Highspeed Raillink to Cholburi and Hua Hin???

[The understudy]

Hi there to all my HHAD Friends and Fellas!

I would like you to read this small article and and answer my following question plus my personal skool of thoughts about this Allright?

OK lets get this post rolling!

Firms allowed to join five megaprojects

Five investment projects ranging from high-speed trains and mass transit to airport expansion will be implemented under public-private partnerships.

The Public Private Partnership Committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu made the decision yesterday.

The five projects are high-speed trains, a rail link from Thailand to the train network in southern China, three mass-transit projects, the second phase of Suvarnabhumi airport, and the motorway linking Bang Pa-in, Ayutthaya and Nakhon Ratchasima.

The government plans to promote public and private partnerships as an investment mode in its 1.5-trillion-baht second stimulus project to save the fiscal budget.

According to Mr Korbsak, the rail network to Kunming would help strengthen Thailand's logistic system from the North to the South and to other Asean countries.

For high-speed train projects, the partnerships would involve investment plans for the routes from Bangkok to Hua Hin and to Chon Buri which were already approved by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Mr Korbsak added that an appropriate high-speed train trip should take only 30-45 minutes.

Airlines would be better choice if the travel took more than one hour, he said.

According to Mr Korbsak, the joint investments would be also allowed for three mass-transit projects: the Purple Line running from Bang Yai to Bang Sue, Bangkok Mass Transit System Co's Green Line extension project, and the Red Line suburban route, which would run from Taling Chan to Rangsit via Bang Sue.

All details should be completed by a special task force in three months.

Now here's my Question: If there where a Highspeed Rail link connecting Bangkok with Hua Hin would you support it and would you hop on it?

Without furher addoThe uderstudy'Skool of thought!
Now my fellow Brothers'n Sisters I would lkie you to follow me here on a Trip fast forward a few years now and Imagne.
You love livin your Life by the Sea/Ocean but yet like to work in the big City like Bangkok. With the Highspeed Raillink commuting The Seaside Thai Riviera Hua Hin becomes possible. Imagine you drop off your Car @ the Hua Hin Train station 5 to 8am. 8am Tabs Train leaves for Bangers. 9am sharp your train arrives @ Hua Lampong from there then 10 to 15 Min. (dependin of traffic of course...) to Silom, Phaya Thai, Sukhomvit Rd. Ain't that bad right? fellas?

Mr Korbsak added that an appropriate high-speed train trip should take only 30-45 minutes.
Airlines would be better choice if the travel took more than one hour, he said.

Yo I ain't buyin that statement from my fellow Thai Brother though. Ailr Travel had not worked out for Hua Hin so far right? 2 Attemps had een made the last 9 years they both where discontinued do in part of competttion from Road Transportation Van Service...ect.

Now I wanna ask you my HHAD Brothers & Sisters, Friends & fellas and Chilloutlians outthrere to give in your Skool of thoughts should Hua Hin get A Highspeed Raillink!

Your's The understudy!!!

[Big Boy]

A silly question really.

Mr Korbsak added that an appropriate high-speed train trip should take only 30-45 minutes.

That's such an improvement on anything else, providing the price was right as well, I can't see why anybody would want to travel by any other means - unless of course they enjoy the 3 hour drive in absolutely chaotic conditions.

By the way - moved to 'On The Road'

[PeteC]

Thai parliamentary history is littered with the skeletons of grand plans such as this. If it should happen it will be sometime towards the end of my next lifetime.

Who does it benefit? The rich who want to get away for a weekend or commute to their BKK jobs, and tourists.

I think they could achieve almost the same thing by improving their existing track and rolling stock. High speed isn't a necessity, 100-120 kmh would do.

The money could be better spent in two ways. First, if Thailand is to remain centralized in Bangkok, improve rail transport for the hundreds of thousands of rural north and northeast people who have no choice but to come to Bangkok to make a livelihood. Second, use the money to decentralize Bangkok and create more economic zones up country to help those rural people.

