Bullet train to Pattaya by 2018 | Bangkok Post: news

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Pattaya high-speed link on track for 2018

The government is aiming to complete the country's first high-speed train between Bangkok and Pattaya by 2018.

Chula: Projects to cut 2 per cent from logistics bill

Three other lines linking the capital with Phitsanulok, Nakhon Ratchasima and Hua Hin are also scheduled to be completed the following year.

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  • Bobby Bottleservice

    Discussion 35 : 12 Mar 2013 at 18.5835

    @23

    you are absolutely wrong. E=mv^2 is kinetic energy which would stay constant during the trip. during the trip energy is conserved - think an object in motion stays in motion. the factors determine fuel consumption are propelling efficiency, aerodynamics, and mechanical friction. It will require 16 times the energy to get up to speed but this consumption is only initial and insignificant in comparison to a 3 hour voyage.
    from iPhone application.

  • peterl

    ThailandPost : 450

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    Discussion 34 : 12 Mar 2013 at 18.3234

    Abhisit should leave business decisions to those who understand business. He is calling for an extension of the proposed high speed railways to Nong Khai and Malaysia instead of just Nakhon Ratchasima and Hua Hin - almost certainly correct in terms of long-term strategic economic planning, while at the same time criticizing the proposed loan financing scheme for the project. The problem is his proposed alternative financing scheme is a million miles away from being realistic. His suggested method of countering corruption would almost certainly kill the goose that lays the golden egg.

  • ggh

    ThailandPost : 683

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    Discussion 33 : 12 Mar 2013 at 17.3733

    Many people have questions about the trains. The government has exteded the expo on mega projects at the government complex on Chiangwattan rd. for an extra 4 days. If you have the time, it would be very much worth a trip to see the expo. Many of the questions asked on this topic can be explained to you at the expo. Most displays are in Thai, but there are English speaking guides to answer questions and assist.

  • dude2

    ThailandPost : 34

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    Discussion 32 : 12 Mar 2013 at 17.3332

    There are a few trivial details missing.
    Bangkok: One main station for all routes or many stations? Where? Frequency of trains? Price of tickets to all main destiantions in Thailand?
    Pattaya: Where will the station be located and will it be connected to downtown with reliable and reasonable priced transportation? Frequency of trains? Price of tickets?
    Suvarnabhumi airport: A station for the high speed trains? Price and frequency to all main destinations in Thailand?

  • drsmith

    ThailandPost : 1,575

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    Discussion 31 : 12 Mar 2013 at 17.1531

    Take Walking Street away from Pattaya and Pattaya will have no tourists at all. Basically this train's function is to service all the tourists supporting prostitution on Walking Street. Pattaya Beaches are filthy and shameful. No one in their right mind, except maybe the Russians, would go near a beach this filthy. A billion dollar train to service Walking Street prostitution. Who exactly is this benefiting? Next you will have the airport taxi mafia blocking the airport as they lose all their overpriced fares to Pattaya from the airport. Another poorly planned idea from PT.

  • kasper

    ThailandPost : 602

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    Discussion 30 : 12 Mar 2013 at 16.4630

    @jose 72, d23

    I think you misunderstood the article. The article refers to the total fuel cost for the country. People who take the train, high or low speed, do not take a car, and as a car is afterall less fuel efficient than any train, fuel is saved.

  • kasper

    ThailandPost : 602

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    Discussion 29 : 12 Mar 2013 at 16.4129

    @bkposter, d15.

    Does it really matter who proposes or opposes the plan? The main issue is that this will inevitably be a financial disaster the like Thailand has never seen. And unlike the rice scam, once the train is built, it can't just be stopped.

    Would it not at least make sense if the PTP (or democrats), prior to borrowing trillions of baht, made a budget for both construction and operations, and made the budgets public, as well as asked some independent advisors to scrutinise it?

    A budget would make it clear to everyone (who can read a budget), that the project is simply not financially viable - not even close!

  • kasper

    ThailandPost : 602

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    Discussion 28 : 12 Mar 2013 at 16.3128

    @Spiceman, d14.

    I agree, and asked the same question a few days ago.

    High speed train tickets cost almost the same as plane tickets, if the train is to operate at a profit that is. In europe and Japan people get high salaries, so they can afford the fast but expensive train. In Thailand most people, especially in the provinces, get low salaries, so they will continue to use the bus, as that will be much cheaper than the train.

    Not only will Thailand lose a fortune on the construction, which "fortunately" is a one off expense, it will continue to lose a fortune each year on operation. However, by then PTP will have received their 30%

  • whatajoke

    ThailandPost : 1,757

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    Discussion 27 : 12 Mar 2013 at 15.5327

    The main impetus for upgrading the woeful present rail system should be logistics. Ever driven to Chiang Mai, the road near Kampeng phet is so deeply rutted from sheer weight of lorries its dangerous. Stop trying to please voters and just get on with the basics of infrastructure development as you're suppose to be doing as a govt.

  • oldexp

    ThailandPost : 422

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    Discussion 26 : 12 Mar 2013 at 12.3926

    First make clear from where to where a line goes, where to access it, what connections there are needed, (that there are connections), who rides it, how much the public can and will pay for a ride, what capacity is needed now and in 10 years, how to maintain the whole and more things like that.
    Taking Bangkok as example of planing ... let it be.

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