Thai Minister of Transport Arkhom Termpittayapaisith (Photo: nwnt.prd.go.th) Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - The Thai Minister of Transport has confirmedthat work on the Bangkok-Nong Khai high speed rail system will begin inOctober, once the government secures the cooperation of China in September.
Minister of Transport Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said on July18 that considerable progress has been made in preparing to start the firstphase, which is the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed rail project, coveringa total 235 km and requiring a budget of 179.413 billion baht forcompletion.
The minister recently led a delegation to take part in the 19th Thailand-ChinaJoint Commission meeting in Beijing and informed the Chinese side thatconclusions on the project’s agreement have been put to the State Railway ofThailand's board and are pending Cabinet review.
It is expected that design work and all pertinent agreementswill be concluded by September so that construction of the railway can begin inOctober. The initial fast train undertaking is to take four years, ending in2021, with service on the first phase of the line to begin immediately.Discussions on the second phase are to commence this August.
Arkhom reiterated the benefits the project will bring and how it will greatlyimprove transport for the Thai public, encouraging all to see the long termpositives the rail line can offer.-VNA
VNA
