Denchai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong Railway Construction Reaches 20% Completion, Department of Rail Transport Showcases Tunnel with Natural Disaster Prevention Systems
Manager Online, 29 Nov 2024, 02:05
The Department of Rail Transport (DRT) showcased the progress of the Denchai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong railway construction project, which is now over 20% complete. The project, spanning 323.10 km, is divided into three contracts: Denchai-Ngao, Ngao-Chiang Rai, and Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong. This meter-gauge railway will have 26 stations, starting in Denchai district, Phrae province, and ending in Chiang Khong district, Chiang Rai province.
While currently behind schedule by 3.7%, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is confident that they will catch up or even exceed the planned progress in 2025.
The construction includes ground-level tracks, elevated tracks, and four single-track tunnels:
* Song Tunnel (Phrae province): 1.175 km
* Ngao Tunnel (Lampang province): 6.24 km
* Mae Ka Tunnel (Phayao province): 2.7 km
* Doi Luang Tunnel (Chiang Rai province): 3.4 km
The project also includes railway bridges, overpasses, underpasses, and other structures to address railway crossings.
Disaster Prevention Measures
As the railway passes through a monsoon zone in northern Thailand, heavy rainfall can cause the Yom River to overflow, affecting the railway. To mitigate this, the DRT has implemented a study to establish drainage standards, benchmarks for future infrastructure, and an early warning system for natural disasters.
This study includes analyzing flood-prone areas, landslides, and ground subsidence to design structures that minimize damage from natural disasters. It also draws on international best practices from the EU, UK, USA, India, Australia, and China.
Based on this research, the DRT has identified 10 high-risk areas and developed short-term, mid-term, and long-term mitigation plans, which will be shared with the SRT for implementation and application in future projects like double-track railways and high-speed railways.
Doi Luang and Ngao Tunnels Ahead of Schedule
On November 28, 2024, the DRT visited the construction site to inspect the drainage system design at the Doi Luang and Ngao tunnels. Excavation is progressing faster than planned:
* Doi Luang Tunnel: 27.752% complete (7.597% ahead of schedule)
* Ngao Tunnel: 18.27% complete (2.68% ahead of schedule)
Drainage, Ventilation, and Landslide Prevention
Both tunnels are designed with ventilation and drainage systems to handle heavy rainfall, ensuring water flows to natural sources. Landslide prevention measures include reducing slope steepness, adding drainage pipes, and designing tunnel structures to withstand earthquakes.
Innovative Railway Arch Culvert
The project also features Thailand's first curved railway arch culverts (BEBO), constructed with prefabricated reinforced concrete. These culverts are stronger, more efficient in weight distribution, and easier to transport and install compared to traditional straight beam bridges. They also increase clearance height from 2.5-3 meters to 4 meters, improve visibility, and minimize disruption to traffic flow.
Container Yard for Freight Transport
A container yard (CY) will be built to facilitate cargo transfer and distribution, connecting with various transportation modes like trucks and trailers. This will enable goods transport to Laos, Myanmar, and China.
Focus on Disaster Prevention and Management
The DRT emphasizes disaster prevention and management for the railway system. The study will develop a disaster warning system (DRT Alert) and improve railway structures to minimize damage from natural disasters. This will ensure the safety of passengers and minimize disruption to train services.
Department of Rail Transport Unveils Flood Mitigation Plan for Den Chai-Chiang Khong Double-Track Railway
Bangkok, Thailand November 30, 2027 The Department of Rail Transport (DRT) has announced its plan to address flood concerns for the Den Chai-Chiang Khong double-track railway project. The project, which is currently 19.88% complete, will include measures to mitigate flooding and landslides along the route.
Project Progress and Challenges
The Den Chai-Chiang Khong railway line spans 323.1 kilometers and includes 26 stations. It features a mix of ground-level tracks, elevated sections, and four tunnels. The project is divided into three contracts:
* Contract 1 (Den Chai-Ngao): Progressing ahead of schedule at 17.123% completion.
* Contract 2 (Ngao-Chiang Rai): Slightly behind schedule at 22.96% completion.
* Contract 3 (Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong): Facing delays with 19.37% completion.
The DRT acknowledges that the railway's route through northern Thailand makes it susceptible to heavy rainfall and flooding. To address this, the department has initiated a study to establish drainage system standards, risk mitigation measures, and early warning systems.
