The Transport Ministry will hold talks with Chinese officials next week to plan the development of dual-track railways, the minister has said.
The discussions were scheduled after Thailand and China last month signed an agreement to construct the 734km Nong Khai-Nakhon Ratchasima-Kaeng Khoi-Map Ta Phut rail line and a 133km track from Kaeng Khoi to Bangkok. Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong said the first items to be discussed will be feasibility studies, designs and land expropriation. These will determine whether the planned routes have to be adjusted. A joint management panel will be formed to map out plans, appraise prices and divide the roles between the two nations. A second meeting will be held on Feb 5 to discuss investment prospects, including the budgets earmarked by the two countries and the time frame for the projects, ACM Prajin said. The planned routes will then be explored from late February to early March, he said. The Chinese tourism minister will present a list of interested financial institutions along with loan conditions to the Thai government. ACM Prajin said it could take six months to reach a conclusion on the feasibility studies, loan sources and the budget for the first investment tranche.He noted the ministry aimed to finish the construction of the two rail routes by 2017, two years faster than the original plan.
The rail system and train carriages will use Chinese technology, ACM Prajin said, adding a decision on who will be responsible for train operations should be known by the end of this year.
Discussions between Thailand and Japan on the Tak-Mukdahan rail route are on hold until Shinzo Abe's re-elected government is ready.