'Dry canal' for Kra Isthmus has hidden dangers

Transport along a water canal might be slow, but it also uses relatively little fuel. By contrast, dragging huge cargoes by rail from one side of the coast to the other would require a tremendous amount of fuel, with costs increased by maintenance of a line that would have to bear the massive loads. In the long term, such a project would likely be less profitable than a conventional canal and perhaps even run at a loss.

We must not let the lower construction costs blind us to the hidden long-term expenses.

Prasan Stianrapapongs