People wonder why Thaksin is still popular? Pete

[Roel]

Could it not be that all these futuristic plans are launched just to get the brown envelops rolling in. Imagine all the companies and investors that immediately make a "donation for the promotional campaign" in case (you never know) these projects really materialize.

[hhfarang]

If there where a Highspeed Rail link connecting Bangkok with Hua Hin would you support it and would you hop on it?

As with anything else, it depends on the price. I can drive round trip for about 1200 baht worth of fuel and park directly in a hotel garage that is within walking distance of the BTS/MRT systems. So for a weekend holiday there, my transportation costs would total around 1500 baht with 150 per day for BTS/MRT rides (2 people). I can do this door to door (home to hotel) in less than 2 and a half hours these days with the new highway.

I would have to factor in the cost of the train (round trip for 2 people) plus the cost of getting to and from the station to a hotel near BTS/MRT (round trip, with bags would have to take a taxi) plus the cost to get to/from the station in Hua Hin. If that total cost was no more than 1500 (for 2), and the total (door to door) time was less than 2 and a half hours, then I would probably take the train if it was comfortable.

[johnnyk]

Simply not enough traffic to justify the vast capital cost.
The rolling stock is expensive and would have to be imported.
Thai trains also run on a non-standard track gauge.
High speed rail also needs state of the art roadbed, the current roadbed is a joke and could not carry anything over about 80kph.
New purpose-built roadbed is not cheap.
HSR works in Europe between major cities because its far more efficient under 600km than air or car for business travelers who are huge users of the systems.
How many biz travelers between BKK-HH?

[fft100]

Thailand uses Meter gauge (literally 1 meter wide), compared to standard gauge of 4 ft 8 and a bit used in Europe. Must be harder to get them to go faster (safely) when it is so narrow.

But, given that a fair bit of the route is single track, and to stop the neew track getting chewed up by freight, the only sensible thing would be to build a new 2 track specially for passenger trains using a wider gauge.

Dont think that stopping the route at Hua HIn would be a good idea though. Most traffic seems to either be coming from further south or heading further south.

45 mins *just* possible if they have dedicated track, train doesnt stop before HH and they buy German 300km ICE3's. Allowing for stops and a cheaper train, then 2 hours should be possible.

Good for use if they do it and it cant do any harm for house prices !

[The understudy]

Good evenning to Y'all HHAD Brothers & Sisters With Love'n affection for Hua Hin.

Yo Lets give a big hand to the first batch of respondence right there Ladies & Gentlelguys of HHAD outthere.

Yo Bro Pete I can feel ya man what you meant by "Skeletons of Grand Plans of DA Thai Parliarment" one example can be wittnessed even today It;s straight dead opposite of Don Muang Airport, "The Hopewell project."

Who stand tp benefit from this? It's not only the Rich who will profit but also the aspiring high middleclass who are haooy and willing to live in Hua Hin and work in bangkok or vice versa. Hua Hin could and it's scenic landscape could be inspriration for Design Studios world wide.

hhfarang my man your math makes completly scense to me there my rough estimate to make this trip feasable will probably cost around 1750 BHT. with all the what you mentiioned. What a Rdie you get would be German build ICE 3 bullet trains capable to make ito Hua Hin in 45 Min, to an Hour. That;s my wild guess of course I don;t really know how the prces woukd be.

Johnnyk . All points in your post Correct.
There's even a Joke of The Thai Railway!:
In which country can Jamaican Usain Bolt on initial sprint can easily hop on the fastest train when he runs as fast as he can? Thailand with it's SRT Maaan!!!

FFT100 you speak ot off my mind Bro! Another Dedicaded Passanger Track must be laid with a roadbed state of th art which ca hold the german ICE 3.
This HSR link to Hua Hin could be the initial stage it could be extended to Surat or Phuket if Future Thai Govt'have enough foresight. (Note to oneself: What Thai Govt, with any foreesight?! Ha Ha ha ha ha Tell me Homie what Cigarweed where you smokin?).

