New locos needed!

[Yappofloyd]

Barter deal with China shot down (Bangkok Post, 02/03/05, p1)

Longan-for-engines plan lacks support

PRADIT RUANGDIT & CHEEWIN SATTHA

Cabinet derailed a longan-for-locomotives deal with China yesterday after several ministers suggested Commerce Minister Watana Muangsook might be putting Thailand at a disadvantage by accepting longan buying prices that were too low.

Mr Watana yesterday asked cabinet to decide whether to go ahead with a barter deal in which 56,794 tonnes of dried longan worth 1.6 billion baht would be traded for seven diesel locomotives from China for the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).

After seven rounds of negotiation, Wasuthorn Thurakij, who represented China, agreed to buy 22,309 tonnes of grade AA dried longan for 41.50 baht per kilogramme and 34,484 tonnes of grade A longan for 20 baht a kilo, Mr Watana said.

A cabinet source said several cabinet members, including Deputy Prime Minister Phinij Jarusombat, Agriculture Minister Wan Muhamad Nor Matha and Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchob, argued that the offered prices were below the median prices set by the Farmer Assistance Policy Committee at 46.50-49.50 baht/kg for grade AA longan, and at 27.50-30 baht/kg for grade A longan.

Mr Watana then explained that the median prices were set by Mr Phinij on Jan 13, which was before the Chinese New Year, but his latest negotiations took place after that period when the prices had already come down. His defence, however, seemed to fall on deaf ears.

The source said Mr Newin then called to check the median price of fresh longan in Chiang Mai and was told a kilo could now fetch 50 baht.

''The meeting then agreed that the Commerce Ministry's prices were too low, and if the deal was signed questions about its transparency could be raised,'' said the source.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra then resolved to put off the barter and said the SRT may choose to buy the locomotives with its own budget.

Mr Thaksin also asked the Defence Ministry to dust off its longan-for-weapons proposal, list the items it wanted and see if it could agree a deal with China based on the price of fresh longan at the time of the negotiations, the source said.

Mr Watana said the Defence Ministry had once asked the Agriculture Ministry to trade 90,000 tonnes of longan for China's weapons but negotiations failed after 50,000 tonnes of the fruit disappeared.

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit later proposed the longan be traded for Chinese locomotives. Cabinet agreed to that and put the Commerce Ministry in charge, Mr Watana said.

Government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair said the prime minister wanted irregularities in the longan trade ended once and for all but details on how to achieve that had yet to be discussed.

Deputy Commerce Minister Anuthin Charnveerakul said Mr Thaksin told cabinet that longan products could also be sold for cash when prices were good and the money obtained could then be used to buy anything.

''The prime minister said we did not have to commit ourself to bartering longan for other products,'' Mr Anuthin said.

Meanwhile, growers in Chiang Mai called on the government to start buying fresh longan from all northern provinces from today onwards as China had stopped buying longan products from Thailand after finding some shipments had been contaminated by methamidophos, a highly toxic chemical.

Srithep Jaitha, president of the Thai Longan Growers Association, said the suspension order was affecting Thai longan exports to China, which usually amounted to about 400,000kg a day.

Mr Srithep also said that if the government did not want to help buy up longan products, it should at least keep its pledge to spend 400 million baht to shore up longan prices.

Mr Suwat and Chiang Mai MP Surapol Kiatchaiyakorn later told the growers that they had talked to the ministers in charge who said the prime minister would appoint a minister to deal specifically with longan price problems after a new cabinet was formed.

Mr Phinij reportedly suggested the dissolution of the Marketing Organisation for Farmers, the Public Warehouse Organisation, the Rice Policy Committee and the Farmer Assistance Policy Committee, saying they had failed to help farmers when crop prices plunged.

He wanted ''Mr Longan'' and ''Mr Rice'' _ specialists who could take care of problems affecting the crops _ appointed as soon as possible

[Yappofloyd]

^Sorry I know it is not 'done' to post articles wholesale on this forum but this one is a dozzie!

Firstly, although I like the idea of bartering as a form of goods exchange, and avoiding taxes and charges etc, it seems very strange for gun-ho capitalists like Taksin Inc and CCP to be bartering products (although there have been other potential bartering deals, eg. chickens for Airbus, fruit for weapons etc).

