Three Thai high-speed train projects shelved

“As the high-speed train system in Laos is nearing completion, he said that Thailand must speed up its construction of the Bangkok-Nong Khai project.”

Three high-speed train projects are being shelved by the Thai government due to lack of interest from co-investors.

Sources at the Transport Ministry have told Thai PBS World that none of the three projects were included in the infrastructure master plan recently submitted to the economic cabinet meeting by the Transport Ministry. The projects are…

• Bangkok-Phitsanulok-Chiang Mai northern route

• Bangkok-Surat Thani southern route

• The second phase between Rayong and Trat eastern route

Although a feasibility study of the Bangkok-Phitsanulok-Chiang Mai high-speed train project has been completed, the sources say that the government has made it clear that it would not invest in the project unless Japan agrees to co-invest and provide technology transfer to Thailand.

For the Bangkok-Surat Thani high-speed project the government doubts that the project is economically viable, due to high investment costs and the short 600 kilometre route, which may not attract investors from the private sector. They noted that a conventional dual-track south-bound route is already under construction and will be operational in the next 3-4 years.

Thai PBS World reports that negotiations with Japan to co-invest in the northern route project have been unsuccessful. The Japanese say they’ve never invested in a high-speed train project outside Japan and is, therefore, reluctant to invest in the project in Thailand.

Chayatham Promsorn, deputy director of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, says the Thai government has set its sights on developing the Thai-Chinese high-speed train project between Bangkok and Nong Khai in the north-east, which will connect with the Chinese3-Lao high-speed train system under the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative.

As the high-speed train system in Laos is nearing completion, he said that Thailand must speed up its construction of the Bangkok-Nong Khai project.

Construction of the first phase of the project, between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima, is due to be completed in the next two years while design of the second phase, from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai, is now underway.

SOURCE: Thai PBS World