Train projects linking Thailand with China continued

BANGKOK, June 2 (TNA) - The government confirms its policy on proceeding with cross-border train projects linking Thailand with China, saying that the first project, connecting Bangkok with Nakhon Ratchasima Province in the Thai Northeast through Kaeng Khoi in Saraburi Province, will be constructed by 2015. Deputy Government Spokesman Major General Sansern Kaewkamnerd announced the stance on Tuesday, dismissing rumours that the Thai government has canceled the cross-border Thai-Sino train projects. The deputy spokesman stated that the Chinese government has, instead, proposed the construction of a 180 kilometre/hour moderate speed train project, linking Nong Khai Province in the Thai Northeast through Nakhon Ratchasim Province, also in the Thai Northeast, and Map Ta Phut area in the Thai East and another 873 kilometre/hour train project, linking Kaeng Khoi with Bangkok, both of which will then link with a cross border China-Laos train project in Nong Khai and Vientiane, Laos' capital. According to the deputy spokesman, the proposed train projects will be discussed at the 5th Thai-Sino Joint Committee Meeting late this month, while a survey on the routes and construction cost appraisals should be completed by August as scheduled, followed by the construction of the Bangkok-Kaeng Khoi-Nakhon Ratchasima route first by the end of 2015. The deputy spokesman noted that the Thai and Chinese governments have agreed on joint cooperation on the development of cross-border railways to facilitate regional connectivity and to also enhance bilateral trade and overall economic cooperation between China and Thailand in order to help drive forward the regional economy as a whole eventually. The deputy spokesman acknowledged that the Japanese and Thai governments also inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last week on Japan's investment in developing a train project, linking Kanchanaburi Province in the Thai West with seaside Laem Chabang area in the Thai East through Bangkok and the eastern Chacherngsao Province and another project linking Bangkok with Aranyaprathet area in Sa Kaeo Province in the Thai East through Chaserngsao, with their total distance of 574 kilometres, as well as a 670-kilomtre high speed train project (shinkansen), linking Bangkok with Chiang Mai Province in the Thai North. (TNA)