Secondly, bartering is a great way to 'avoid the books' and make a nice little 'under the table' slush fund for your next euro trip/re-election campaign. It seems that cabinet actually had concerns in this respect (or maybe they were upset they were not cut in on the deal?).

Thirdly, and perhaps it is mis-reported but relying on the purported facts, there's some pretty dodgy stuff going on here with these longans. The previous deal with Chinese failed, "after 50,000 tonnes of the fruit disappeared."
And then we are told that, from today onwards as China had stopped buying longan products from Thailand after finding some shipments had been contaminated by methamidophos, a highly toxic chemical (I googled 'methamidophos' but nothing came up so it must be highly toxic!)

So perhaps, the missing 50K of logans were dusted with a new biological agent by the thai military who mis-interpreted the longans for weapons deal. Maybe, they then realised their mistake and gave the 50k of logans back to the longans exporters who prompty exported it anyway in the hope no one would find out? :rolleyes:

Whatever, is going on with this type of bartering it all seems a bit dis-organised and not very well thought out in terms of providing long-term assistance to depressed agricultural industries. Perhaps these bartering deals are to avoid anti-dumping breaches uder the WTO rules?

It also doesn't seem as though it is helping to provide new stock, (well assuming the Chinese locos were new), for the SRT!

[ncr]

Nice find, Yappofloid!

Mr Thaksin also asked the Defence Ministry to dust off its longan-for-weapons proposal, list the items it wanted and see if it could agree a deal with China based on the price of fresh longan at the time of the negotiations, the source said.

Mr Watana said the Defence Ministry had once asked the Agriculture Ministry to trade 90,000 tonnes of longan for China's weapons but negotiations failed after 50,000 tonnes of the fruit disappeared.

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit later proposed the longan be traded for Chinese locomotives. Cabinet agreed to that and put the Commerce Ministry in charge, Mr Watana said.Tell me, is it April Fools' Day? Reads like a comedy. Banana Republic, err, Kingdom Thailand?

[Wisarut]

Now, the deal for exchanging longan with Chinese loco is COLLAPSED! SRT has to pay in cash to the Chinese loco producers FIRST

[Yappofloyd]

^ well cash is the usual form of currency for a product rather than fruit...

The Longan corruption scandal seems fairly widespread and endemic so it is probably good fro SRT to keep well clear given their own corruption problems (ie. double-tracking, land leases etc).

A Bangkok Post article dated 26 Dec 2004 quoted from a sub-committee report of the Senate Committee on Economics, Commerce and Industry (CECI).

The Post details the report released in Nov 2004 & titled, Study on the Implementation of the Longan Marketing Assistance Measure B.E. 2547 (2004) which investigated the use of 4.3 billion baht of state assistence to the longan industry. Over-production (570,000 tons 2004 from 360,000 tons in 2003) has been used as a way of milking state funds. A co-ordinated plan by farmers, state officials and businessmen colluded to "...influence the projected national longan yield estimates upward. They then milked the state-funded price support programme by receiving payment for non-existent fruit". "...some dishonest farmers colluded with state officials and company rep.s to buy and process imaginary longan. Then old stocks of dried longan were recycled and passed off as newly dried product" (Bangkok Post,26/12/04).

The article finishes by mentioning that PM Taksin had asked the police to investigate the pricing scheme for the last 3 years.

Almost daily since the Longans for Loco article there has been follow-up articles on the ongoing investigation.

Accused senior official makes plea for justice (Bangkok Post, 5 March 2005)
A senior agriculture official accused of negligence in the government's longan subsidy scheme, causing damage worth more than a billion baht, pleaded for justice yesterday. (Note: full article not posted)

Police also suspect tie to 5 firms, politicians (Bangkok Post, 6 March 2005)
By Subin Pinkaew

At least 10 more officials at the ministry and local levels and five companies are suspected of being involved in the scandal in the government's longan subsidy programme that cost the state more than one billion baht in damages, police said yesterday.

Pol Gen Seriphisut Temiyavet, head of the police investigation into the scandal, said more than 20,000 longan growers have been interrogated. He expected police would have to take at least six more months to interrogate 30,000 more growers in an attempt to establish a possible link to politicians and local mafia.

So far, he said, police have not found any evidence to suggest that drug money had been laundered in the subsidy programme as some had suspected. But Pol Gen Seriphisut said he believed that the scandal must have started at the policy level which would have implicated politicians.

