 The Thai Council of Economic Ministers has given in-principle approval to a proposal by the Transport Ministry to develop the railway system. This envisages a budget of about 100 billion baht. The plan covers an upgrade for the nation’s railway tracks, the purchase of new locomotives and rolling stock as well as the hiring of more staff. The Transport Ministry and National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) are expected to work out the intricacies of the projects and source financing within 45 days for approval. Additionally, a feasibility study will also be conducted within three months for high-speed trains on four routes—Bangkok-Chiang Mai (745 km), Bangkok-Nong Khai (615 km), Bangkok-Chanthaburi (330 km) and Bangkok-Padang Besar (985 km). The upgrade will be carried out in three phases. The first phase, rolling out between 2010 and 2014, will seek to improve the existing tracks and buy locomotives and carriages. The second phase will see the extension of rail routes to a total of 2,651 km in all directions to connect with neighbouring nations. The third phase will comprise the construction of four high-speed train routes—Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Nong Khai, Bangkok-Chanthaburi and Bangkok-Padang Besar. |
