New Rail Projects Given Green Light

[CheshireTom 1,377]

From the BKK Post ....

 

 

Four high-speed rail routes get green light

Two to be built under venture with Chinese

 

Published: 31/08/2010 at 12:00 AM

 

 

Economic ministers have given a green light to state investment plans for four high-speed train routes - Nong Khai-Bangkok, Bangkok-Padang Besar, Bangkok-Rayong and Bangkok-Chiang Mai.

 

The first two projects - Nong Khai-Bangkok and Bangkok-Padang Besar - will be developed under a planned joint venture between the Thai and Chinese governments, said Deputy Prime Minister Trairong Suwannakhiri.

 

The two governments have been in talks recently aimed at setting up the joint venture.

 

Construction of the 580-kilometre section from Nong-Khai to Bangkok is expected to kick off by the second half of next year and take four years to complete.

 

Dr Trairong said the other two high-speed projects, from Bangkok to Rayong and Chiang Mai, would possibly be developed through public-private partnerships (PPPs).

 

Economic ministers yesterday directed relevant panels to sound out the market to assess the private sector's capability and capacity to invest in the two high-speed routes.

 

The Public-Private Partnership Committee is required to submit a feasibility study on PPPs for the two projects next month. Both projects are expected to start construction by 2012 or 2013.

[Al_Davis 28]

Interesting ventures. How's the BTS from BKK airport to downtown coming along, curious?

Edited September 5, 2010 by Al_Davis

[joekicker 53]

It's coming along every half hour. Mixed reviews but definitely working as designed.

 

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[Al_Davis 28]

[CheshireTom 1,377]

The proposed Sino-Thai rail projects seem to be progressing. A long way off yet , but a lot further forward than they were 6 months ago.

 

 

 

High-speed train project moves ahead

Framework approved for Thai-China talks

 

A joint parliamentary session has approved a draft framework for negotiations with China on a national high-speed train network project for Thailand.

 

Lawmakers yesterday voted 295 to 10 in favour of the negotiation framework.

 

Sixty-one MPs abstained and 21 did not exercise their right to vote.

 

Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum said officials from his ministry and those from its Chinese counterpart planned to meet soon to discuss the project, including what priority the different proposed routes should receive.

 

The project would see China build five high-speed railway routes linking Bangkok to Nong Khai, Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani, Rayong and Padang Besar, the border town in Malaysia opposite Songkhla's Sadao district. Trains would reach speeds of up to 250km/h.

 

Future cooperation would also cover land development and technology transfer, he said.

 

"This issue must be put on the national agenda so that it can be sped up quickly," Mr Sohpon said. He hoped significant progress would be made on the project by next year.

 

The Rayong, Nong Khai and Padang Besar routes are tipped as most likely to be built first.

 

The results of the negotiations with China would require parliamentary approval to move forward, Mr Sophon said.

 

The minister said the high-speed train project would be a government-to-government deal. It would be separate from a 170 billion baht project to improve the State Railway of Thailand's existing network.

 

Mr Sohpon was asked during yesterday's session why China was the only country being considered for the partnership.

 

He said the country was interested in investing in Thailand and the region, and had also signed an agreement to build a railway to Laos.

 

Mr Sohpon said Thailand would remain open to proposals from other countries to develop rail networks.

[joekicker 53]

The proposed Sino-Thai rail projects seem to be progressing. A long way off yet , but a lot further forward than they were 6 months ago.

 

Right up there with the 4,000 buses for Bangkok, and by the same team from Buri Ram, too.

 

I'd be gobsmacked if they sign one bit of paper in the next year, let alone drive a silver spike.

 

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[CheshireTom 1,377]

Right up there with the 4,000 buses for Bangkok, and by the same team from Buri Ram, too.

 

I'd be gobsmacked if they sign one bit of paper in the next year, let alone drive a silver spike.

 

LOL. Likewise, but we can live in hope.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Maybe they're going to try and prove us wrong ...

 

 

 

Edited December 14, 2010 by CheshireTom

[Emil 0]

Tom I also heard about a light rail project running fron Naklua to Jomtien.

[joekicker 53]

Interesting response by business, i.e. that there is no agreement on this... this thing at all.

 

 

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