Thailand to build US$12.2bln rail project with China

[TaiShang]

Thailand to build US$12.2bln rail project with China
Xinhua, January 16, 2015

Thailand has tentatively decided to begin building its first standard-gauge railways in cooperation with China in September, Transport Minister Prajin Juntong said on Thursday.

The exhibition hall for locomotive models at CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co. [Photo/Xinhua]


Two dual-track rail lines, with a total length of more than 800 km, will be built to connect northeast Thailand's Nong Khai province, Bangkok and eastern Rayong province.

The minister told Reuters that the project may cost 400 billion baht ($12.2 billion).

The entire project is divided into four sections, and work on the first two sections, which span 133 km and 246 km respectively, will start in September and conclude in December 2017, Prajin was quoted by Bangkok Post as saying.

The third and fourth sections, totaling 493 km, are expected to commence in December this year and ends in March 2018, he added.

Thai and Chinese officials will meet to talk about details of the plan and other issues, according to the minister.

The first round of meetings between the two sides will take place next week and center on plans to survey the route and related studies.

The second round, scheduled for early February, will focus on financial and investment issues, while the third in late February will discuss the partnership between Thai and Chinese companies, Prajin said.

 

[somsak]

What stock should I buy?

 

[Echo_419]

What stock should I buy?

The one building the Railway Line

 

[powastick]

Any news on the Laos section?

 

[truthseeker2010]

Will it be high speed rail or a conventional standard gauge?

 

[TaiShang]

Any news on the Laos section?

UPDATE 1-Thailand to start $12.2-bln railway project in September
Thu Jan 15, 2015 6:29am EST

Jan 15 (Reuters) - Thailand will begin building a 400-billion-baht ($12.22-billion) rail project jointly with China in September, a deputy prime minister said on Thursday, one of several big ticket schemes the government hopes will stimulate the flaggingeconomy.

Thailand and China agreed in December to build the rail line from the Thai border with Laos to the ports and industrial zones in Thailand's east. China has ambitious plans for rail links from Kunming through Laos to Thailand, and Thailand wants to modernise its ageing rail network.

The project could be a boon for Thai trade and tourism and strengthen China's strategic foothold in a country that has seen its traditionally strong ties with the United States cool since a military coup in May.

"We expect it will cost about 400 billion baht and will be completed within two and a half years," said deputy prime minister and transport minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Junthong.

Two rail lines are included in the project. More than 700 km of track will connect the city of Nong Khai on the Thai-Laos border with Bangkok and Thailand's industrialised eastern seaboard.

Another line would link Bangkok with the central province of Saraburi, an industrial hub about 108 km away.

Work on the first phase linking Bangkok to Saraburi and Saraburi to the port of Rayong on the Gulf of Thailand is set to begin on Sept. 1. Construction of the second phase to Thailand's northeast will begin on Dec. 1.

Prajin told reporters around 12 to 15 private companies were interested in participating in the project. ($1=32.7400 baht) (Reporting By Pracha Hariraksapitak; Writing by Pairat Temphairojana; Editing by Simon Webb, Kim Coghill and Clarence Fernandez)

Will it be high speed rail or a conventional standard gauge?

Standard-gauge.

 

[truthseeker2010]

Standard-gauge.

then why so costly on per km basis? is it mountainous and involves tunnels?

 

[NotSoSuper]

Any news on the Laos section?

Railway line already under construction in northern loas..which will connect to vientiane...from vientiane there is already railway line present to thailand

 

[TaiShang]

then why so costly on per km basis? is it mountainous and involves tunnels?

The project is composed of two standard-gauge railroads running trains capable of speeds up to 180km/h.

One 737-kilometre route will run from Nong Khai to Bangkok via Nakhon Ratchasima, Kaeng Khoi district of Saraburi, and Laem Chabang in Chon Buri to Map Ta Phut in Rayong. The other route will run 133km from Kaeng Khoi to Bangkok.

สำนักข่่าวแห่งชาติ : Transport Ministry unveils Thailand-China railway project updates

BANGKOK, 9 January 2015 (NNT) – Thailand and China will late this month discuss details of the establishment of a committee overseeing the joint railway development project.

According to Transport Minister Prajin Juntong, the two nations will talk about the setting up of a joint committee to oversee the construction of the 1.435-meter standard gauge double-track railways between January 20 and 22. Both sides will discuss the investment budgets and the duration of the project, with China undertaking to compile the list of financial institutions which agree to act as the financial sources. Minister Prajin said the list of selected loan providers and the amount of cash for the first installment should be concluded within six months.

The two parties will survey the construction site, starting late February until early March. The construction is expected to take four years, half of which will be the responsibility of Thailand. Regarding the project implementation which involves land expropriation, the design and the cost assessment, the two countries will explore scopes of the tasks before concluding on their duties and roles.

Concerning doubts about the benefits China expects from the investment, Air Chief Marshal Prajin explained the project would open an opportunity for China to introduce her locally-made double-track railways to Thailand. At the same time, the Thai transport system would be able to enjoy the technological foundation offered by China. The appointment of the project’s management body is expected to be concluded within late this year.

 

[powastick]

then why so costly on per km basis? is it mountainous and involves tunnels?

154 bridges and 76 tunnels.

 

[Shotgunner51]

A previous article:

The Nation October 29, 2013 6:18 pm
Malaysia has mulled linkage of high-speed train with Thailand in order to link railway system with China, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said Tuesday.

The idea was discussed during a meeting between Surapong and his Malaysian counterpart Anifah Aman.

Malaysia and Singapore agreed in February this year to jointly develop high speed train system between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The project, of which feasibility study was finalized recently, would be completed by 2020.

Malaysia wanted to extend the linkage to Thailand and later to China, Surapong said and noted that Malaysian minister Anifah briefed him on the latest development of the project.

The railway system and other joint development projects would be discussed in detail again in the coming meetings of Joint Commission and Thailand-Malaysia Committee on Joint Development Strategy for border areas, Surapong said.

It was Malaysia's turn to host the meeting of the two bilateral mechanisms and Kuala Lumpur would call the meetings soon, he said.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...-30218239.html

 

[sword1947]

What stock should I buy?

we have the same question.