Transport authorities are proposing a rail track-sharing idea to cut costs in the Bangkok-Chiang Mai high-speed train project, said a Transport Ministry source.
Under the plan, the Thai-Japanese 672km-line would share a length of railway line with the Thai-Chinese high-speed train project linking Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima, which will subsequently reduce the cost by 90 billion baht.
Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith has called a meeting with Japanese authorities to settle a disagreement on the project value -- 530 billion baht estimated by Tokyo, against 440 billion baht put up by Bangkok, the source said.
Japan's figures are higher because it suggested building the rail line from Bang Sue railway station in Bangkok to Chiang Mai while Thailand wants the track to start at Ban Phachi station in Ayutthaya, located north of the capital. In its initial study, the Transport Ministry proposed a section of rail between Bang Sue and Ban Phachi can share facilities with the Thai-Chinese project.
It is not only the cost issue that needs a decision, the source added. Thai authorities also are worried whether there is enough space for a new railway to be built on some parts of the route, where there are already rail links. Many lines appear to squeeze into limited areas running from Bang Sue to Don Muang and Rangsit, the source said.
However, it is difficult to talk Japan into changing the construction plan due to Japan's unique Shinkansen technology. "The Japanese technology cannot connect with the other rail technologies [of China and Europe]," the source said.
Chinese high-speed rail technology is more open. If the talks with Japan fail and Thailand still wants to push the rail track-sharing idea, it needs to discuss the plan with its Chinese counterpart, the source said.
"It may turn out that China needs to share a rail track with the Airport Rail Link extension," the source suggested, referring to the government's plan to build a new extended rail line linking Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports.