Thailand puts high-speed rail project on track with land pledge

[rooster59 10,694]

Thailand puts high-speed rail project on track with land pledge

MARIMI KISHIMOTO, Nikkei staff writer

 

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, center, applauds after signing a contract Oct. 24 for a high-speed rail line connecting three Bangkok-area airports. (Photo by Eri Ishii)

 

BANGKOK -- Thailand finally reached an agreement for construction of a high-speed rail line linking three airports serving Bangkok, after making a unusual pledge to secure all land for the builders in a timely fashion.

 

A consortium led by Charoen Pokphand Group, Thailand's biggest conglomerate, signed a contract with the State Railway of Thailand in fall 2019 to build the line linking Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang International and U-Tapao International airports. The route, expected to reduce travel time to one hour, is due to partially open in 2023.

  

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha smiled and clapped at the signing ceremony, where he was next to CP Group CEO Suphachai Chearavanont. But the negotiations that produced the agreement for the 224.5 billion baht ($7.39 billion) project were far less chummy.

 

CP's consortium won an intense competition against BTS Group Holdings, an urban railway operator, for the priority right to negotiate with the SRT. But a final deal was postponed repeatedly.

 

Full story: https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transportation/Thailand-puts-high-speed-rail-project-on-track-with-land-pledge

 

Nikkei: 2020-01-19

 

[smutcakes 7,369]

It will never get built and the taxpayer will end up coughing up obscene sums in damages for non delivery of land. CP will get what they always wanted which is the 100 rai or so around Makkasan for commercial development. No one will be held to account as they all scurry of with millioms in their pockets... mark my words..

 

[Is this real 332]

High Speed Rail is a massive sinkhole for money unless it connects cities of more than 5 million people who commute to the others.  Airports don't fit in this description.

The citizens of Thailand will suffer greatly because this money should be spent on building dams and reservoirs to control the annual droughts and floods.

Unfortunately, the average Thai citizen doesn't matter.

[Orton Rd 11,605]

Money would be better spent upgrading the existing train system into the 20th century

[Classic Ray 1,963]

Certainly there is no history of land access being managed properly to allow timely railway construction, too many vested interests and lack of willingness to use compulsory purchase where pooyais are involved. 
 

Let’s see what the military, not commercially, based Government can do this time.

[holy cow cm 7,276]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

after making a unusual pledge to secure all land for the builders in a timely fashion.

That statement right there is a "beware" statement. No wonder after the highly publicized show yesterday of police and military joined in unison for the first time ever on a parade field, and the show of the new and old new toys they have acquired, I don't reckon anyone gonna say no you can't have my property. Just wish they get more than full market value for the acquisition. BTW, those new armored carriers in the parade look pretty nice and packed with fire power. Wonder how they will eventually use them since they never have wars.

[asanee 125]

18 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

Money would be better spent upgrading the existing train system into the 20th century

And even then its at least 20 years behind, as we now live already in the 21st!

[Orton Rd 11,605]

Last train we got was an 'express' which took 11 hours to do 300 kilometers, stopped at every station to fill up with vendors selling the same stuff as the previous stop 30 minutes before. Window would not close, good thing it was not the rainy season, and as the last carriage it was just open at the back onto the tracks with a bit of string across it. Don't expect the 21st for a long time.

[ParkerN 873]

There you go, all that was needed was a promise, one among many, and all will be well.

 

Pretty easy this prime minister sh|t isn't it?

[alant 2,316]

1 hour ago, Is this real said:

The citizens of Thailand will suffer greatly because this money should be spent on building dams and reservoirs to control the annual droughts and floods.

Unfortunately, the average Thai citizen doesn't matter.

I think you have a point, more good at the moment from a decent water infrastructure

[yellowboat 13,413]

Met some Chinese people whose only cheap flight options from their cities into Thailand were through the junta airport in Rayong.  Guessing that will be the rub and the need for the train.  

 

You can find out a lot when you talk to Chinese people.  

[newnative 3,647]

  My goodness this is STILL dragging on?  I thought this was all sewn up months ago.  I imagine in a few more months we'll have yet another news item saying much the same thing as this one.  Construction is planned to start soon.  Real soon.  Just you wait.  It's going to start.  Any day now.  Just a few more things to finalize.  Very minor.  Get ready because high speed is coming!  Soon.  Maybe.  Talk, talk, talk.  Nothing but talk. 

[ChouDoufu 1,067]

2 hours ago, Classic Ray said:

Certainly there is no history of land access being managed properly to allow timely railway construction, too many vested interests and lack of willingness to use compulsory purchase where pooyais are involved. 
 

Let’s see what the military, not commercially, based Government can do this time.

what makes you think the current government isn't commercially based?

[HHTel 2,201]

Well at least the dual track project seems to be going well.  At least on the southern line.

[norfolkc 115]

The boys have just won the Lotterie here, I bet the Merc agent in Bangkok is rubbing his hands here