Thailand proceeds with double-track extension

BANGKOK, December 24 (TNA) - The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has signed contracts to build double-track railways on two routes and will call bids for four more routes next year. SRT on Thursday signed two contracts with Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction Public Company Limited and Right Tunnelling Co. to build an eastern double-track railway from the eastern Chachoengsao Province via Khlong Sib Kao to Kaeng Khoi in the central Saraburi Province. SRT also sealed the other deal with CK Consortium to build another double track railway from Thanon Jira in Nakhon Ratchasima Province to Khon Kaen Province, both in the Thai Northeast. Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith told journalists, after witnessing the signing of the contracts at the Ministry of Transport, that the construction of both lines has been estimated at 23.4 billion baht. Early next year, Arkhom said, there will be bidding contests for Mab Kabao-Thanon Jira and Prachuap Khiri Khan-Chumphon routes. SRT Governor Wuthichart Kalyanamitra revealed that environmental impact assessment (EIA) should be concluded and the bidding contests for four new routes should happen within May 2016, followed right afterwards by their construction. According to the SRT governor, the new double-track railways should increase cargo transport by trains, which handles only 3 per cent of all cargo transport presently. Besides, SRT will acquire 115 new locomotives for passenger trains and 308 locomotives for cargo trains and sign contracts to order 50 additional locomotives next year. (TNA)