The government had allocated four billion baht for the subsidy programme to buy fresh longan from growers to be processed into dried longan. About 300,000 tonnes of fresh longan were to be processed into 90,000 tonnes of dried fruit. It was found later that 50,000 tonnes went missing which derailed the Defence Ministry plan to barter-trade with China for its weapons. (my emphasis)

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra expressed disappointment with the programme gone awry. He said it was ''painful'' for him because it happened in the North which was his home region.
(End)

The police seem to have made great progress in the investigation in a relatively short time of a few months esp. when they have alleged that, "...more than 20,000 longan growers have been interrogated". I honestly don't know how any police force in the world which could interview so many people in such a short time, (well perhaps the chinese), let alone the thai police but perhaps those 'interrogations' are very expeditious!
eg.
Q: Did you as a grower knowingly engage in any corrption or collusion with any state official or any longan trader in order to defraud the Kingdom of Thailand?
A: How much do you want me to donate to your stations tea fund?

Hopefully, some state officials, politicians and business people are prosecuted and convicted but one would assume no TRT politicians will. Past practice suggests only a few scape goats will be made and the remaining state officials will be moved to an 'inactive post'.

Disclaimer: I am sure that the over whelming majority of longan growers are honest, hard working farmers and no inference to the contrary should be drawn by any of the above.

[Yappofloyd]

600 people charged thus far.....pity about the chinese locos.

Longan scam action must wait for NCCC
Ousted commission in charge of probe
PIYAPORN WONGRUANG (BKK Post 22/06)

The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has decided to delay disciplinary action against 11 senior officials implicated in the longan subsidy programme scandal, pending an investigation by the now-crippled National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC)

The officials, including a deputy permanent secretary, were among the first people officially accused of participating in the scam which is believed to be the largest-ever corruption scandal involving a state programme. About 600 people have so far been charged.

Charal Trinvuthipong, assistant to the agriculture minister, said police filed charges against the officials and turned the matter over to the NCCC.

He said if the NCCC finds the charges have merit, it can suggest the ministry take further action.

Therefore, he said, the ministry had to wait until the commission concluded the case for it.

''The ministry's disciplinary panel would be insignificant as it cannot pinpoint wrongdoing,'' said Dr Charal. ''We have to wait for the commission's findings because we have to be fair to those charged.''

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan last week received a report from Pol Gen Sereepisut Temeeyaves, who heads the investigative team, accusing some of her officials of committing malfeasance.

The ministry, under former agriculture minister Somsak Thepsuthin, last year launched the longan subsidy programme to prevent a repeat of corruption in earlier schemes.

The ministry told the Market Organisation for Farmers (MOF) to buy 300,000 tonnes of fresh longan for processing into about 90,000 tonnes of dried fruit.

But about 50,000 tonnes of the dried fruit, worth about two billion baht, were later found to be missing.

The NCCC, however is now out of action. Its members resigned after the Supreme Court found them guilty of malfeasance for giving themselves a pay rise.

The government and parliament are now in the process of amending the constitution to effect the selection of the new commissioners.

Udom Rathamarit, associate professor of Thammasart University's Law Faculty, argued that the ministry had the authority to conduct the probe even while the case was pending at the NCCC.

He said the officials could bring the case to court later on if they later found the ministry's conclusions contradicted the NCCC's.

Pol Gen Sereepisut also said the ministry could launch a probe.

However, he said the suspension of the disciplinary action would not affect his team's investigation which could dig up more evidence.

''We have many issues to look for, and we will keep looking into them,'' said Pol Gen Sereepisut.

[ncr]

And now it's "Chicken for Subway Trains" or something similar:

Premier Thaksin asking for barter on imported subway rolling stock
- translated and summarized by Wisarut Bholsithi from Bangkok Biznews, June 15, 2005

(As featured on the 2B main page.)

[Wisarut]

Now, Khun Sudarat is resuming the Longan for Chinese Locos ... with the Government to Government Control of Teransaction and 100 million Baht Deposit.

Khun Sudarat also orders the destruction of dried Longan of year 2002 to make apile of manure and prevent the fraud.