Please to the rest of y'all my Bro's and Sis's of HHAD leave ya comment on on Should a Highspeed Raillink connect BKK to Hua Hin!
Yo Sandman67 I'm in need of your analytical Assesment yo. elem & the revered MargaretCarnes we need an answer with a Womans touch regarless if "Yeyh" or "Ney" I'll take any answer!

Your's The undertudy!!!

[PeteC]

Yes US, however to about 70% of the population those making over 30,000 Baht per month are high class regardless if hi-so, upper MC or just plain MC. This plan has little or no benefit for those 70%.

Here's the way I see it, and it's historic. Those in power always seem to make plans based upon how they think Thailand should be seen in the eyes of the rest of the world.

"The rest of the world" means those countries more advanced than Thailand. Now it also means Thailand's neighbors who have devoured Thailand's huge lead in this regional community, and are close to overtaking.

The big wigs see it as a 'face' thing, or something good to talk about at cocktail parties and inter-government meetings such as ASEAN.

They seldom look inward to see what the majority of people really need.

Thaksin did regardless if a scam, sham and self serving. The common folk now love him for the attention and effort, even if short lived, they still seem devoted and loyal and pray for his return.

So what happens now? Instead of sweeping plans to use self generated and borrowed money to improve the lives of the 70%, they appear to favour this train plan. BKK to China is good, rapid transit expansion is good. A high speed link to HH and Pattaya is folly.

Unfortunately this PM may still be lost in the halls of Oxford and has forgotten the roots of the majority of people he's governing.

[charlesh]

Maybe they could use Thaksins' tax arrears to pay for it???

[Khundon1975]

It will never happen.

[Spitfire]

I think KD1975 is verging on the reality, which is, 'everyone's kidding themselves' along with Pete saying that it's just something to talk about at cocktail parties and gain short-time face.

To get this done would require divine intervention, when was the last major train tracks laid? And even if they did somehow pull it off then it would cost 3-4 times what it should because of corruption and every little local governor + his mates/stooges would have to have their slice as well because the proposed track would go through "their" turf. We all know that for every kilometer of road made/resurfaced actually costs about a million baht or so, give or take a little, but in reality cost twice as much because everyone in officialdom wants their hand in the cookie jar called 'cash from central government'.

If they really wanted to make a meaningful/effective/transforming train track to benefit the most people possible then a train track from Chiang Mai to Ubon Thani would be the best as it would help the most and save people from having to go to Bangkok before heading north.

However, that's a long way, and might be verging on making too much sense.

[STEVE G]

In my opinion it would cost too much to be any use.
The people with that sort of money would rather spend two hours driving down so they can be seen in their expensive cars.
What would make sense would be to forget about a high speed link and just build a decent normal service to the south suitable for everyone to use and for freight as well.
The present line hasn't changed much since it was finished in about 1911 so it could do with an upgrade.

[Khundon1975]

Spitfire

You are spot on.

In 2000/2001 there was talk of a new Raised highway south to Hua Hin and beyond. A fair bit of money went on feasibility studies etc. Nothing ever came of it, but many got rich on the study costs.

When the fish restaurants on stilts that were built illegally in HH are torn down (they have been promising that for thirty years) then maybe I will believe these grandiose schemes.


They can't even sort out dysfunction junction, let alone build a new high speed link.

Keep you cars guys, at least those run on time and are door to door.

Very few rich Thais will ride the train and it can't cannot survive on the few foreigners that use it, or the cheap fares that most poor Thais can afford.
:cheers

[hhfarang]

In 2000/2001 there was talk of a new Raised highway south to Hua Hin and beyond.

Hey now that's an idea... not a raised highway but a raised rail link... just extend the BTS to a Hua Hin stop using a high speed monorail train!