Three high-speed train projects shelved due to lack investor interest

[webfact]

Three high-speed train projects shelved due to lack investor interest

 

 

The government has decided to shelve three high-speed projects due to lack of investor interest in co-investment.

 

Well-informed sources in the Transport Ministry said that none of the three projects, namely the Bangkok-Phitsanuloke-Chiang Mai northern route, the Bangkok-Surat Thani southern route and the second phase of the eastern route between Rayong and Trat, were included in the infrastructure master plan recently submitted to the economic cabinet meeting by the Transport Ministry.

 

Although a feasibility study of the Bangkok-Phitsanuloke-Chiang Mai high-speed train project has been completed, the sources said that the government has made it clear that it would not invest in the project unless Japan agrees to co-invest and provide technology transfer to Thailand.

 

For the Bangkok-Surat Thani high-speed project, the government doubts that the project is economically viable, due to high investment costs and the short 600km route, which may not attract investors from the private sector, said the sources, noting that a dual-track south-bound route is currently under construction and is due to be operational in the next 3-4 years.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/three-high-speed-train-projects-shelved-due-to-lack-investor-interest/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2019-09-27

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[jerojero]

Surprised anyone? Sounded over the top ambitious from the start.

[observer90210]

maybe the workers were already claiming wages in "high revenue" mode,  as per the Hon. PM declared in NYC ?

[PatOngo]

This train ain't bound for glory, this train!

[leeneeds]

No government monies left  to invest as they keep blowing money on 

military toys,

[Mai Mee Tang]

None of them was heading to China.

[Dave67]

The High speed BS express I have been posting that for a few years

[smutcakes]

How much skim has been siphoned off on feasibility studies, environmental etc etc. Job done for the boys.

[Cadbury]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Although a feasibility study of the Bangkok-Phitsanuloke-Chiang Mai high-speed train project has been completed, the sources said that the government has made it clear that it would not invest in the project unless Japan agrees to co-invest and provide technology transfer to Thailand.

The Japanese have done them a favour by running away from this one. They know a loser when they see it.

Whereas the Thai government love losers which are stacked full of incompetent management like the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and Thai Airways.

[sahibji]

what a pity. it would have really built strong tourism infrastructure.

[Nyezhov]

1 hour ago, Cadbury said:

The Japanese have done them a favour by running away from this one. They know a loser when they see it.

sort of demonstrates why passenger railways only work in areas where government rules and is able to either run roughshod over the environment or be prepared to subsize. Ya aint making any money from it.

[Da Nang]

So, that 3,5km track in Korat is Museum of Thailands Great High Speed Train Project.

[spidermike007]

This is a very tragic development. Thailand does not have efficient transportation alternatives other than air travel. And the roads are choked with trucks, so an alternative freight method desperately needs to be established. The nation will not ever be considered a developed country without the high speed rail project. Unless they decide to open the Hua Hin airport, the Surat line is desperately needed. 

 

What is the Japanese reference? They cannot build the CM line without them? Yet, the Japanese have never invested in a rail line outside of Japan? Those questions were never asked?

 

A civilian government is required to get this done. One with real negotiators. And some intellect. The army is a sorry, hapless, grossly incompetent house of fools. 

[ThaiPauly]

25 minutes ago, sahibji said:

what a pity. it would have really built strong tourism infrastructure.

You are right, it's a darned shame but how long before a driver , going above the top speed crashed one? One disaster and the confidence is shot. Look at what happened with Concorde.

 

Too much High Tech that Thailand is not ready for...would you trust the government to run a Nuclear Power Station. would you sleep easy at night living 10 miles away from one? I know I wouldn't.

 

Yet my family all lived a few miles away from the Atomic Research Centre at Aldermarston in the UK, nobody was worried about the implications of living there to be honest. We knew we could trust the people who ran it. Could the same be said for LOS?

 

[Fex Bluse]

The government is nearly broke 

[Nyezhov]

5 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

A civilian government is required to get this done. One with real negotiators. And some intellect. The army is a sorry, hapless, grossly incompetent house of fools. 

