4 trillion baht infrastructure plan unveiled

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Govt to boost infrastructure spending to B4 trillion

Published: 28 Feb 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The government will double its budget for infrastructure development over the next seven years to 4 trillion baht, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Kittiratt Na-Ranong says.

Transport Minister Chadchat Sittipunt answers questions from the media about the plan to build four high-speed railway lines and 10 new regular railways.

Mr Kittiratt, however, said that sum will only be enough to finance major transport routes within the master plan.

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spiceman
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Discussion 26 : 01 Mar 2013 at 03.4426
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Khun Onlyasking #24, only 2 high-speed rail services in the world, one in Japan and the other in France, both are purely passenger service connecting 2 large affluent population centers, manage to break even, while the rest are hopelessly loosing money every single day. Counting both fixed and operating costs, high-speed rail is prohibitively more expensive and significantly slower than air travel. Besides, there is a limit to the number of trains which can be put on a track, compare to the sky which offers unlimited numbers of "tracks" in all directions. However, slow-speed rail is still the most efficient way for moving freight.
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Birdie
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Discussion 25 : 28 Feb 2013 at 20.2025
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Just see how badly are the designs of all the rail tracks and stations of BTS, MRT, ARL etc. Now another big one? Has the 2010 flood problems fully eradicated yet? Or is it that at the moment there aren't any "lucrative incomes" going to certain people in the government that the country must create something justv for the sake of creating by not knowing whether Thailand needs it!
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onlyasking
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Discussion 24 : 28 Feb 2013 at 18.1624
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The present rail system in Thailand is based on a narrow guage. To increase speeds on the existing system you need to widen the tracks, replace all moving stock and you need to lay double tracks. The cost of this will be more than a high speed system. The proposed high speed system will not be primarily for the transport of people, but for the transportation of goods. Thats why the logistical costs are mentioned in the article, its unfortunately not explained. The other benefit will be less trucks, mini vans and busses on the roads.
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Victor
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Discussion 23 : 28 Feb 2013 at 15.3523
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Speed is not everything, and it could become next to nothing if without safety and reliability, the two most lacking in this country.
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nui
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Discussion 22 : 28 Feb 2013 at 15.2422
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Fix the deteriorating highways and roads in the North East, or I have to buy a tractor this year in order to travel from Saraburi to Buri Ram. Potholes everywhere on highways and new red plated cars and heavy trucks flying over the surface. What a shame ! This government in Bangkok is in charge of highways in Thailand.
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dao
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Discussion 21 : 28 Feb 2013 at 14.0221
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The SRT is a money pit .How much is a ticket for a high speed train going to be ? Guaranteed your average citizen wont be able to afford it .Are they going to subsidize it ? Why ? Just build a normal functional train on a normal functional gauge .The one meter gauge being used at present is the reason it is so slow. Trains to the port will take trucks off the highway .Trains to Phuket and Pattaya will take tourists .Trains to Issan will provide workers a safe reliable cheap way to get home .High speed is high price and high risk of accident with an already high chance of corruption .
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augratin
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Discussion 20 : 28 Feb 2013 at 12.3920
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I didn't see anything about flood management in the article, so I hope all of this new infrastructure is going to be waterproof.

High speed trains will be as popular as the elevated motorways are (often nearly empty because of high tolls). Nobody (with the possible exception of tourists) will use it if the fare is too high. Bankokians don't want it fast, we just want it good, safe, reliable and reasonably priced for the bulk of the residents.
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DonAleman
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Discussion 19 : 28 Feb 2013 at 12.2219
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I have traveled thru out Thailand and find getting "to" or "from" a city is not the major problem - it is when you get into the city. More of this budget should be devoted to inner city needs and Japan, a true master at people moving logistics, could provide some sorely needed answers
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jwatch
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Discussion 18 : 28 Feb 2013 at 12.2218
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nice...soon we can zip all around Thailand!
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bkkblue
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Discussion 17 : 28 Feb 2013 at 11.1017
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Hope it's more of a success than the high speed airport link which not even the tourists use.
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