TDRI suggests government to invest in high-speed train to Chiang Mai

BANGKOK, July 2 (TNA) -- Private-run think-tank Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) has suggested the government to first invest in high-speed train project from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and to also invite private businessmen to jointly invest in the project. Sumet Ongkittikul, research director of TDRI, said during a seminar that the government should first invest on Bangkok-Chiang Mai route in order to lower investment risks. About 6-7 million people travel along Bangkok to Chiang Mai or vice versa annually and many of them travel by budget airlines which cost between 2.4 – 3 baht per kilometre which is quite expensive, said Mr Sumet. Construction of dual-track rail between Bangkok to the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima is now underway and the train could run at the speed of 120 kilometres per hour upon completion, he said. Plans by the government to also build high-speed train to Hua Hin and Rayong should be considered later, said Mr Sumet, adding that investment would be very high if all the four projects are implemented the same time. He suggested that the government establish an independent agency to take responsibility on high-speed train projects only while it should also invite the private sector to jointly invest. Most importantly, the government should use technology from only a single country and not from both China and Japan at the same time because it is not worth a maintenance fee in long run, he added. (END)