A secretary attached to the ministry told media sources contractors were expected onsite by the 9 October and the first batch of engineers from China would be brought up to speed on regulations governing civil engineering in Thailand. The Chinese team will then prepare the legal plans for submission to the State Railway of Thailand.
This mini-project is a part of the first phase of a 250km rail route linking Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima. Phase II of the project will eventually see the line extended up to Nong Khai and the Mekong River border with Laos.
12GO ASIA notes that the rail line from Nong Khai will connect to another line being built from Kunming in southwest China to the Laos capital of Vientiane. The only operational piece of railway track Laos currently has is a spur line of 2.5kms to Thanaleng Station. This station is about 20kms south of Vientiane.
Pilot track for Nakhon Ratchasima hi-speed rail link gets green light
News in Asia
Thailand’s Transport-Ministry has okayed the construction of a mini-section of the nation’s first hi-speed railway line. Work on the foundations of the 3.5km long section of track in Nakhon Ratchasima Province is scheduled to start in November.