Public meeting updates high-speed rail plans

It was the second conference in a feasibility study, review and analysis of the High Speed Rail System Project for Three Airports Seamless Connection (Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi to U-Tapao).
The meeting’s aim was to present the results of the engineering, economic and environmental feasibility studies for the project and obtain opinions and suggestions from stakeholders and relevant parties.
It was attended by more than 200 representatives from government agencies, state enterprises, local administrative organisations, private businesses, educational institutions, the media and the general public.
The meeting decided to use the routes of the existing rail mass transit system projects, which comprise: the Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link (ARL) and City Air Terminal project, currently operational; the Airport Rail Link Extension (ARLEX) project, Phaya Thai to Don Mueang section; and the High Speed Rail (HSR) System Project, Bangkok to Rayong section.
The HSR project will include an exit link from Suvarnabhumi Airport, and access link to U-Tapao Airport, and an exit from U-Tapao Airport to Rayong. Its double standard-gauge (1.435 metres wide) track will extend 260 kilometers, covering the five provinces of Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri and Rayong.
Most parts of the railway structure will be elevated, with some ground-level sections and tunnels. There will be 10 HSR stations, of which eight will be elevated: Don Mueang Station, Bang Sue Grand Station, Makkasan Station, Chachoengsao Station, Chon Buri Station, Si Racha Station, Pattaya Station and Rayong Station. Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao stations will be underground. The project is expected to cost about Bt200 billion (US$5.7 billion).
Several measures were proposed at the meeting to mitigate environmental impact from the project. These included regular sprinkling of water on the access road to the construction site to reduce dust generation, installing temporary noise barrier walls at the construction site and carrying out drilling and excavation activities during daylight hours only.
The High Speed Rail System Project for Three Airports Seamless Connection (Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi to U-Tapao) is part of the transportation and logistics infrastructure development scheme prioritised by the government as a significant mechanism for Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) development.
The project is incorporated into the government’s project implementation and budget plan for the fiscal year 2017-2018. Slated for completion in 2023, the Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi ARL city line is anticipated to serve about 103,920 passenger-trips per day and the intercity high-speed rail system (Suvarnabhumi to Rayong) will handle about 65,630 passenger trips per day.
The total travel time from Don Mueang to Rayong will be about two hours if the train stops at every station and one hour for the non-stop run. The project is expected to boost the local economy, industry and tourism of Chon Buri and Rayong provinces, and support development of the EEC.
The SRT will submit the study result report together with information, opinions and suggestions received at the meeting to the EEC Policy Committee for approval.