Construction Thailand’s new dual-track lines to start in 2014

BANGKKOK, May 12 (TNA) - A senior Transport Ministry official said Saturday that the construction of Thailand’s new dual track project, named the Jira-Khon Kaen lines, is expected to start in 2014 and takes about three years to complete. Soithip Traisut, Director-General of the ministry’s Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, told reporters that the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is now drawing designs and conducting an environmental impact assessment before sending them to her office for approval, and that after receiving the green light from the ministry, the project will be sent to the Thai Cabinet, followed by a bidding process; so, the construction is likely to start in 2014. Upon completion, Soithip acknowledged, the new dual track lines will cover 10 districts in Thailand’s two northeastern provinces of Nakhon Ratchasima and Khon Kaen, stretching a total distance of 187 kilometres, and will have three warehouses. According to the senior Thai official, the total construction cost of the new dual-track project is about 25.4 billion baht, as approved by the government earlier. Meanwhile, Chokechai Kumpiranont, an executive of NDC Logistics Co., Ltd., said goods transportation on the new rail route will be reduced to 3-4 days after the project is complete, from at least a week now. (TNA)