Thai-Sino high speed train project on progress

BANGKOK, February 12 (TNA) - A high speed train project linking Bangkok with the northeastern Nong Khai Province, bordering neighboring Lao PDR, which is under the cooperation between the Thai and the Chinese governments, has been on progress, with the construction of its first phase having been started. Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith told journalists of the update, following his visit to Beijing during February 7-9 to attend a meeting of a joint Thai-Sino panel on the project and meet with Wang Xiaotao, a member of the leadership of China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Arkhom said both sides have agreed to proceed with the first phase of the project by completing and starting submitting blueprints of sections of the first-phase project by the Chinese side from next month until around mid-2018 and by reviewing and launching bidding processes for the construction of the sections by the Thai government from May to September 2018. Arkhom revealed that the construction of the first 3.5-kilometer-section of the first-phase project, linking Klang Dong with Pang Asok areas in Pak Chong District of Nakhon Ratchasima Province in the Thai Northeast, has already been started. For the construction of the second phase of the project, linking Nakhon Ratchasima with Nong Khai, the minister assessed that its impact report should be completely reviewed by a Thai panel by May to be submitted to the Cabinet for an approval by June 2018, after which its blueprint will be worked out and bidding processes for its construction should be launched by the second quarter of 2019. According to the minister, the Chinese side also agreed on comprehensive knowhow and technological transfers to Thai personnel and on its coordinating role between the Thai and the Lao governments, as well as Chinese authorities of the transport connectivity in the Mekong Sub-region by, among others, linking the Bangkok-Nong Khai high speed train project with Vientiane's high speed train project in Lao PDR and with a Chinese high speed train project in the future. (TNA)