Thailand to consider Thailand-China high-speed railway project

Thailand’s Ministry of Transport said the long-delayed Thailand-China high-speed train project is likely to be considered in details before a full report on the project can be submitted to the cabinet

Thailand-China high-speed train (Source: VNA)

Bangkok (VNA)– Thailand’s Ministry of Transport said the long-delayed Thailand-Chinahigh-speed train project is likely to be considered in details before a fullreport on the project can be completed and submitted to the cabinet forconsideration in mid-January.

Thai Deputy PermanentSecretary of Transport Phirapol Thavornsupacharoen said the report and the cabinet’s decision on the project andrecommendations – if there are any – will be presented for discussion at theThailand-China joint railway cooperation forum from January 16-18. If approved,the project can proceed initially with the handover of land for theconstruction.

Biddingfor the 95- billion-baht (2.7 billion USD) high-speed railway project betweenBangkok and Hua Hin and the 152-billion-baht (4.34 billion USD) Bangkok-Rayonghigh-speed railway project is slated for the third quarter of this year under thepublic-private partnership.

Theprivate sector could present their land beside the rail lines for commercialdevelopment and would be required to conduct feasibility studies andenvironmental impact assessments at its own costs.

Theministry will try to finish two reports on the projects before they aresubmitted to the National Economic and Social Development Board and the cabinetfor consideration respectively.

Thesigning of contracts for four dual-track railway projects worth totallt 91billion baht (3.95 billion USD) is expected to take place before March 26,including the 167-km Prachuab Khiri Khan-Chumporn project, the 132-kmMabkabao-Chira project, the 148-km Lop Buri-Paknam Po and the 165-km NakhonPathom-Hua Hin project.-VNA

VNA