Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Wednesday reported to the Cabinet the success of his recent visit to China, saying that the neighbour to the north has agreed to invest in Thailand’s first high-speed railway and provide funding to the development on the Thai rail link system.
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China will invest in Thai high-speed train, better rail links
China has agreed to invest in Thailand’s first high-speed railway, which was part of the talks between the two countries during Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister’s visit to China on July 16-23. Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban Wednesday reported to Thai Cabinet that China will provide investment, technology and management support for the 240-kilometre railway line from Bangkok to province of Rayong, the country’s official MCOT news agency reported.
Suthep also disclosed that the two countries may also cooperate in railway projects at the Thai-Lao border of Thailand’s Nong Khai province to Laos and China. The line is expected to also link southern Thailand to Malaysia.
He praised the quality of China’s high-speed railway system, adding that Chinese technology for high-speed trains is highly advanced. China has said it would promote Thailand as a tourist destination among Chinese. It will as well consider buying more rice from Thailand, while adding the rail link development will provide convenience of people in the region to travel and enhance a better logistics and transport system.
The Chinese mainland’s length of high-speed railways in operation has now reached 6,900 kilometers, ranking first in the world, and the length of high-speed railways under construction has reached 10,000-plus kilometers, according to the “Seventh World High-speed Railway Conference” held by the Ministry of Railways on July 28.
The high-speed railway lines, including the Beijing-Tianjin, Wuhan-Guangzhou, Zhengzhou-Xi’an and Shanghai-Nanjing lines, are all in operation and running at speeds of 350 kilometers an hour, making them the fastest in the world.
According to the plan and current construction progress, the total length of high-speed railways in China will exceed 13,000 kilometers by 2012 and will exceed 16,000 kilometers by 2020.
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6 comments
Hi, thanks for the reply. Understand now that the majority of the construction will be based in China. With minimal parts coming over to Thailand. Would have been a great opportunity to work closely together, if production was here in TH. Look forward to seeing the project completed and having another offer for SEA transport. Cheers, Satja
Though these high speed passenger initiatives have to be welcomed obviously, first of all, let’s not forget the safety challenges and maintainance costs involved. It’s not only about building a network A-B while buying some modern trains…. High speed is all about safety (systems), maintainance and the correlated ICT systems. The only reason our German ICE and French TGV trains are succesfull is because citezens TRUST and therefore USE the system (not many accidents)while the planning/timing is realiable.
More importantly however is FREIGHT, transport of containers between production and consumer centers in CN and Thailand. Though our office made some recommendations to the Thai government, let’s hope it will be used.. Since Chinese goverments are moving away from their congested and expensive port sides – towards their hinterland (Kumning etc) by building 18 terminals, well, let Thailand be connected to China via a modern intermodal freight (terminal) network as well!
Contact/next visit BKK: Oct. 7-12.
Peter Wolters
Brussels
Hi, any idea on where these trains will be produce?
China has begun operating what is, by several measures, the world’s fastest rail line: a dedicated 968-kilometer line linking Wuhan, in the heart of central China, to Guangzhou, on the southeastern coast.The high-speed rail technology implemented in China is not that much different from the TGV, Germany’s ICE, and the Shinkansen, therefore, it is the good choice for Thailand.
As a Thai people I welcome this project very much and want to know when this project will start constructions and when the first China high speed train will run in Thailand.
I would like to be up dated for the details of this project.
This is amazing and wonderful news! It is now time to see prompt positive progress in the entire Trans-Asia Railway network! Cambodia and Myanmar need to get on board, get contracts awarded, and get construction started. Hundreds of thousands of people can be immediately employed in the construction work. When the lines are completed, there will be a great reduction in pollution, trade and commerce will be greatly improved, and passengers will be able to travel freely, conveniently and efficiently! Let us see some quick positive action here! In the interest of trade, travel and good international relations, Thailand and Cambodia need to immediately establish friendly relations and place their differences behind them. The same principle applies to Myanmar and Thailand! Neighbors need to be friendly!!