God himself wouldnt convince any corporation responsible to its shareholders that a high speed rail line in Thailand is a money maker.

 

Your childish diatribes about the Thai government notwithstanding.

 

High speed rail lines are a money pit creature of government that makes no sense in most countries. Sort of like Pvt Pyles Donut

[legend49]

38 minutes ago, sahibji said:

what a pity. it would have really built strong tourism infrastructure.

the way they are impeding tourists there wont be any.

[chainarong]

Japan would also determine if Thailand can afford such a project, obviously it cannot, Transfer of Japan's H/S technology was done in China for the first and last time, China immediately claimed copy right , Japan took China to the international court , undoubtedly China lost and amazing abided by the decision , Japan vowed it will never again transfer its technology, well,  not to a country that's close to China anyway. 

[SmartyMarty]

This is Thailand 4.0

[lust]

Good. Slow it down thailand. Analog thailand good, digital thailand 2.0 bad.

 

 

[ICELANDMAN]

28 minutes ago, Da Nang said:

So, that 3,5km track in Korat is Museum of Thailands Great High Speed Train Project.

 

When it is finished next two years

[miamiman123]

I like the old train

[RichardColeman]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Although a feasibility study of the Bangkok-Phitsanuloke-Chiang Mai high-speed train project has been completed,

Sure bet that was expensive and lined someones pension pot

[weegee]

Everything is on track as i predicted...October through November. This is the start.

[jerojero]

Keep buying toys for military th that not needed. More more more! Make sure public gets less less less from their taxes. This PM and military cum politicians will do far more damage to the Kingdom than any previous gov't.

[morrobay]

30 minutes ago, Fex Bluse said:

The government is nearly broke 

With over $200 billion in foreign currency reserves ?

[nong38]

I liked the bit about ……….." a well informed source." does this person exist one has to ask?

[StayinThailand2much]

2 hours ago, smutcakes said:

How much skim has been siphoned off on feasibility studies, environmental etc etc. Job done for the boys.

That's IMHO the main reason for these mega-projects. Parties involved skimmed of their fees, so no need to proceed any further...

[mtls2005]

Making the leap to HSR was sheer idiocy. Prayuth rode the Shinkansen once and got all bleary eyed with jealousy.

 

Beefing up the exisiting rail system, as is being done, with improvements and dual-tracking, is a simple solution to both consumer and freight issues.

 

Even if there were an HSR train between BKK and CNX, say up and running in 15 years, no one would use it. It would run twice a day - at best - , stop at least five times, have no freight capacity and cost 5,000 baht one-way. Cost-conscious pax will take the overnight bus or train, while tourists and middle-class Thais will fly on one of the ~ 30 direct, non-stop flights (ex-BKK/DMK).

 

 

[Skallywag]

48 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

God himself wouldnt convince any corporation responsible to its shareholders that a high speed rail line in Thailand is a money maker....

High speed rail lines are a money pit creature of government that makes no sense in most countries. Sort of like Pvt Pyles Donut

High speed rail as with many other forms of mass transit will not be a money maker because the personal automobile and motorcycle is so easy to acquire here with no down payment,  low monthly payments, no insurance requirements, etc... 

Short Rant:

Did not read the long diatribes by Greta Thunberg, yet if the human race is going to save the planet, we need to start by changing peoples attitudes towards transportation and conveniences that burn fossil fuels.

People should have to pay the real cost of owning their gas guzzling freedom vehicles. Taxes, parking fees, tolls, etc... 

These changes would also create healthier, safer, and happier societies, where people are walking to the train, conversing with others, and becoming connected with their neighbors and community. 

Personal transportation removes you from interacting with others, causes stress, traffic, pollution, and of course 100's of thousands of fatal accidents every year, etc...   

The industrial revolution is over 100 years old, we know it is killing us and our planet, yet we are not willing to give up anything to evolve and try and create a better society in the future    IMO