Representatives from 31 private firms purchasing bidding documents for the project to construct a high-speed railway linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao airports visit the Klong Tan train maintenance and repair centre (Source: www.bangkokpost.com) Hanoi (VNA) - The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is worried that the plannedShinkansen-style Thai-Japanese high-speed railway from Bangkok to Chiang Mai provincewill run at a loss when it opens, citing a 66 percent drop in the predicted numberof daily passengers.
ActingGovernor of SRT Voravuth Mala made the forecast on July 25, after learning theresults of a feasibility study from the Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA), Thai media reported.
The studystated there will be around 10,000 passengers per day, against the originalestimate of 30,000, he said, adding that the entire route should serve around50,000 passengers per day to earn a profit from ticket fares.
The Thai Ministryof Transport must review investment plans for the project before sending themto the cabinet for approval next month, Voravuth added.
JICA’sresearch estimated the high-speed rail’s first 380km phase from Bangkok toPhitsanulok will cost around 276 billion baht (some 8.27 billion USD). Sevenstations have been planned for this phase.
Thai authoritieshad tried to convince JICA to cut costs by reducing the number of stations. However,JICA had disagreed, saying it would defeat the original purpose of the project.
JICA studieshave reported ticket fares for the entire 670km of the Bangkok-Chiang Mai routewill cost around 1,000 baht, which is seen as a fairly high level.
The SRT is nowconsidering developing land along the Bangkok-Phitsanulok route and along thehigh-speed railway set to link Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao airports tocreate additional revenue.-VNA
ActingGovernor of SRT Voravuth Mala made the forecast on July 25, after learning theresults of a feasibility study from the Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA), Thai media reported.
The studystated there will be around 10,000 passengers per day, against the originalestimate of 30,000, he said, adding that the entire route should serve around50,000 passengers per day to earn a profit from ticket fares.
The Thai Ministryof Transport must review investment plans for the project before sending themto the cabinet for approval next month, Voravuth added.
JICA’sresearch estimated the high-speed rail’s first 380km phase from Bangkok toPhitsanulok will cost around 276 billion baht (some 8.27 billion USD). Sevenstations have been planned for this phase.
Thai authoritieshad tried to convince JICA to cut costs by reducing the number of stations. However,JICA had disagreed, saying it would defeat the original purpose of the project.
JICA studieshave reported ticket fares for the entire 670km of the Bangkok-Chiang Mai routewill cost around 1,000 baht, which is seen as a fairly high level.
The SRT is nowconsidering developing land along the Bangkok-Phitsanulok route and along thehigh-speed railway set to link Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao airports tocreate additional revenue.-VNA
VNA
