Train project 'will only benefit the rich'

Meanwhile, the Council of State has ruled that the proposed mass-infrastructure projects are legal and can proceed, Finance permanent secretary Areepong Poo-cha-um said.

Kanok Wongtra-ngan, Democrat party-list MP, said that as per the calculations of the plan submitted by the Yingluck Shingawatra administration, commuters would end up having to pay about Bt1.3 to Bt3.5 per kilometre for the high-speed train. In other words, a 700km journey could cost between Bt1,800 and Bt2,000, higher than some low-cost airlines. 

“If there are less than 49,600 commuters per day, the ticket costs would be even higher. Any route that costs commuters more than Bt1,000 one-way will not have customers because they will choose a cheaper mode of transport. Hence, these high-speed trains will only benefit rich folk and business people,” Kanok said. 

He also slammed Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt, saying the remarks he made in Parliament on Thursday were reckless because no plan has been put forward yet as to how all the electricity needed for these trains would be generated. 

Chatchart defended himself Friday by saying that it was important to put this high-speed train project in motion and that the Pheu Thai government would implement this as well as the link to Nong Khai if elected for a second term. The high-speed train is meant to link Bangkok with Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Hua Hin and Rayong.

“The government is not being reckless because we’re working within a feasible framework. For those who think the tickets [for the high-speed train] will be expensive, I think everyone understands that the target groups differ from those using double-track [ordinary] trains and that’s why the government is investing in the ordinary trains nationwide first. In order to serve people’s needs, there are more proposed double-track train projects than high-speed ones. 

“As for our readiness, we have signed MoUs with China, Japan and France to get people trained. As for the need for more electricity, we have calculated that this project will only use 1 per cent more power,” Chatchart said.

Samart Rajpolsit, Democrat party-list MP, also questioned why the estimated cost of construction for the high-speed trains had doubled from Bt300 million per kilometre in 2010 to Bt600 million as of now?

Democrat MP Boonyod Sukthinthai asked why Wip Winyarat, son of PM policy advisor Pansak Winyarat, was appointed to conduct a feasibility research on the high-speed train project even though he has no engineering background.