Flood Mitigation Strategies
The DRT's flood mitigation plan involves:
* Drainage System Standards: Developing standards for drainage infrastructure to manage floodwaters effectively.
* Benchmarking: Establishing benchmarks for future rail infrastructure projects to ensure resilience against flooding.
* Early Warning System: Creating a system to provide timely alerts for potential flood threats.
The department has identified 10 high-risk areas for immediate action and is developing designs and cost estimates for these locations. The plan also includes short-term, mid-term, and long-term mitigation measures, which will be shared with the State Railway of Thailand for implementation and integration into future rail projects.
Innovative Construction Techniques
The project employs innovative construction methods, including:
* Tunnel Design: Incorporating ventilation and drainage systems within the tunnels to manage airflow and water runoff.
* Landslide Prevention: Implementing measures such as slope reduction, drainage pipes, and surface paving to prevent landslides.
* Railway Arch Culverts: Utilizing prefabricated curved concrete structures for underpasses, enhancing strength, and improving traffic flow.
Economic Benefits and Future Outlook
The Den Chai-Chiang Khong railway is expected to boost economic activity in the region by facilitating trade and transportation. The project includes a container yard to support the movement of goods across borders with Laos, Myanmar, and China.
The DRT emphasizes its commitment to disaster prevention and management. By investing in flood mitigation measures and early warning systems, the department aims to minimize disruptions to rail services and enhance safety for passengers.
Can handle the weight of a train; all 22 bridges to be completed next year
Mr. Pichet Kunadhammarak, Director-General of the Department of Rail Transport (DRT), revealed that the DRT took a group of media representatives to observe the construction of the first precast arch bridge (Backfilled arch bridge) or curved railway underpass (Railway Arch Culvert) in Thailand. Located in Ban Pong Pa Wai, Den Chai District, Phrae Province, this bridge utilizes BEBO Arch technology from Switzerland. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is implementing this technology for the first time in the new double-track railway project, Northern Line, Den Chai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong section, spanning 323 kilometers with a budget of 72.9 billion baht.
Mr. Pichet further stated that the construction of the bridge began with Contract 1, Den Chai-Ngao section, covering 104 km, and will utilize over 20 arch bridges. Contracts 2 and 3, Ngao-Chiang Rai (135 km) and Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong (84 km) sections, will commence soon. Observations have shown that this bridge design offers numerous advantages, including reduced construction time. Installation takes only 3 days, and construction costs are lower than traditional square underpasses (Box Culverts). SRT plans to utilize this technology in the Ban Phai-Nakhon Phanom double-track railway project and is exploring its application in Phase 2 of the double-track railway project. However, applying this technology to existing railway lines presents a new challenge that needs to be addressed, as it differs from new double-track lines.
Mr. Pattapong Boonkaew, project engineer, stated that 8 precast arch bridges have been installed out of a total of 22 planned for Contract 1. One bridge at km 538+925, Ban Pong Pa Wai, Den Chai District, Phrae Province, has been fully constructed with 100% of the structural work and backfilling completed. This bridge is awaiting operational testing with a load equivalent to a train, approximately 20 tons per axle, before proceeding with track construction and rail laying. The remaining 7 bridges are undergoing backfilling preparation.
Mr. Pattapong added that construction has begun on the 9th and 10th bridges with pile driving completed, while the 11th bridge is currently undergoing pile driving. According to the plan, the construction of all 22 bridges is expected to be completed by the end of 2028. The first bridge installation began at km 539+700, Ban Pong Pa Wai, Den Chai District, Phrae Province, while the second is located at km 538+925. The second location was completed before the first because the first location is still undergoing drainage and canal construction.
Mr. Pattapong also mentioned that the arch bridge is 33.6 meters long, 16.46 meters wide, 30.5 centimeters thick, and approximately 4 meters high from the road surface (originally 4.2 meters, but the tunnel road surface was raised by 20 centimeters) allowing rice harvesters to pass through. The bridge construction process begins with foundation work, followed by assembling precast arch components, which are cast at a factory in Phrae Province. Installation takes approximately 3 days, followed by concrete casting to connect the components before proceeding with soil compaction. This method allows for daily road closures instead of month-long closures. Traditional bridge construction, involving foundations, pillars, and beams, takes at least 6-8 months to complete. This new method effectively halves the construction time.
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