Construction of the first section of the Thailand-China high-speed railway will begin in November although there is still a problem with an environmental impact assessment study, Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith confirmed on October 16.


Construction of the first section of the Thailand-China high-speed railway will begin in November (Source: thailandtrains.com)

The 253-kilometre section will connect the capital city of Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima.

Arkhom said all Thai agencies concerned have conducted the study for six times and there is still a problem over a section running past limestone mining areas in Saraburi.

The problem will be addressed only if the three mining companies agree to allow the rail line to be built past the areas, he said.

He said Thailand’s Office of the Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning has been asked to speed up talks with the three companies.

Chaiwat Thongkhamkhum, the office director, said he has negotiated with the three companies, particularly over compensation for land expropriation.

An agreement is expected to be reached this month so that the construction of the 3.5-kilometre section between Klang Dong and Pang Asok stations can start in November.

The next stage is to extend the track to Nong Khai on the border with Laos to southern China. 

The project is part of China's huge regional infrastructure plan to build a high-speed rail network connecting its southern city of Kunming with Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

In mid July, the Thai Government approved an investment worth 5.2 billion USD to build the Thailand-China high-speed railway.

 

                                          Source: VNA

Related Topics


Existential danger from COVID-19 pandemic

The danger from the COVID-19 pandemic is still latent, threatening people’s health and lives in the context that the immunity provided from the COVID-19 vaccine has decreased. Many other dangerous diseases are also likely to break out when the global vaccination rate slows down, due to inequality in access to health services, vaccine hesitancy, and consequences of economic recession.

Vietnam among ASEAN countries recording EV sales surge

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is witnessing a rise in the sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia, according to Maybank Investment Bank Research (Maybank IB Research).

International friends bid farewell to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong

The respect paying ceremony for Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong continued on the morning of July 26 at the National Funeral Hall in Hanoi, with high-level delegations from foreign countries and international organisations paying their last respects and expressing deep condolences.

Global outpouring of grief for Vietnamese Party chief

A wave of condolences have poured in from world leaders, international organisations, rulling parties, Communist parties and partner parties following the death of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, a revered leader in Vietnam and world: Australian Senate President

President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines has expressed her deepest sympathy over the passing of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and affirmed that he is a revered leader both in Vietnam and across the world.

Vietnam hopes UN, ASEAN coordinate closely, effectively over Myanmar issue: Ambassador

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Vietnam’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), on June 5 had a meeting with UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop during her working visit to New York.