with meter gauge and 11 stops it very limited and not worth billions of THB.

11 minutes ago, hhinhh said:

What about the high speed track from Bangkok to South Thailand? Are they starting it two years later, looking for another route or rebuilding the one which just have been finished? And only two bridges. It needs at least a dozen. The benefit of a new railway with meter gauge and 11 stops it very limited and not worth billions of THB.

 

You are right but it keeps people working, money makes the world go round even if it goes under the table.

This scheme sounds like a huge waste of money but its not the people who makes the decisions money it it and we all know how easy it is to spend other people's money.

35 minutes ago, hhinhh said:

What about the high speed track from Bangkok to South Thailand? Are they starting it two years later, looking for another route or rebuilding the one which just have been finished? And only two bridges. It needs at least a dozen. The benefit of a new railway with meter gauge and 11 stops it very limited and not worth billions of THB.

 

To some people this plan may seem absolute lunacy when a wider tracked high speed track is due to be constructed soon - but I could not possibly comment ......

1 hour ago, wirat69 said:

Another Death Railway!!

This time construction with 24/7 "River Kwai March" sonication.

1 hour ago, nong38 said:

Metre guage, sooner or later they will make the change although metre guage does save money but no high speed here then, short horizons as per usual.

They're running a duel gage,  standard and narrow , sleepers have been narrow and standard configeration since they had a  resleepering program early 2000, at main road crossings, high speed has a dedicated track,  no goods traffic alowed , 2 slow. 

So where is the new track going to go exactly, east or west of the existing track ? My guess is that it will be inland so slightly to the west of the existing track.

 

There's going to be a load of demolition along the route in and around Hua Hin.

Never mind a new railroad.  What about the roads we have in Hua Hin now?  That is if you  can call them roads.

 

 

2 minutes ago, RichardinHuaHin said:

Never mind a new railroad.  What about the roads we have in Hua Hin now?  That is if you  can call them roads.

 

 

Catch a train instead?

Good news - so we just have to wait now for the State Railway of Thailand to inch towards the 20th century. Once that is achieved then go for the 21st century service level which would bring business, unlike these rolling coffins on wheels, marred by stench and delays 

Where is the money coming from? Which bank or institution will be managing the funds. 

 

The General's rice scheme.

12 minutes ago, Chris Lawrence said:

Where is the money coming from? Which bank or institution will be managing the funds. 

 

The General's rice scheme.

Or maybe from Yinglucks money.

5 hours ago, gummy said:

Not surprised that as usual Italian-Thai won the "bidding".  We all know who has the majority shares in that company so hence no surprise.

Who is it who has the majority in that company?

41 minutes ago, Chris Lawrence said:

Where is the money coming from? Which bank or institution will be managing the funds. 

 

The General's rice scheme.

It's amazing what you can afford in the way of infrastructure when you aren't wasting it on alleged subsidies.

They seem to be the ones with the most experience amongst the national candidates. Maybe give them a chance and see what happens next.

Well we all know where the expertise is coming from? I'll give you a clue, it's NOT the Thai side !

1 hour ago, Charlie1 said:

Who is it who has the majority in that company?

do your own research, it is in the public domain

7 hours ago, gummy said:

Not surprised that as usual Italian-Thai won the "bidding".  We all know who has the majority shares in that company so hence no surprise.

 

 

Cannot be shinawatra :-)

 

 

6 hours ago, Lupatria said:

It's nice to know that Thais have no prejudices, even if a company can hardly get a construction done without producing corpses.

The volume of a Thai corpse costs a lot less than the equivalent volume of good quality cement!

It makes good economic sense to kill off some of your workers when in construction here!

3 hours ago, Godang said:

Or maybe from Yinglucks money.

Her 36 billion has already been spent on the new sub,

4 hours ago, Charlie1 said:

Who is it who has the majority in that company?

The Karnasuta family owns and controls the firm. There is nothing Italian about this company. The Italian partner  died 35+ years ago.  This is the company president Premchai Karnasuta. He is one of the wealthiest  people in Thailand.

 

 

His sister who has a large stake in the construction has the young son Yutachai. He "runs"  Onyx Hospitality Group, of which the most notable brand in Thailand is  the Amari Hotel Group.

 

 

A word to the wise: In Thailand, be respectful and deferential to this family. 

The family does not need the Shinawatra clan. Rather, other people need this family as the construction firm has done much of the infrastructure work in Thailand because it  meets the requirement of being Thai controlled, experienced and possessing the  equipment and personnel to do the jobs.

 

 

Metre guage, sooner or later they will make the change although metre guage does save money but no high speed here then, short horizons as per usual.

The high speed is a farce in any case, but woukd run on an entirely different alignment. The reality is this is an upgrade that can and will happen at least.

They desperately need a dual track from BKK to Surrathani (that's as far as tourism requires it anyway)

There's no reason the same journey should be many hours shorter by bus. Can't handle the capacity also, need to book a decent express sleeper days in advance.

 
 
Cannot be shinawatra :-)
 
 

Guess again, someone with much more money!