The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has opened the bidding for the first route of 2nd phase of the double-track railway project between Khon Kaen and Nong Khai, covering 167 kilometers. The project has a budget of 28.72 billion baht. Interested parties must submit their proposals by August 20, 2024, with the contract expected to be signed by the end of 2024. Construction will begin in early 2025 and is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2027.
The project entails constructing an additional railway track alongside the existing one, realigning certain segments, and installing new signaling and telecommunications systems. The construction period is 36 months from the commencement date.
Bidders must meet specific criteria, including having previous railway construction experience worth at least 4.31 billion baht and being either a state-registered Thai entity or a credible private entity recognized by SRT. Joint ventures are permitted, provided the lead firm is a Thai entity with more than 50% participation.
Proposals must include plans for key signaling systems and offer long-term support and spare parts for at least 20 years. Evaluation criteria will cover six categories with a total of 100 points, and proposals must score at least 75% in each category to be considered.
Attention! August 20: Private Sector Bids for Phase 2 of the First Dual-Track Railway "Khon Kaen - Nong Khai" 28 Billion Baht Daily News June 22, 2024, 13:23 PM
Transportation Innovation
Bidding has opened for the Phase 2 double-track railway project, the first route "Khon Kaen - Nong Khai," spanning 169 km with a budget of 28.7 billion baht. Private sector bids are to be submitted on August 20, aiming to start service by 2027. This route will connect Thailand with Laos and China, with an expected initial daily ridership of 3,300 passengers and a freight capacity of 3.3 million tons annually.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has announced the details and scope of the project (TOR) for the construction of the double-track railway from Khon Kaen to Nong Khai via electronic bidding. The project has a median price of 28,719,940,000 baht. Proposals and pricing must be submitted electronically on August 20, 2024, between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM. The contract is expected to be signed with the winning bidder by the end of 2024, with construction commencing immediately and completing by 2027.
Bidders must meet several qualifications, including not being under business dissolution, not being barred from government contracts, and having a history of similar construction projects valued at no less than 4,313,850,000 baht. Joint ventures must have a lead Thai firm with more than 50% Thai ownership.
The Khon Kaen - Nong Khai double-track railway is the first of seven routes in Phase 2 of the dual-track railway project approved by the Cabinet on October 16, 2023. The 169 km route extends from the Chira Junction - Khon Kaen double-track, starting at Khon Kaen Station and ending at Nong Khai Station. It includes 159.5 km of at-grade track and 9.5 km of elevated track, with 15 stations and 2 halts. High platforms will be constructed, along with three container yards at Non Sa-at, Nong Takai, and Na Tha stations.
A maintenance depot will be built at Nong Khai Station. All level crossings will be eliminated, replaced by overpasses and underpasses. The project requires the expropriation of approximately 184 rai (29.4 hectares) of land, with a budget of 369 million baht for land acquisition. The construction period is 36 months (3 years).
In its first year, the railway is expected to serve about 3,300 passengers daily, increasing to 5,500 passengers per day by year 30. Freight transport is projected at 3.3 million tons annually initially, growing to 4.2 million tons by year 30.
The Khon Kaen - Nong Khai route will connect the provinces of Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, and Nong Khai. Stations and halts include Khon Kaen, Samran, Non Phayom, Ban Wang Chai Halt, Nam Phong, Huai Sio, Khao Suan Kwang, Non Sa-at, Huai Koeng, Kumphawapi, Huai Sam Phat, Nong Takai, Kham Kling Halt, Nong Khon Kwang, Udon Thani, Na Pue, Na Tha, and Nong Khai. This route will enhance Thailands rail network and support freight transport between Thailand, Laos, and China.
Closing Investment on 270 Billion Baht Rail System: Final Three 'Double-Track Railway' Projects
Source: Krungthep Turakij Online
Date: Sunday, June 23, 2024, 06:14
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has concluded its investment in "Double-Track Railway Phase 2," encompassing seven routes with a total investment of over 270 billion baht. The initial bidding will open for the "Khon Kaen - Nong Khai" section, with proposals due by August 20.
On June 19, the SRT Board approved the construction of three double-track railway routes in Phase 2, totaling 678 kilometers with an investment of 164.91518 billion baht. The routes are:
1. Chumphon - Surat Thani: 168.2 kilometers, 30.42253 billion baht.
2. Surat Thani - Hat Yai Junction - Songkhla: 321 kilometers, 66.27051 billion baht.
3. Den Chai - Chiang Mai: 189 kilometers, 68.22214 billion baht.
This approval completes the mega project under the Double-Track Railway Phase 2 investment plan, which includes seven routes with a total investment of 270 billion baht. Previously, the SRT had proposed and received approval for four routes. As of June 21, 2024, the SRT has announced details for the e-bidding process for the Khon Kaen - Nong Khai double-track railway project, with a central budget of 28.71994 billion baht.