However, the way to bailout Lngan growers also creates ANGER from
Tambon Adminstration Offices since they have to buy at least 10 kg of Longan at 20 baht/kg instead of 12 Baht/kg (the market price) ... and
those longan usually come up as "Rotten Longan" due to the mishandling
and poor packaging, if NOT outright fraud. :mad:

[Yappofloyd]

Not sure what happened with the longans for locos barter but it sure seems to be govt policy to be trading farm based good for high tech imports. Lucky they did not chose turkeys as the fighters may turn out to be just that!

CPF backs chicken for fighter jets Plans to barter with Thai farm products
WALAILAK KEERATIPIPATPONG & PHUSADEE ARUNMAS (Bkk Post 24/12/05)

Leading chicken producers and exporters have thrown their full support behind a government proposal to exchange chicken for Russian Su-30 fighter jets.''This barter trade is a good concept to push our farm exports,'' said Adirek Sripratak, the president and CEO of Charoen Pokphand Foods Plc (CPF).
''It is not necessary to trade the jets only with chicken. Other farm products; rice, rubber and shrimp should be considered.''

According to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the government is still shopping around different countries for new fighter jets. Although it is considering trading farm products, chicken is preferred for the Russian Su-30 jets. The cost to buy the 12-strong fleet of jets is reported to be about 35 billion baht, approximately the same value of Thai chicken exports in one year.
But critics doubt that a deal would benefit all chicken companies, not just the big firms that can provide large supplies.

Mr Adirek dismissed a report that the CP Group, the country's largest agribusiness conglomerate, would benefit directly. Any shipments would be managed by the Thai Broiler Processing Exporters Association.''There's no need to just take CPF chicken. The government might pick meat from other companies to trade,'' he said. Russia annually imports about two million tonnes of chicken meat. Some 80% comes from the United States but none from Thailand. Russia also imports 500,000 tonnes of pork. Mr Adirek said the deal would help Thailand penetrate the Russian market. ''[The lack of chicken imported by Russia] is not because Thai chicken does not meet its hygiene standards, as Russia has not sent a team to inspect Thai poultry production plants yet,'' he said.

(Note: full article not posted)

[Wisarut]

1) Chiang Rai Chamber of Comemrce said they are VERY upset that the government have NOT started Denchai - Chiang Rai railway project even though they start cclearign the exappropirated way. Eve nthat, the governemtn still BOAST aroudn about the new Bridge across mekhong at Chiang Khong and the new railway from Chiang Rai to Chiang Saen whcih is totally a BIG LIE.

2) During the cabinate sicussion abtou Pak Bara Project, the cbinate has GLEEFULLY approve 4 Billion Baht for 4-lane highway while SUSPENDING the railway project for Pak Bara Port.

This is CLEAR sign of HYPOCRICY sicne ANY world class port Need Railway Links and the 4-Lane highway is DEFINITE for pleasign the cronies such as Ai Phoomtham Wetchayachai (the former member of CPT whis is now runnign truck business and the one who KILLED ETO for good.) , AI Suriya (wo run Summit Auto part), Ai Snoh (who run Sor Thiangthogn truck business), contractors (who love the road project so they can suck more and more moeny from both contruction and the maintianance), and above of all -> the LEADER who have sold Shin Corp to SIngTel at 68 billion Baht so he can invest on Energy business. To Prosper form Energy Business, he have to force MORE energy consumption by supporign more sell of automobiles and truicks and expanding higheway at the expense of Raiwlays .... A Sure sign of CORRUPTIOn in POLICY. They would NOT build the new lien unless they have the share on the construction budget or even the business within railway ...


Furthermore, Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Finance have forced SRT to extract the revenue from leasing spacve in Lad Krabang ICD (from 1200 Baht/month/TEU to 1700 Baht/Month/TEU or 2400 Baht/Month/FEU to 3400 Baht/Month/FEU) and Chatuchak weekend market ot UNACCEPTABLE level is a sure sign that the government have chosen very INCOMPETENT merechant to run SRT Board who who know ONLY how to MAXIMIZE the Revenue, NOT the OPTIMIZE the revenue rasing in the way that everybody can accept.

If the settlement on the new leasign rate at ICD is NOT settled the companies like Evergreen from Taiwan wold mvoe theri ICD station to Laem Chabangor Klogn Toei - incrasign mroe traffi jam due to the space constrain in both ports.

[Wisarut]

Boycott all Products from Ai Leader and Cronies isthe first response for thsoe SOBs ... and many have already Boycotting AIS, Air Asia, NesCafe, 7-11, UBC, ITV, Capital OK, etc etc ....

