Joint Sino-Thai railway project to be launched in late 2015

BANGKOK, August 3 (TNA) - A new joint Sino-Thai railway project is expected to be launched in late 2015. Thai Transport Minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong told journalists of the update on Monday, noting that China and Thailand will have another meeting on the joint railway project in Chengdu of China's southwestern Sichuan Province from August 6-8. At the three-day meeting, the Thai transport minister said, authorities of both sides will discuss routes and station designs for the joint Sino-Thai railway project. According to the Thai transport minister, Chinese authorities have already confirmed the schedule of the meeting, at which Thai officials will present details of tracks and stations, as there has been progress in investment plan of the project. The minister revealed that the upcoming meeting will also discuss the drafting of a framework agreement for the implementation of the joint Sino-Thai railway project. Besides, both sides will estimate the cost of the joint project and form a joint advisory committee which will include neutral members and help work out the agreement. The minister acknowledged that training of 30 Thai engineers and technicians to operate the new railway system was set to begin next month, while 30 more Thai trainees will have similar sessions from October 2015. The minister stated that the construction of the new railway project was set to start during October-December 2015, with its first phase, linking Bangkok with Kaeng Khoi area of Saraburi Province in the Thai central region, and its third phase, linking Kaeng Khoi with Nakhon Ratchasima Province in the Thai Northeast, to be first launched. (TNA)