Proposals are to be submitted by August 20, 2024, from 09:00 to 12:00. The contractor selection is expected by October 2024, with contract signing by the end of 2024. Construction is slated to begin in early 2025, taking 36 months to complete, with the Khon Kaen - Nong Khai route operational by the end of 2027, adding 167 kilometers to the double-track network.
For the three newly approved projects, the SRT will prepare project reports for the Ministry of Transport by June. Opinions will be solicited from relevant agencies, especially the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), to determine suitable funding sources, possibly through domestic or foreign loans or annual budgets.
The SRT anticipates submitting the preliminary project plans to the Cabinet for approval between July and October 2024. A royal decree for land expropriation is expected between November 2024 and August 2025, followed by property surveys and appraisals by May 2025. Land acquisition will proceed from June 2025 to May 2027.
Simultaneously, the SRT will draft the Terms of Reference (TOR) for civil construction contracts, starting in November 2024, with bidding completion by May 2025. Construction will begin immediately in June 2025, expected to take 5-6 years, with project completion and service commencement by 2031.
The video "Double Track: Transforming the Railway" discusses Thailand's double-track railway development project, focusing on enhancing and expanding the rail system to improve transportation efficiency and reduce travel time. This major investment is expected to play a crucial role in the country's transportation development by constructing new double-track routes and upgrading existing ones, aiming to handle increased passenger and freight volumes more effectively.
Key points from the video include:
1. Construction of double-track railways on significant routes, such as the southern line (Nakhon Pathom to Chumphon) and the northeastern line (Map Kabao to Chira Junction), which are expected to reduce travel time and improve passenger convenience.
2. The project involves substantial investment, aiming to boost rail transport efficiency, alleviate traffic congestion, and support regional economic development across the country.
3. It is anticipated that the operation of double-track railways will reduce carbon dioxide emissions and promote more efficient energy use in the transport sector.
Korat residents unite to reiterate their stance that the double-track railway must be elevated through the city to mitigate future impacts.
Source - Siamrath website
Monday, June 24, 2024 16:38
Reporters reported that Mr. Surapong Piyachoti, Deputy Minister of Transport, chaired a meeting with Mr. Prasert Chanthararuangthong, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Ms. Sudawan Wangsuphakitkosol, Minister of Culture, MPs from Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Pheu Thai Party (PTP) and Move Forward Party (MFP), Mr. Chayawut Chuenkosum, Governor of Nakhon Ratchasima, and representatives of the private sector in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The meeting aimed to find solutions and conclusions regarding the construction of the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed railway and the Mab Ka Bao-Chum Tang Thanon Chira double-track railway through Nakhon Ratchasima city. If the Sima Thani Bridge is demolished, it will cause inconvenience to the public and delay the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, as well as the construction of the high-speed railway and double-track railway.
There were explanations and discussions about the feasibility and suitability of two approaches:
1. Constructing an elevated railway under the Sima Thani Bridge, with a section where the railway descends under the bridge and then climbs back up to an elevated track, for a distance of approximately 1,600 meters, without the need to demolish the bridge.
2. Constructing an elevated railway over the Sima Thani Bridge, which would require the railway to climb to cross the bridge and be unable to stop at Nakhon Ratchasima Station due to insufficient distance. This approach might necessitate relocating the station to a suitable location or bypassing the station before gradually descending to Chum Tang Thanon Chira Station, located about 2.6 kilometers from Nakhon Ratchasima Station. This could also impact the high-speed railway, which needs to stop at Nakhon Ratchasima Station. However, this approach conflicts with the consensus of all sectors in Korat and the resolution of the Nakhon Ratchasima Land Traffic Management Subcommittee (LTMC), which agreed to adjust the design to elevate the railway through the city and demolish the Sima Thani Bridge, including the section passing the 2nd Army Area, Suranaree Camp, with a height exceeding 5 meters to allow large vehicles to pass through conveniently, to mitigate the inevitable impact on future lifestyles. As a result, the meeting did not reach a conclusion.
Mr. Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Minister of Transport, inquired about the situation in the area, stating that if the railway goes under the bridge, the public will not accept it and problems will arise. If the double-track railway is elevated to the same level as the high-speed railway, the public will accept it. Therefore, he took the meeting's proposal into consideration and assigned the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to design graphic representations of both approaches and the height of each elevated pier to provide a clear picture for communicating and explaining to the public in the area. He confirmed that there will be no delays, as the process will proceed according to the Ministry of Transport's commitment to respond to the public's demands in all aspects.