The continuing Southern Insurgency alsohave spark anotehr wave of Boycotting Petronas, JRD Motorcycle, confectionaries from Padang besar .... etc etc ...

[Wisarut]

Now, even railwaymen have prayed Kign Chuallongkorn, King Vajiravut, and Prince Prajat to inflict Divine Punishment and Royal Pubnishme4nt on TRT members including the immediate families ... if they have not asked the shamans to strike black magic alogn the curses to thsoe SOBs ...

Manyprefer to perform black magic on theri own bny starving themselves and meditate to shoot the Wrath and Curses on those politicians and intermediate families ...

[Wisarut]

Now the latest newson Longan for Chinese Locos is here:

SRT Askign for More Credit Lines for New Chiense Locos and BCFs.
Dailynews - Feb 7, 2006

Durign the Mobile Cabinate Meeting at Chaing MaiNight Safari, represetnatived from SRT has asked the cabinate to expand the credit line for the purchase of Chinese Locos and Chinese BCFs in the followign manner due to the cost overrun by Delays and the extra Air brakes on BCFs:

1) the first 7 Locos from CNR (China Northern Locomotive and Stock Industry Group Corporation) along with Locomotive spare parts and the first 112 BCFs -> from 0.903 billion baht to 1.031 Billion Baht.

2) the second 13 Locos from CNR (China Northern Locomotive and Stock Industry Group Corporation) along with Locomotive spare parts and the second 284 BCFs from 1.863 billion baht to 2.100 billion Baht

3) Change the specifications of Barter Trade with China form just dried Longan to other agriculture proiductrs (e.g. rice, Para rubber, and palm oil) as requested by Chinese Government.

This due to the fact that CNR refused to sign the first barter trade Deals. The cost overrrun by the rising production cost due to the 2005 Oil Shock and delaying on dried Longan purchasing andthe change for Specifications of Air Brakes of BCFs from just 1 Air Brake to 2 Air brakes (just like KTMB BCFs) for each BCF are the main resonsbehidn the credit line expansion to cover the cost overrun.

[Wisarut]

Now, ther is a new scheme -> Topiaca for Loco ... after the old scheme of Longan for Loco FAILED due to the delivery problems ->, Chana want AA TYype of longan while Thailand have LOTS of A Type Longan, with very little Type AA Longan!

After the barter trade deal of Longan for Chinese loco COLLAPSED, Minister of Commerce said they have an alternative which please CHinese government:

Topiaca for Chiense Loco

Initially, they have considred Para rubber for Loco ... However, Demands for para rubber grow so high that Thailand cannot supply to China.
Therfore, the alternative is Yopiaca whcih Chinese governemnt Demands a lot! If Thailand run out of Topiaca, RIce for Loco is the next on the line.

[GWR]

These deals seem to be pretty much indications of the failure of the Government's economic planning. It seems they only have two tricks up their long-sleeves:-

1) To encourage economically-challenged farmers to grow new crops.

2) When too many people jump on the bandwagon, they use the surpluses to bargain for things that cannot be bought out of state coffers, because of tax shortfalls and ridiculous spending elsewhere. This nearly always leaves the people who actually labored to grow the stuff out of pocket.

[Wisarut]

I think MOC has to find topiaca along with rice to reach at least 1.031 Billion Baht for 7 Chinese locos from (China Northern Locomotive and Stock Industry Group Corporation) along with Locomotive spare parts and the first 112 BCFs with double air brake

Furtheremore, MOC has to allcate para rubber along with topiaca and rice at least 2.100 billion Baht for the second 13 Locos from CNR (China Northern Locomotive and Stock Industry Group Corporation) along with Locomotive spare parts and the second 284 BCFs with double air brake -> in Year 2007

[Wisarut]

Well, Chiense governemnt is going to sign thebarter trade deal -> Longan of AA Type/Para rubber for 20 Chinese locos .... in the upcoming May 2006 :D

[Yappofloyd]

Wow! So the Longans for locos barter is actually going to happen (along with some rubber). Unbelievable that these sort of hair-brained deals actually get a run.

However, it may be a good time to swap all those newly elected excess TRT pollies for a mass-transit system!

[Wisarut]

KHun Yappofloyd,

You are right after all .... MOAC is LYING the public about barter trade ...

