Thailand to proceed with high speed rail project.

[Admin]

Thailand to proceed with high speed rail project
TNA 2011-03-22

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Transport Minister Sophon Zarum on Monday said the Thailand-China Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation has approved a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the construction of a Bangkok-Nong Khai high speed train route as proposed by his ministry.

The minister said the initial draft was approved by a joint committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban. The working committee on the project will initiate talks to conclude the MoU draft between Thailand and China. Talks will also be held at the ministerial level.

Mr Sophon added the completed draft will be proposed to Cabinet and later forwarded for parliamentary approval. He gave assurances that all processes will be done within the tenure of the Abhisit administration.

The 615-kilometre high speed train project will link the Thai capital to Nong Khai, the northeastern province bordering Laos, with an investment of Bt150 billion (US$50 billion).

Initially, the Transport Ministry plans the official signing of the MoU to take place in mid-2011, with construction expected to begin at the end of 2012 and open for serving the public in 2016. (MCOT online news)
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Government Looks to Approve Hi-speed Rail Project Before House Dissolution
Tan Network 2011-03-22

The transport minister is aiming to have the 150 billion baht Bangkok-Nongkhai high-speed rail system project approved before the House dissolution and for the bidding process to take place at the end of the year.

Transport Minister Sophon Saram reported that during yesterday's Thai-Chinese Economic Cooperation Committee meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of the Bangkok-Nongkhai high-speed rail system project proposed by the Transport Ministry.

Sophon pointed out that the project's details will now be negotiated by the Thai-Chinese working committee, in which Thailand is represented by Transport Permanent-Secretary Supoj Saplom.

Sophon is confident that the project will be approved before the House is dissolved and that the bidding process will start some time between the end of this year and early 2012.

The Thai government will negotiate with their Chinese counterparts in working on a framework regarding the high-speed rail technology transfer and fare.

However, it has been proposed that the exact fare prices should not be fixed as they may be too arbitrary for both sides.

In addition, the government will be able to impose direct controls on the fare prices as the system will be operated by a soon-to-be established state enterprise.

The Bangkok-Nongkhai high-speed rail system project will involve the construction of 615 kilometers of rail and has a price tag of 150 billion baht.

The government expects the project to be finalized in mid-2011, and will be followed by a one-year land survey.

According to the plan, construction will begin in 2012 and the system will open for service in 2016.

[nookiebear]

This looks exactly like the BKK-Pattaya idea that was thrown around in the early 90's.........Still Nothing happened!!!

[isanbirder]

Would you travel on it?

[nookiebear]

Not with the current 'gauge!!

[Dave the Dude]

or health and safety standards (read> lack off)

[bartomeer]

Would you travel on it?

Only when somebody sit on the roof with a green and red flag to look if the railtracks are free, I will. 

[nookiebear]

Would you travel on it?

Only when somebody sit on the roof with a green and red flag to look if the railtracks are free, I will. 

In that case you'll be waiting for a long time

[isanbirder]

Would you travel on it?

Only when somebody sit on the roof with a green and red flag to look if the railtracks are free, I will. 

At high speed??

[bartomeer]

Would you travel on it?

Only when somebody sit on the roof with a green and red flag to look if the railtracks are free, I will. 

At high speed??

yeah right........there goes my joke

[boloa]

You may laugh about the trains and the possibility of a Hi-speed Rail Project but give me the train over the bus any-day   

[nookiebear]

But when you consider the bus to train ratio is there much difference !!!The trains also have more than their fair share of 'accidents'

[aparasher]

I believe current service takes around 12-16 hours for a trip from BKK to Nong Khai and goes via Korat and Khon Kaen which may help many pessangers. But then, wife's travel was free coming back from Nong Khai by normal train (no aircon) and train was delayed as an old man (Ta) wanted to pee on the rail track.

Would people use this service if they have to pay for tix and Ta is not able to pee on the track?

[nookiebear]

3rd class rail travel has been free since the government introduced the stimulus packages a couple of years ago

[aparasher]

That explains her free 8 hour trip from Nong Khai to Korat that costed me 500 baht due to her visit to beauty saloon.  LOL...

[nookiebear]

That explains her free 8 hour trip from Nong Khai to Korat that costed me 500 baht due to her visit to beauty saloon.  LOL...

You got off lightly!!