Thailand high speed rail network plan

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Thailand high speed rail network plan 
Bangkok Post: 6 May 2010
Rayong rail link reports due in July
Route now likely to include Chachoengsao

Feasibility studies for the Bangkok-Rayong high-speed train are expected to take two months, says Supa Piyajitti, director-general of the State Enterprise Policy Office.

The rail line is the first of four high-speed rail routes planned under the Thai Khem Khaeng infrastructure investment programme.

One likely change to the project is that routing will now include Chachoengsao province, which would increase the system's financial returns, say authorities.

Running the track from Bangkok to Chachoengsao to Rayong would extend the route to 221 kilometres. For a system with trains that run at 160 kilometres per hour the total investment, including land expropriation, is projected at 55 billion baht with an expected internal rate of return (EIRR) of 13.24%.

If authorities plan instead for trains capable of 250 kilometres per hour, the EIRR rises to 15.4% with investment costs increasing to 56.6 billion.By contrast, a route from Bangkok to Bang Pakong and Rayong would measure 194 kilometres. Investment costs with a 160 km/h train system would total 52.1 billion baht with an EIRR of 9.85%. Using the 250 km/h train system would raise investment costs to 53.6 billion baht with an EIRR of 13.25%.

Ms Supa said maximum returns would come from the Chachoengsao route and the 250 km/h train system. In her view, while this is also the most expensive option, the extra cost is relatively small.

Planners estimate that up to 13,200 people per day would ride the train, with one-way fares starting at 350 baht. Intermediate stops would be made at Chachoengsao, Pattaya and Chon Buri.

The high-speed train would cut travel time from Bangkok to Rayong to just one hour, compared with more than three hours by road currently.

Once the feasibility studies are complete, the Finance Ministry will invite leading train suppliers to present their views about the suitability of the planned route and the available technology options, said Ms Supa.

The other three high-speed routes planned under the 20-year, 800-billion-baht programme are Bangkok to Padang Besar on the Thai-Malaysian border; Bangkok-Nong Khai in the Northeast; and Bangkok-Chiang Mai.

The four routes would cover 2,000 kilometres and allow travel from the capital to any region in the country within five hours.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/36882/rayong-rail-link-reports-due-in-july

[nookiebear]

It seems this type of plan appears every couple of years.....The first time I remember seeing it was around 1992...the blue bus mafia will never let it happen......