THAILAND TRAVEL NEWS: The Thai cabinet has approved a Bt150 billion (about $US4.5 billion) budget for the reinvigoration of Thailand’s aging rail network, exceeding the original amount sought by B50 billion ($US1.5 billion).

The money will be spent purchasing new locomotives, improving train signaling systems, new rolling stock and laying more than 767 kilometers of duplicated track.

The state of Thailand’s rail network came to a head in October when locomotive drivers staged wild-cat rolling strikes and stoppages stranding tens of thousands of passengers across the country to protest what they claim were dangerously maintained locomotives and a shortage of genuine replacement parts.

The State Rail of Thailand (SRT) had originally requested a Bt100 billion ($US3 billion) budget to address the problems and the government gave the Transport Ministry and National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) 45-days to submit a list of projects to be carried out with the funds.

A feasibility study for the introduction of high-speed rail services from Bangkok to: Chiang Mai (745km); Nong Khai (615km); Chanthaburi (330km); and Padang Besar (985km) is also scheduled to be completed by early February 2010.

The original submission by the Transport Ministry called for Bt46 billion (about $1.38 billion) to be spent between 2010 and 2014 upgrading tracks, purchasing locomotives and rolling stock, as well as a further Bt66 billion (about $1.98 billion) for duplicating track work.

Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum said he had told cabinet that on completion of the plan “the average train speed should be between 80 and 120km per hour”, due to the dual rail tracks.”

By John Le Fevre

Thailand Travel News for December 30, 2009