Thai High Speed Rail progress

[FrazeeDK]

one aspect not often discussed is that it appears you can take a high speed train from nearly anywhere in China now right up to the Lao border at Boten... However, there's no provision to allow the Chinese train to travel on into Laos. Passengers must disembark from the Chinese train then go through the border corssing (with baggage) and board the Lao train to go on to Luang Prabang or Vientiane (or parts in between like Vang Vieng). I imagine the same issue will apply at the Thai Lao border with passengers disembarking from the Lao train to board the Thai train to continue onward... You would think it would behoove all countries concerned to attempt to make the travel seamless but unfortunately this isn't the EU. or Schengen area. There's has been futile talk for years about having an ASEAN common tourist visa to allow easy transit between ASEAN countries but its never gone anywhere..

Back to the attraction of Udon for your lower classed Chinese tour groups.. "We went to Thailand!" would be met by bringing the groups here to contracted hotels and having spur tours from Udon to any number of nearby attractions. Temples, caves, parks.. They're all there for a day trip..

[FrazeeDK]

Review ride of High Speed Rail construction from Rangsit Station north of Bangkok to Khorat city https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgC9h_v0WuY&t=2636s The fellow breaks the ride down by the various contracts covering each section. It leaaves out one important segment which is the Khaeng Khoi (near Saraburi) segment that will extend south to Mapthaphut Port which will carry lots of freight.

[parrot]

Just curious: From what I read, there are precious few Chinese tourists coming to Thailand because of Covid restrictions. I'd guess there are few Thais (and other nationalities) going to China because of fear of lockdowns. So, just wondering, what are the passenger numbers on the high speed line from Laos to China/China to Laos like these days.

[FrazeeDK]

or I'd wager Lao domestic tourism and Thai/other tourists through Thailand going to Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang and Boten.. or so says Xinhua with figures. https://eng.yidaiyilu.gov.cn/qwyw/rdxw/292212.htm

[joepai]

Just curious: From what I read, there are precious few Chinese tourists coming to Thailand because of Covid restrictions. I'd guess there are few Thais (and other nationalities) going to China because of fear of lockdowns. So, just wondering, what are the passenger numbers on the high speed line from Laos to China/China to Laos like these days.

Would suggest this is more for freight than tourists

[FrazeeDK]

yes, both the Lao-China and the eventual China-Lao-Thai lines will be primarily freight. Rports I've read state about 95% of the traffic in Laos is freight. That's not the news blurb for the Thai one though. It is all about the 250kph 3.5 hours NOng Khai to Bangkok runs.. But, you can bet it'll be primarily freight that will be turning south at Khaeng Kho and going to Mapthaput port near Rayong as well as Laem Chabaeng north of Pattaya..

[FrazeeDK]

update.. Even has English subtitles with some translation weirdness. But, good details. will it happen sooner? We'll see. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYuiif6rs6g

[FrazeeDK]

rather lengthy ride along update on the High Speed Rail Construction from Bangkok to Khorat. Many kilometers of elevated rail bridge installed.. Several tunnels are under construction through the hills although she doesn't show those. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqUEw_RltEY

[FrazeeDK]

HSR still truding along.. Contracts to be signed in 2026, sometime.. The video says projected completion of Khorat to Nong Khai is 2031 or over 5 years from now.. Video dubbed in English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG4NgTB_mUc

[FrazeeDK]

The Bangkok to Khorat section is moving along. The longest tunnel by the Lamtakhong Dam is done. Much of the elevated sections are done on the Khorat to the dam section. the biggest gap is from Apiwat main station in BKK to Saraburi. The stations at Saraburi and Pak Chong look like they're going to be huge. Both are elevated at least 25 meters or more. Khaeng Khoi also will have a freight yard and ramped tracks from ground to elevated tracks, probably to support future growth of the HSR from Khaeg Khoi south along the current SRT that goes to Chaocheangsao, Laem Chabang port and to Chon Buri/Pattaya and ending at Mapthaphut port. That will be primarily a freight connection

[Niggly]

Compulsory purchase orders were issued in Nong Takai yesterday. Final details yet to be agreed but they’ve got to be out by June 26

[FrazeeDK]

is that west side of railway, east side or both? if the planned freight yard is too large they'll end up taking the school out too?

https://www.google.com/maps/@17.2687522 ... FQAw%3D%3D

[Niggly]

I can’t speak for anywhere else. The info I got was from a friend who has a restaurant that’s affected.
I’m rubbish at this sort of thing & I can’t work out the cardinal directions so I’ll try to explain …………
Heading southbound turn left off Non Sung frontage road before 7-11.
Follow the little dual carriageway towards the school & turn right at the beer bottles.
Follow this road which is behind the test centre & you’ll get to a sharp left hand turn at the army barracks disused gates.
You’re now facing the level crossing to Nong Takei.
All businesses on the left up to the level crossing have so far been notified.

[FrazeeDK]

so, expansion on the left side (west) as your facing towards Udon.. I need to take a drive out that way to see if they've started clearing land between Udon and Nong Takai.. They have a huge work camp near Kham Kling stop just south of the Ring Road here: https://www.google.com/maps/@17.3495312 ... FQAw%3D%3D

A large logistics base on the west side that has motor maintenance, operations and other buildings and an expansive concrete parking ramp. On the east side they've installed dozens of modular housing units with more being put in.. I wonder how many will have Chinese or Burmese workers? I haven't heard of any recruiters hiring locally for what will be a minimum of 2-3 years work just on the dual track upgrade. That will include the 14 kilometer elevated rail from where the tracks cross over Route 2 heading to Nong Khai and stretch through town and go back to ground level just past Kham Kling where the work camp is located.

[FrazeeDK]

this fellow videoed the ride on a 3rd class traing from Khorat north to Bua Yai to observe the potential path of High Speed Rail when the next phase of the contract continues from Khorat north. Bua Yai, at the end of this video will have a high speed station. It appears on the west side of the current right of way there is adequate space for an at grade consturction.. Now, how to get by all the stations? Elevated which costs more or an at grade that is 4-5 meters high so at the station pedestrian walkways can go from the stations to the platforms..

Note. The Khorat to Khon Kaen dual track was completed in 2020. It included all the underpasses (not a real good idea considering the standing water in them), the U Turn overpasses, new stations, employee housing, and rail "halt" points for passenger pickup/dropoff. The construction of the new stations is quite nice and even the train halt points are quite roomy.

https://youtu.be/W3JENdiSWlA?si=KfobqGQVXcrX0K9c

[FrazeeDK]

Just another segment that will be part of the High Speed Rail build. Watch to see if the shows us the Ban Phai to Nakon Phanom build that goes east just north of Ban Phai. The contracts for the HSR will be signed this year.. something that always perplexes me is the inability of SRT to coordinate their dual track project with the HSR. For instance, in Udon the dual track will be elevated within the city for 14km.. It sure would make sense to do the elevated portion altogether...

https://youtu.be/FxJ3Bgqz9CA?si=0txeyRW1ExOQx_A8