High speed train construction to start late 2012

The construction of Thailand’s first high speed train from Bangkok to northern resort Chiang Mai Province is expected to start later this year. BANGKOK, Feb 24 (TNA) - The idea of building Thailand’s first high speed train system between the capital and Chiang Mai came after talks between Thai Transport Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan and the visiting Chinese Vice Commerce Minister in Bangkok on Friday. Thai Deputy Transport Minister Police Lieutenant General Chatt Kuldiloke, who also attended the talks, told journalists that both sides discussed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) earlier signed between Bangkok and Beijing on the construction of the high speed train system, during which the Chinese vice minister proposed that the new Thai rail service be extended to other members countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as the overall economy of the 10-nation bloc has been growing steadily. According to the visiting Chinese vice commerce minister, Beijing wants the new Thai rail line to be started from Kunming in southern China to Laos and to end in Bangkok to facilitate Chinese travelers coming to Thailand. Police Lieutenant General Chatt said that both sides agreed with the idea and a working committee will soon be set up to expedite the project, as the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) will conduct a feasibility study which will take between three to four months to complete. The deputy minister acknowledged that laying designs of the new rail service will take approximately another six months its construction is expected to start late this year, and that there has been no obligation so far for the Thai government to buy rail technology or for China to be the only investor in the project.(TNA)