Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said Thailand will invest in the high speed railway project by its own funds with the first route starting from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima covering the distance of 250 kilometres.
However he said this first high speed railway project will rely on the Chinese technology.
Speaking on his “Returning Happiness to the People” programme broadcast nationwide on TV network every Friday night, Gen Prayut reiterated that the high speed train project will go ahead without the Chinese joint venture.
He reasoned that the Chinese wanted to invest in the project under the concession model but this was not accepted by Thailand.
There was no granting of concession to any investors as Thailand considered that under such busin SS model, Thailand would be disadvantaged, he said and added that therefore Thailand will invest by its own funds as ” we have potential to invest in this project.”
However the high speed train project would be scaled down to only one route first from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima covering about 250 kilometres.
But he assured that the route will be later extended to cover all parts of the country.
He also said although Thailand will invest by itself but it will need the Chinese technology, expertise and know-how to run the high speed train project in the initial stage.
PM affirms Thailand to invest in first high speed train project by its own funds - Thai PBS English News