Thai-Sino Rail Project First Phase To Begin IN September : THAI MINISTER

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa BANGKOK, May 14 (Bernama) -- The first phase of the Thai-Sino rail project connecting Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima is expected to begin this September after the two countries reached an agreement during their 10th meeting in Beijing recently. Thai Transport Minister Arkom Termpittayapaisith said Thailand will seek funding for the project and is willing to consider loans by Beijing if the conditions are acceptable. "Thailand will invest in the whole project according to the agreement by the two nations' leaders," he was quoted by the local media here today, adding that more discussions will be held to iron out technical details. The next meeting is scheduled in June when both countries will finalise the framework of cooperation on the rail project, he said. The first phase of the project will involve the construction of a 271.5 km rail line between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima, part of a full 873 km rail line connecting Nong Khai near the Lao border with Thailand to Bangkok and finally to Thailand's largest port of Laem Chabang. The total cost of the rail project is expected to be 500 billion Baht (RM1= 8.51 Baht). In March, Thailand Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-o-cha announced that Bangkok will go solo in the rail project after talks with Beijing faltered especially on the loan conditions, but will still call it the Thai-Sino rail project. The Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima rail line will have trains travelling at 180 km per hour but observers have stated that its speed will be upgraded to 200 km per hour. According to Arkom, the rail project will be constructed under an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model but divided into two parts - civil engineering, as well as rolling stock and signalling system. Bangkok, he said, will be responsible for civil works of the rail project with Beijing undertaking works on the rolling stock and signalling system. -- BERNAMA