Thailand's construction of new high speed train tracks set in late 2017

BANGKOK, August 30 (TNA) - The construction of the first phase of rail tracks for a new inter-provincial high speed train system, linking Bangkok with Nong Khai Province in the the Northeast, is scheduled to be started in October 2017. Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith told journalists of the update on August 29, noting that Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha will sign two contracts on the design and the construction of the 3.5-kilometer-rail tracks, first connecting Bangkok with Nakhon Ratchasima Province or Korat, during his upcoming visit to China early next month. After the signing of the contracts, set on September 4, Arkhom said, the construction of the first-phase tracks of the new Bangkok-Nong Khai high speed train system can be started in late October 2017. According to the transport minister, the construction of the remaining three phases of the rail tracks of the Bangkok-Nong Khai high speed train, with the total additional distance of 249 kilometers, will be started after the Chinese side completes the design blueprint over the next eight months. Vice Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Kobsak Pootrakool then told reporters the Thai Cabinet has already approved the draft contracts that the prime minister will sign in China on September 4, under which Thai engineers will also be employed to work together with the Chinese side. Kobsak revealed that the employment of more Thai engineers will raise the state budget for the design contract to 2.6 billion baht, from about 1.71 billion baht, which is within the total budget of about 179 billion baht earmarked for the entire mega-investment of the Bangkok-Nong Khai High Speed Train Project. Besides, the National Housing Authority (NHA) has been assigned to invest in a 464-million baht project to build houses for middle-income people in the vicinity of new high speed train systems. The Thai government also plans to launch a new integrated ticketing management system in which a single ticket can be used for a passenger for all public transport services in the future, including bus, train, all electric train systems and ferry. (TNA)