Sino Combo is supposed to purchase Longan at the followign prices: 56 Baht/kg for AA Type 39 Baht/kg for A Type and 26 Baht/Kg for B Type. They just purchase at 28 Baht/kg to sell aroudn the country instead of exportation ... Thye used the recommendation letter from Sitha Thiwaree as the collateral ....

Even worse ... The Cooperatives have to purchase fresh longan at hte followign priceswhcih cause BIG LOSS of 450 million Baht

Cooperative prices
AA Type 12 Baht/kg
A Type 7 Baht/kg
B Type 4 Baht/kg

Market prices by middlemen
AA Type 9 Baht/kg
A Type 5 Baht/kg
B Type 2 Baht/kg

This is a collusion between Organized CRIMES and Politicians for this fraud

Look at this and you'll see::(


http://www.manager.co.th/Daily/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000053761
http://www.manager.co.th/Daily/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000054424

[Wisarut]

After the failture to make a barter trade of longan with Chinese loco, the governemtn has come up with an alternative: Rice for Loco

Well, Rice for Loco is not a new thing ... We have done this before from 1946 to 1955 ... to get 500 Japanese Cover Good wagons along with other railway Equipments from Japan ....

Rice Barter Trade for Chiense Locos
Bangkok Biznews - August 22, 2006

The cabinate has approved rice as an alternative to dried longan for barter trade with China with total trade of 1.247 billion Baht -> 7 New Locos and 112 BCFs from CNR with a price tag of 1.031 billion Baht and loco spare parts with a price tag of 0.216 billion Baht.

This change is due to the act that Chinese govenremtn is ASKING for rice.

Chinese Northern Locomotive & Rolling Stock Industry (Group) Corporation [CNR] will supply Locos, BCFs and spare parts to SRT ... 15 days after official contracts have been signed by both parties ...

The payment for rice will be paid by CNR to Escrow Account of EXIM B of Thailand to get the rice stored in Governemnt Warehouse (Ministry of Commerce) for 15 months .... SRT would get the money from EXIM Bank to pay Governemnt Warehouse to get the rice to be exported to China ...

[ncr]

7 New Locos and 112 BCFs from CNR with a price tag of 1.031 billion BahtWe still haven't established what "BCFs" are....... I know that you refer to some sort of flat goods wagon, but what does the acronym stand for??? Cannot find the answer here (http://www.acronymfinder.com/af-query.asp?Acronym=bcf&Find=find&string=exact) or here (http://www.acronymattic.com/results.aspx?q=BCF) (and those sites are quite comprehensive and useful - bookmark acronymfinder, or better still, add it to your Firefox search engines).

Railway experts to the front!

[Wisarut]

BCF is shortened from Bogie Container Flat Wagon
REF: http://www.railway.co.th/ticket/CargoBogie.asp

[Yappofloyd]

Wow! So the Longans for locos barter is actually going to happen (along with some rubber). Unbelievable that these sort of hair-brained deals actually get a run.

However, it may be a good time to swap all those newly elected excess TRT pollies for a mass-transit system!

I'd like to reinvoke this suggestion....if you believe all the talk around town that Taksin has packed up his house and sent everthing to London, along with the 12 maids, then perhaps it is an appropiate time to barter the Taksin Clan for some decent rolling stock!

[ncr]

I'd like to reinvoke this suggestion....if you believe all the talk around town that Taksin has packed up his house and sent everthing to London, along with the 12 maids, then perhaps it is an appropiate time to barter the Taksin Clan for some decent rolling stock!Nice idea.... but who would trade in a bunch of corrupt politicians for something valuable? :eek:

[Yappofloyd]

I think that the barter value of Taksin and co has just substanitially decreased.....

[GWR]

It appears that barters are now officially old hat: -

Barter trade likely to be axed

The Commerce Ministry will forward to the Cabinet within two weeks a proposal to forget about barter trade after finding that the initiative of the previous government has not proved of much use to the country.

Skol Harnsuthivarin, secretary to Commerce Minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet, said last week that the ministry had concluded its study on barter trade.

Krirk-krai has suggested that a barter-trade agreement is difficult to manage.

The government wants to find suitable ways of handling these special government-to-government contracts.

Barter trade as a vehicle to pay for imports was touted by the deposed government as opening overseas markets for the country's farm products, saving on foreign exchange and easing trade deficits.

