Construction Updates for the Thai-Chinese High-Speed Rail
Started | Contract 4-6 Construction Linking to Contract 4-7 Entering Saraburi City. Latest Updates.
July 12, 2024
Construction updates on the high-speed rail at the intersection of Contract 8 - the junction of Contract 4-5 (Saraburi City). This is a construction site in Contract 4-6 from Phra Kaew to Saraburi, which includes both ground-level embankments and elevated structures, covering a total distance of 31.6 kilometers (approximately 19.6 miles). The total construction budget is 9,429 million baht. The construction is being carried out by Unique Engineering and Construction PCL, with current progress at 0.38%.
Update on Contract 4-7: Last 100 meters passing over Saraburi Railway Station, preparing to pour concrete for track beams over the existing station
nanny official
Jul 19, 2024
Update on high-speed rail Contract 4-7: Section crossing over the existing Saraburi Railway Station
***Contract 4-7 involves the construction of both ground-level and elevated tracks, along with building a new Saraburi station area and improving the Kaeng Khoi Junction station area. The project covers a distance of 12.99 kilometers (approximately 8.07 miles) with a construction budget of 8,560 million baht. The construction is being carried out by Civil Engineering Co., Ltd. Currently, the construction progress is at 47.22%.
"Railway Uni0n" denies submitting letter opposing contract amendment for "High-Speed Rail Linking 3 Airports"
Thansettakij, July 19, 2024 | 14:15
The Railway Uni0n explains why it hasn't submitted a letter opposing ACT regarding the government's negotiation to amend the "High-Speed Rail Linking 3 Airports" contract, which affects the 5-year delay plan. Concerns about benefiting private sector. Urges SRT to proceed with construction itself to push for double-track railway connecting U-Tapao Airport.
Mr. Sarawut Saranwong, President of the State Railway Workers Uni0n of Thailand (SRWUT), revealed to "Thansettakij" that regarding the progress of the uni0n's opposition to amending the high-speed rail contract connecting 3 airports (Don Mueang-Suvarnabhumi-U-Tapao), the uni0n has not yet submitted a letter opposing the contract amendment to the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand (ACT) and other agencies. Currently, the uni0n is waiting for clarity and conditions from the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) on signing the contract amendment, as well as issues related to the private sector's second round of investment promotion requests from the Board of Investment (BOI).
Mr. Sarawut further stated that according to the original contract, this project should have been completed in 2019. However, the project is currently delayed simply because the private sector couldn't proceed as planned, causing a 5-year delay, which is considered a lost opportunity. If there's a contract amendment signing this time, it's believed to benefit the private sector.
"The uni0n views that SRT should proceed with the project itself, which can construct a double-track railway project connecting U-Tapao Airport without necessarily building a high-speed rail," he said.
Previously, the uni0n has discussed with the Railway Workers Confederation about two issues in the contract:
1. The contract amendment, deferment, payment of rights transfer fee for the Airport Rail Link project management in 7 installments with interest, instead of the original single payment of 10,671 million baht.
2. The handover of land and expropriation of land for the high-speed rail project connecting 3 airports.
Watch out for July 25th: State Railway of Thailand board to decide on "Thai-Chinese High-Speed Rail" Phase 2
Thansettakij, July 23, 2024 | 11:29 AM
"Surapong" pushes "Thai-Chinese High-Speed Rail" Phase 2 from Korat to Nong Khai, with a budget of 340 billion baht. Awaiting SRT board approval on July 25th, hoping to connect transportation across 3 countries.
Mr. Surapong Piyachot, Deputy Minister of Transport, revealed that progress has been made on the cooperation project between the governments of Thailand and China to develop a high-speed rail system connecting the region. Phase 2, covering the Nakhon Ratchasima-Nong Khai section, spans 357.12 kilometers with a total investment of 341,351.42 million baht.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) board meeting on July 25th will propose approval for the Thai-Chinese railway project Phase 2, covering the Korat-Nong Khai section.
After the SRT board approves the project, the Ministry of Transport will submit it to the Cabinet for further approval. It's expected that SRT will open bidding for private construction contractors.
"The reason the Ministry of Transport is pushing for the Thai-Chinese High-Speed Rail Phase 2 is that rail transport will help reduce logistics costs. Meanwhile, China and Laos have already constructed their high-speed rail sections, leaving only the connection to Thailand at Nong Khai province," said Mr. Surapong.
The construction of the bridge in Nong Khai province will be a collaboration between Thailand and Laos, with shared design, construction, and cost responsibilities. The bridge will have four tracks: two 1-meter gauge tracks for current trains and two 1.435-meter gauge tracks for high-speed trains.
The Phase 2 project, from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai, is divided into civil works construction (235,129 million baht), land expropriation and compensation (10,310 million baht), rail system and electrical-mechanical systems (80,165 million baht), and project management consultancy (10,060 million baht).
The project will be open for E-bidding with 10 contracts: 9 for civil works and 1 for signaling system installation.
The civil works for Phase 2 have been redesigned to include 202.48 km of elevated tracks and 154.64 km of ground-level tracks to minimize impact on local communities. There will be 5 main stations: Ban Buaiyai, Ban Phai, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, and Nong Khai.
Reports suggest that the Ministry of Transport will propose a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for operating the entire Bangkok-Nong Khai route, with an estimated investment of 80 billion baht from the private sector. If approved by the Cabinet, a 6-month study on the PPP model will be conducted before submitting to the PPP committee and the Cabinet for consideration by late 2025.
The government will fully invest in the construction of Phase 2, while also establishing an organization to manage the high-speed rail operations as per previous Cabinet resolutions.
If the Cabinet approves the PPP model, the bidding process could start immediately, with a potential winner expected by mid-2026. Initially, the private sector will invest in the system work and procure additional train sets, as Phase 2 is a full Thai investment, unlike the government-to-government cooperation in Phase 1.
However, the system work and train procurement will use the same technology as Phase 1, following Contract 2.3 for rail systems, electrical and mechanical systems, train procurement, and personnel training, which is being carried out by the Chinese side.
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