Japan wants train pact details
Thailand and Japan are working out details of the railway developments they will undertake together ahead of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s visit to Japan next month.
Transport permanent secretary Soithip Traisut said representatives of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism led by its deputy permanent secretary travelled to meet their Thai counterparts in Bangkok yesterday.
The Japanese team asked for the details of Thailand’s eight-year infrastructure development plan to present to their government, said Ms Soithip.
Ms Soithip said Japan has expressed an interest in investing in various projects in Thailand, including the 1.435m-wide standard gauge, double-track railway, electric trains in urban areas and in Bangkok, and 1m-wide gauge double track development.
The Japanese team plans to return to Thailand again by the end of the month to present its proposal, which will be raised in talks between Gen Prayut and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Feb 8-10.
Thailand is prepared to offer Japan three options for investment in double track railways here.
During the discussion yesterday, Ms Soithip said the Transport Ministry asked Japan, part of the the joint venture between Marubeni and Toshiba supplying electrical systems for the Purple Line, to speed up the process of shipping electric train carriages to Thailand to meet a deadline to start operation by September.
Japan proposed supplying information technology for freight on electric trains. It also proposed a new type of container, which the delegates said would help save time and cost of goods transport.
The State Railway of Thailand expressed interest in the proposed Japanese system, and the two sides have agreed to form a committee to study the scheme.
Ms Soithip said the ministry is considering setting aside money in its next annual budget for a feasibility study on the construction of 1.435m double-track railways in Thailand.
Thailand has agreed to allow China and Japan to invest in double-track railways in the country.
Thailand and China have signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of a Nong Khai-Map Ta Phut railway route.
The route offered to Japan is expected to be spelt out clearly during Gen Prayut’s Japan visit. Another option includes a 653km Bangkok-Chiang Mai route.