Japan agrees to transfer train technologies to Thailand

BANGKOK, Nov 17 (TNA) -- Japan is transferring high-speed railway technologies and knowledge on area development along railways to Thailand to improve Thailand’s transport sector. Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said that both countries signed an agreement on the sharing of advanced Shinkansen technologies and area development experiences. The knowledge will be applied to the Bangkok-Chiang Mai high-speed railway project and the development of areas along high-speed railways to ensure the highest benefits of railway projects in Thailand. According to the minister, the agreement was signed by the Thai Transport Ministry and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). The knowledge-sharing agreement also covers the development of the Bang Sue transport hub, the railways of Bangkok and its outskirts and the efficiency of cargo trains. Both countries held a seminar on the matters on Friday for the knowledge exchange. Japanese ambassador to Bangkok Shiro Sadoshima said the Shinkansen railway system was punctual and safe and its technologies should be applied for the development of Thai high-speed railways. Japan was ready to deploy its railway engineers to train Thai personnel on railway transport. Such training sessions had started in Bangkok and covered about 10,000 Thai officials, the ambassador said. He added that the efficiency of railways required the suitable development of urban and rural areas. Japan and Thailand will build the Bangkok-Chiang Mai high-speed railway on a distance of 673 kilometers. The construction cost was estimated at 276 billion baht excluding trains and their operating system. Mr Arkhom said Japan advised the Thai government to fully invest in the project but Thailand asked it to recommend investment alternatives and partly invest in operating and maintenance systems as Thailand would buy Japanese trains applying the Shinkansen technologies. (TNA)