"The ministry found that some ambiguous transactions could easily occur during barter trading," Skol said.

However, the government will retain the authority to conduct barter trade by considering if a particular pact will really benefit the Kingdom, Skol said.

Thailand will honour the agreement if it signs a deal with a partner country, he said.

A Foreign Trade Department source said the ministry had not yet entered into a barter-trade commitment with negotiating countries.

Three barter-trade pacts are now under negotiation.

A Bt15-billion project for China to construct the country's largest tobacco-processing plant in Chiang Mai for the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly will be paid in full with Thai rice.

The State Railway of Thailand wants to exchange Thai rice worth Bt700 million from government stockpiles for seven diesel locomotives from China.

The Army wants artillery worth Bt800 million from France for Thai rice.

The source said the negotiations would be off if the Cabinet decided to cancel barter trade.

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/11/20/business/business_30019423.php

[Maptaphut]

I am new on this forum, and I have a question: somebody speaked to me about new Chinese locos for SRT. Anybody know about that? The situation
for SRT lookes very critical, not only on diesellocos, but DMUs and rolling stock in general. Perhaps the new leadership in Thailand is more railwayfriendly as the Taksin-regime seemed to be.....

[Wisarut]

7 Locos will come from CNR of mainland China according to the contract ....

Thuis must be modeled from Doi Moi Loco (Chinese Locos for Vietnam Railways) ... not that Blue Dragon (29 Class) for KTMB due to the demands from SRT to have axle load NOT more than 15 ton - limiting the weight of loco to 90 ton max ....

The Blue Dragon Loco (CKD8E - 29 Class for KTMB) - axle load of 20 ton

http://www.ktmrailwayfan.com/pics/data/media/380/29102.JPG

Doi Moi Loco (CKD7F - for Vietnam railways) - axle load of 13 ton (total weight of 78 ton)

http://www.zyloco.com/english/images/CKD7F.jpg

[GWR]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/170408_new03.gif

In the UK now there are companies like 'English Welsh & Scottish Railways' (EWS) who specialise in hiring out new and completely overhauled locos to whoever happens to need them - sometimes at very short notice. Not to mention quarry companies like Foster Yeomans who have bought their own fleets of heavy-haul locos. I would definitely say that this is the way to go if it weren't for the horrible fact that someone has probably been prodded financially into getting this into the open so that one of the Sh*n*w*tr*s or D*m*p*ngs can make a monopolistic killing out of sucking SRT dry.

TROUBLED TRAINS

Ageing trains contribute to poor service

SRT unable to meet increasing demand

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/170408_new02.gif
[Graphics: Bangkok Post]

Old worn-out trains and locomotives are contributing to poor train services, says Siripong Pruetiphan, railway traffic manager of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).

The SRT was not able to meet increasing passenger and business demand for services as many wheels, carriages and locomotives had been in heavy use for more than 20 years.

In some cases, spare parts to replace old ones had gone out of production.

Past governments had failed to allocate enough money to buy new trains and equipment, or maintain existing ones, said Mr Siripong.

A report released on March 31 showed the railways have 1,352 locomotive-pulled passenger trains and diesel-powered trains. Of these, 532 were old and damaged and were being repaired.

Mr Siripong said demand for passenger trains and freight train services had risen by more than 82%, but the SRT could not keep up due to a shortage of locomotives and train carriages.

The SRT could provide only 79% of demand for freight train services, 70% of locomotive-pulled and diesel-powered train services, and 61% of air-conditioned train services.

The SRT had 212 locomotives. Of these, only 130 to 140 were in service at any one time.

Mr Siripong said 10 to 15% of each train type must be kept in reserve. But many trains damaged in accidents were under repair, forcing the SRT to cut the number of daily services it offered.

Because of train shortages, trains which had reached the final destination on one route often had to start services on other routes without a break, he said. This affected train maintenance schedules.

He said some trains were worn-out and took a long time to repair.

Some damaged engines were old and spare parts hard to find.

Mr Siripong said demand for freight trains for carrying goods and petroleum had risen dramatically, but the SRT did not have enough locomotives and wheeled containers for carrying goods.

He said buying new trains took a long time and private companies often failed to deliver spare parts on time. Spare parts of some old train models had also gone out of production.

