Nakhon Ratchasima: Authorities will today begin clearing space for the construction of the initial 3.5km stretch of the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway's first phase from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, after the project was faced with months of delays pending environmental impact assessments.
The project's pilot stretch, overseen by the Department of Highways, will extend from Klang Dong to Pang Asok in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima.
Construction is set to begin in Klang Dong as soon as possible, State Railway of Thailand (SRT) authorities said.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who presided over the railway's opening ceremony in Klang Dong yesterday, said the high-speed railway marks a "new step for the development of the country."
Vice-chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission Wang Xiao Tao attended the ceremony.
Gen Prayut said the railway serves as testament to "Thailand's long-standing economic, social and cultural relationship with China."
"Transnational links such as these will be crucial to our development as a nation," Gen Prayut said.
"This is why, as many have probably noticed, we have not only been bolstering railway projects, but also maritime transport and aircraft.
"This is consistent with the aim of making Thailand the main logistics hub for Asean in the future."
The high-speed railway's first Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima phase has been valued at 179 billion baht.
Thailand will be responsible for the project's funding, while China will oversee the project's overall design, in a government-to-government agreement.
Architects and engineers from both Thailand and China -- the latter of which have recently passed exams issued by the Architect Council of Thailand and the Council of Engineers for them to operate in Thailand -- will cooperate on the construction of the project.
"While the investments for projects like these are high, they are done so for the public good," Gen Prayut said.
"Several commercial areas around the railways will be developed for the better.
"This project, the first of its kind in Thailand, can be considered a pilot project for us.
A model of the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway scheme's first section (Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima) is put on display. Wichan Charoenkiatpakul
"No province will be left behind in terms of development."
The premier said he has "no worries" that the project will not be able to achieve full completion.
The project's second 354km phase is set to connect Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai.
Still in its early planning stages, it will complete the project's entire 606km route from Bangkok to Nong Khai. The first, 252km Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima railway will have six stations.
They are Bang Sue, Don Muang, Ayutthaya, Sara Buri, Pak Chong and Nakhon Ratchasima.
About 182km of the entire first phase's route will use elevated railways, according to SRT reports.
Sixty-four kilometres of the route will use non-elevated railways, while four segments of the line will run through underground tunnels.
Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said ticket prices for the first phase's route will reach a maximum of around 535 baht at its terminus in Nakhon Ratchasima.
He said the projected prices include 105 baht for the Bang Sue-Don Muang commute, 195 baht for Ayutthaya, 279 baht for Saraburi and 393 baht for Pak Chong.
Mr Arkhom said the commute from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima would take about 90 minutes.
Upon its completion, the high-speed railway project will use China's "Fuxing Hao" model trains.
While top speeds for the latest Fuxing Hao trains in China can reach 350kph in operation and over 400kph in factory testing, initial reports estimate the top speed in Thailand will be about 250kph due to the many twists and turns.