Japan, Thailand sign MOC on dual-track train construction

BANGKOK, December 1 (TNA) - The Japanese and the Thai governments have inked a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) under which Japan will develop a dual-track train project for Thailand, linking the western Kanchanaburi Province with Bangkok, as well as the eastern Sa Kaeo Province and Laem Chabang Deep Seaport in the eastern Chon Buri Province. Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittyapaisith told journalists on November 30 that he has already signed the MOC with the Japanese government on the 574-kilometre-dual rail project. Arkhom said the dual-track train service, once opened to serve passengers, would connect four special economic zones, including Myanmar's Dawei Special Economic Zone and Dawei Deep Seaport, as well as Thailand's special economic zones in Kanchanaburi Province bordering Myanmar and in Sa Kaeo Province bordering Cambodia and the Eastern Seaboard zone. Arkhom explained that upon the completion, the Dawei Deep Seaport in Myanmar would connect with Laem Chabang, which is now under a road improvement and awaiting a Japanese team to inspect the work. Arkhom revealed under the MOC, signed between Thailand's Ministry of Transport and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, both countries will also jointly develop a bus service and Thailand has asked Japan to help conduct a feasibility study on a rail construction project in Phu Nam Ron area of Kanchanaburi Province bordering Myanmar, set to be linked with eastern rail routes in the future. According to the transport minister, Japan has agreed to initially dispatch three bogeys for trial services of the new rail project, expected to begin in January 2016. On the development of a train service cooperation between Thailand and China, the transport minister noted, meanwhile, that a new meeting will be held in Bangkok on December 3 and it is expected that China should propose construction designs by the end of this year. (TNA)