Bidding for high-speed train lines to start this year

Bidding for high-speed train lines to start this year

Bidding for construction of two high-speed train lines will start this year, according to State Railway of Thailand (SRT) governor Wuthichart Kalyanamitra.

They are the 94.67-billion-baht Bangkok-Hua Hin route and the 152.52-billion-baht Bangkok-Pattaya-Rayong route.

Both the lines will be public-private partnership (PPP) ventures.

Wuthichart: Feasibility studies complete

Feasibility studies for the projects have been completed and were forwarded to the Transport Ministry for consideration yesterday, Mr Wuthichart said.

The SRT board will review the studies at its meeting on April 12.

The studies describe the joint investment platform and project management, he noted.

The SRT governor said the studies will then be presented to the State Enterprise Policy Office (Sepo) and the PPP committee for consideration.

The SRT wants to proceed in the venture together with the private sector, he said. The PPP committee will decide whether to agree with the SRT's proposal.

"If the PPP committee approves, a team will be set up to select private operators to invest in the project in line with Section 35 of the Private Investments in State Undertakings Act," Mr Wuthichart said, adding the SRT aims to speed up the projects and wants the construction bids to be launched by the end of this year.

He said the April 12 SRT board meeting will also consider approving two double-track rail routes.

They are the Den Chai, Phrae-Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong in Chiang Rai route (326km) for 77 billion baht and the Ban Phai, Khon Kaen-Nakhon Phanom route (347km) for 60 billion baht. Once approved, they will be tabled to the cabinet for further consideration, he said.

Mr Wuthichart said the 90km Hua Hin-Prachuap Khiri Khan double-track route has passed the SRT board's consideration and is set to be proposed to the cabinet. Charoen Pokphand Group was reported to be interested in investing in the Bangkok to Pattaya to Rayong service.

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