Some producers of spare parts would only resume production if the SRT agreed to buy them in large numbers.

Mr Siripong said better upkeep of rail lines and replacement of worn-out sleepers would boost efficiency. In 2006-2007, 24% of tracks across the country were in excellent condition, 38.6% in good condition, and 28.5% in moderately good condition.

Arak Ratboriharn, chief of the SRT's treasury division, said it had lost about 200 to 300 million baht in potential revenue from being unable to meet rising demand for freight services.

Link may expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/17Apr2008_news03.php

[GWR]

Does The Nation's Watcharapong Thongrung reallly believe that 20 locos and a few new carriages will be enough for the sort of doubletracking mega-contract feeding frenzy the ever-greedy Samak & his merry men have in mind!?

What sort of locos can we expect Khun Wiz? Chinese bog-standards or cutting-edge computer-assisted jobs from Europe or North America or Japan that the engineers will have difficulty coming to terms with?:

SRT approves double-track rolling stock
Published on April 23, 2008

The State Railway of Thailand's board yesterday approved the Bt4-billion purchase of rolling stock for the double-track project.

A budget of Bt3.3 billion has been set for 20 locomotives and Bt770 million for 308 carriages, with financing by SRT loans or supplier credit.

The procurement will be made through international bidding for transparency, said Suchatchavee Suwansawas, SRT director and spokesman. The state enterprise is beleaguered by various problems that have impaired its efficiency, including the lack of a leader for two years, an SRT source said.

Without a governor, the SRT has difficulty reimbursing budgets and launching projects.

Transport Ministry permanent secretary Chaisawasd Kittipornpaiboon is now resolving the conflict between Yuthana Thapcharoen and Bancha Kongnakorn, who were nominated to the governor's post by two separate committees.

The SRT board expects to consider the issue on May 6, when one of the candidates is expected to back down, Suchatchavee said.

Chief financial officer Arak Ratboriharn said that due to higher fuel prices, last year the SRT's operating costs went up about Bt500 million. And its losses should rise further this year as fares are frozen. The SRT lost Bt6.57 billion in 2006 and more than Bt10 billion in the following years, a Finance Ministry source said.

The poor performance could be blamed on its debt load of Bt51 billion and unpaid pensions of Bt160 billion, the source said.

The SRT, with 18,000 employees, must be reorganised to shed many redundant titles particularly in the central administrative departments for better productivity. "Under the SRT Act, the Finance Ministry must shoulder the losses. This results in no motivation for changes," the source said.

Watcharapong Thongrung
The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/04/23/business/business_30071362.php

[GWR]

Does The Nation's Watcharapong Thongrung reallly believe that 20 locos and a few new carriages will be enough for the sort of doubletracking mega-contract feeding frenzy the ever-greedy Samak & his merry men have in mind!?

What sort of locos can we expect Khun Wiz? Chinese bog-standards or cutting-edge computer-assisted jobs from Europe or North America or Japan that the engineers will have difficulty coming to terms with?:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/04/23/business/business_30071362.php

..........

On a related matter Abdul Razak said the locomotives imported from China did not meet the specifications of KTMB.

He said there were some 20 locomotives that were imported from China since 2005, and out of the number only five were functioning, as the rest had technical problems.

"We also have communication problems with the people there (China) and therefore it is difficult when the engine stops functioning and cannot be maintained or repaired accordingly.

"We have brought up the matter with the management several times, but to no avail. We don't know why the Government still insists on purchasing the locomotives from China."

Abdul Razak said the locomotives were used for both cargo and passenger trains, adding that the locomotive used by the Expres Rakyat train was not from China but from Japan.

He said the best locomotives were from General Motors (United States and Canada) and General Electric from Germany and the United States.
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/9/nation/20080509145652&sec=nation

The 2nd to last paragraph makes mention of the Expres Rakyat that derailed - with the loss of the driver's life and numerous injuries - last weekend near Seremban on the KL to Singpore route. What make of Japanese loco is used for this service?:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=20931&postcount=68

[Wisarut]

Latest news: 20 new Locvo has bee approved ... and it will be delivered within 18 Months at the rpice 150 Million Baht/set (total 3 Billion Baht).

The 118 New BCFs wnet to CNR or so ... and the otehr 300 BCFs will follow ... at the price of 2 million Baht/set (total 600 million Baht).