On June 24, 2024, reporters reported that at the meeting room of the Hlaksiangsiengting Sawang Metta Thammachart Korat Foundation, Mr. Surawut Cherdshe, former Mayor of Nakhon Ratchasima and a board member of SRT Electrified Train Co., Ltd., along with Mr. Chaiyawat Wongbencharat, Chief Advisor of the Nakhon Ratchasima Chamber of Commerce, organized a forum to clarify and provide updates on the design of the double-track railway through the city, in the case of ground-level and elevated tracks. The event was attended by hundreds of business operators and members of the public who were interested in the issue, as they had seen examples of ground-level railways with horseshoe bridges or underpasses causing problems and difficulties for both sides of the Chum Tang Thanon Chira-Khon Kaen double-track railway.
Mr. Surawut stated that the private sector has agreed to elevate the double-track railway through the city along the entire 5-kilometer route to mitigate impacts and problems with railway crossings at community intersections. The design proposed by the SRT will impact the economy in several aspects:
1. The landscape of the entrance to the city. If the railway is elevated, the connectivity with the high-speed railway and the absence of barriers will improve the overall image of the city.
2. The area of Amphawan Intersection under the Sima Thani Bridge, built in 1965 and completed in 1990, has resulted in a decline in business and trade. People in the area have accepted it for the common good and the development of the city. Now, we are facing new developments. If there is a bridge combined with a double-track railway passing under it, the area will become a plus sign, blocking all areas within a 1.6 square kilometer radius, causing more economic stagnation than before. Therefore, elevating the railway to bypass the city will allow the community to live normally and the economy to grow.
3. The impact of flooding. If the double-track railway is elevated, the area under the railway can be managed for more efficient drainage than at ground level.
4. The cost of time and fuel consumption for travel. Commuting and visiting each other will require longer distances than before. Data shows that there are 20,000 vehicles passing through Suebsiri Road per day, with a tendency to increase in the future. The budget for demolishing the bridge is about 400 million baht, and the construction of the underpass is 800 million baht, totaling 1.2 billion baht. If compared to the people of Korat having to live with the railway, the investment is worthwhile in the long run. Therefore, elevating the double-track railway is necessary and important for the city in the future.
Mr. Chaiyawat stated in an interview that today is about creating a balance between the government and the needs of the people who are still confused about the elevated railway and the demolition of the Sima Thani Bridge, and what the advantages and disadvantages are. As a representative of the private sector, he has been attending meetings with the Ministry of Transport. On June 15th, the Minister of Transport gave a policy to support the implementation according to the needs of the people of Korat. What they are waiting for is to see the actual design, as there have only been graphics and modifications in the past, leading to misunderstandings. The railway passing through Korat city will be there for 100 years, so they have come out to urge the government to proceed according to the consensus of all sectors.
Hua Hin Paints Zebra Crossings in Front of Train Station to Enhance Road Safety
Source: Siam Rath Website
Thursday, June 27, 2024, 20:00
On June 27, 2567, Mr. Nopporn Wuttikul, Mayor of Hua Hin, along with Ms. Nattawan Mitdee, Advisor to the Mayor, Mr. Udom Duangkae, Chairman of the Council, Mr. Thongchai Phetsongkram, Mr. Cheep Suksri, Mr. Amorn Phatthong, and Ms. Nonglak Phadungthos, Municipal Council Members, and Mr. Theerawat Limkuntammo, Chairman of the Saphan Khee Lek Community, as well as peacekeeping officers and engineering officers, visited the area along the railway road in front of the new Hua Hin Train Station. Mr. Pornchai Nusi, Stationmaster of Hua Hin Train Station, and officers from the Hua Hin Police Station were also present.
Mr. Nopporn Wuttikul, Mayor of Hua Hin, stated that due to public reports regarding road safety issues caused by the lack of a pedestrian crossing or zebra crossing in front of the new Hua Hin Train Station, a heavily trafficked area, there is a potential danger for pedestrians needing to cross the road. The residents requested that the Hua Hin Municipality coordinate with relevant agencies to address this issue.
After on-site inspections by all involved agencies, they concluded to paint a zebra crossing north of the parking area in front of the new Hua Hin Train Station to enhance road safety. The municipal engineering officers have already commenced painting the zebra crossings in the designated area, which is expected to be completed within a day, after which the crossings will be available for public use.
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