Joint Thai-Chinese railway plan on track, says minister
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THAILAND and China are expected to finish surveying the routes and designing the dual-track railway on time, Transport Minister Prajin Juntong said yesterday. The Thailand-China joint committee held its third meeting on developing the standard-gauge (1.4
The survey and design for Phase 1 (Bangkok-Kaeng Khoi, Saraburi) and Phase 2 (Kaeng Khoi-Map Ta Phut) are scheduled to be completed by August by China Railways Corporation and China Railway Construction Corporation.
The survey and design of Phase 3 (Kaeng Khoi-Nakhon Ratchasima) and Phase 4 (Nakhon Ratchasima-Nong Khai) is scheduled to be completed by December by the two Chinese corporations.
All parties will set up field offices this month to oversee construction.
The project will be divided into three parts:
Basic infrastructure – track-laying and power-supply work will be undertaken by Thailand;
Hilly terrain – advanced technology and the railway signalling system will be the responsibility of China;
Operations and maintenance – will be handled by both countries.
A joint venture will be set up to divide the work into three phases.
In the first three years, China will take responsibility for train operations and rolling stock.
In the next four years, Thailand and China will work together.
After the seventh year, Thailand will be solely responsible for the entire operation, with China serving as an adviser. China has agreed to Thailand’s proposal for China to provide training to staff from entry to high levels and technology transfer to the Transport Ministry, State Railway of Thailand and the private sector.
Short-term courses of three to six months, or four to eight months, will begin in August. Mid-term courses of 1-1.5 months start in October. Long-term courses of one year or more will kick off this year.
