Thread: New govt proposed to approve hi-speed rail project

The State Enterprise Policy Office (Sepo) will propose before the year's end that Yingluck Shinawatra's Cabinet approve the Bangkok-Chiang Mai high-speed rail project.

Addressing the mobile Sepo 2011 meeting at Chiang Mai's Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel yesterday, Sepo director-general Somchai Sajjapongse expressed confidence that the Chiang Mai-Bangkok high-speed train would be realized during the new government's term.

He said Yingluck, a Chiang Mai native, would see the importance of the project.

Somchai said the public-private partnership (PPP) committee was pushing high-speed train projects to raise people's quality of life and the country's ability to compete.

It was very likely that not only the Bangkok-Chiang Mai route would begin in this government's term but also the Bangkok-Rayong, Bangkok-Nong Khai and Bangkok-Hat Yai routes, he added.

Somchai said the Thai government and its Chinese counterpart had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the Bangkok-Nong Khai and Bangkok-Hat Yai routes.

Yingluck's government could proceed on three more high-potential routes, Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Rayong and Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani, which Sepo would get private companies to bid for.

So far, companies from countries including Japan, Korea and Germany had expressed interest to bid for them, he said.

The Bangkok-Chiang Mai route was the most promising due to positive returns on investment. The people and private sector were in agreement in wanting the project to start quickly, he said.

"According to initial discussions, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) would be the main agency in charge of it. As another Bt70 billion is needed for the construction and railing, the Finance Ministry or a joint-venture company could raise funds to invest in the project and pay the railway rental fee to SRT," he said.

Sepo and the Finance Ministry will propose this project to the new government as soon as possible, and the contract should be signed by the year's end or early next year. Sepo will quickly draft the terms of reference for the project, he said.

The Chiang Mai route, which will need a budget of Bt100 billion and shorten the journey between the cities to three hours 30 minutes, won't cause environmental impacts because its one-metre-wide railway will be built in parallel with the existing railway, he said.

The Public-Private Joint Venture Act amendment will soon be in effect, allowing the project to be realised in five years, he added.

State Enterprise Policy and Planning Bureau 1 chief Poomsak Aranyakasemsuk said the 745km route would have 13 stations in 11 provinces. The ticket price would be Bt1,200-Bt1,500 with around 29,000 passengers expected per day initially, rising to 40,000 passengers later.

Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce chairman Narong Khongprasert said the Bangkok-Chiang Mai high-speed train would bring economic, social and environmental benefits.

He said the province had 30,000 hotel rooms, attractions including the Night Safari, Royal Park Rajapreuk and International Convention and Exhibiton Centre, but didn't have an effective fuel-saving transport and logistics system.

This project will help to make Chiang Mai a hub in the Greater Mekong Sub-region, he said, adding that a suitable location for the station would be Saraphi district.

By Janjira Jarusupawat
The Nation
Chiang Mai

Originally Posted by FarangRed

New govt proposed to approve hi-speed rail project

Anything new built would be faster than what they have now, even if it was powered by rubber bands!

First they have to finish what they started on the original one. Sounds like some of the highrises downtown

Why can't they extend it through to Chiang Rai ?

I often wondered why they never had a direct train link to Phuket given that it's possibly the busiest destination in Thailand

Originally Posted by FarangRed

I often wondered why they never had a direct train link to Phuket given that it's possibly the busiest destination in Thailand

Most train systems around the world work off a loss for passengers and make their profits in freight.
Phuket already has a reasonable airport so I doubt that it will be high on the list unless it has something else to sell.
It also not really in a good position to be a stop for trains going South to Malaysia.

Originally Posted by DroversDog

Most train systems around the world work off a loss for passengers and make their profits in freight.

That why Chiang Rai would be a good prospect for a railway.
At present all Shan state (Myanmar) fuel is road tankered from DenChai .

Originally Posted by Thetyim

That why Chiang Rai would be a good prospect for a railway. At present all Shan state (Myanmar) fuel is road tankered from DenChai .

Some 20 plus trucks a day, each way through Chiang Kong on the ferry.

The new bridge will be finished soon, why not a rail link?

^
In could also go on into China at a later date

Bangkok-Chiang Mai High Speed Rail project with Japan going as planned

BANGKOK, 2 September 2016 (NNT) – The Ministry of Transport has disclosed that the Bangkok-Chiang Mai High Speed Rail project initiated through cooperation between Thailand and Japan is progressing as planned.

Transport Minister Arkhom Termphitthayaphaisith has disclosed the outcome of the Thailand-Japan joint committee meeting on rail transportation, saying that his Japanese counterpart had updated him on the progress of the Bangkok-Chiang Mai High Speed Rail project's feasibility study which is almost completed.

The last report is expected to be submitted by November which is consistent with the plan, he said.

The construction will be undertaken in two phases, namely the Bangkok-Phitsanulok section and the Phitsanulok-Chiang Mai section, said the Transport Minister.

National News Bureau Of Thailand | Bangkok-Chiang Mai High Speed Rail project with Japan going as planned