Double-Tracking Project

[Wisarut]

Nope, but I got the message about the top 10 revenue generating + number of passengers station though .... the first of all in BKK (about 2.5 million passengers a year) ...

[ncr]

You got a "message"? From who? And does it at least contain the names of the 10 stations?

[Wisarut]

SRT Plan for Logistic Supports
160 Billion Baht in 8 years
Than Setthakij - March 6-9, 2005

SRT has come up with 11 projects to support National logistics with a total price tag of 160.534 billion Baht whcih can be describe as follows:


1) The 2nd Ladkrabang ICD - 6.066 billion Baht (2005-2008)
2) New 13 Diesel Electric Locos in addition to the 7 Locos ordered from China
and 284 BCFs for container transportation with a price tag of 1.863 billion Baht. (2006-2008)
3) Phase 4-5-6 Track Rehabilitation with a price tag of 30.336 billion Baht from 2004 - 2008
3.1) Phase 4 (227 km) which consists of
Phase4A: Bangsue - Talingchan - Ban Chimplee (18 km)
Phase4B: Phitsanuloke - Ban Dan (110 km)
3.2) Phase 5 (308 km) which consists of
Phase 5A: Kaeng Khoi - Kaeng Suea Ten (37km) and
Suranarai - Chaturat (124 km)
Phase 5B: Chaturat - Bua Yai (68 km)
Thanon Jira Junction - Bua Yai (79 km)
3.3) Phase 6 (278 km) which consists of
Phase 6A Bua Yai - Namphong (138 km)
Phase 6B Namphong - Nong Khai (140 km)

4) Eastern Line Double tracking Chachoengsao - Klong 19 - Kaeng Khoi
with total distance of 107.45 km and a price tag of 6.650 billion Baht
(2005 - 2009)

5) Chord lines to bypass the junctions and create triangle at Chachongsao,
Kaelgnm Khoi and Ban Phachi with a price tag 0.998 billion Baht and construction form 2005 to 2008

6) Nationwide Double tracking with total length of 832 km and a price tago of 75 billion Baht from 2006 - 2012 with the details as follows:

6.1) Lopburi - Phitsanuloke 256.47 km
6.2) Nakhon Pathom - Surat Thanee 586.9 km

7) Modern signal installation and he rest wi a total price tag of 26 billion Baht to be installed from 2009 to 2014

8) Additional plan for nationawide rail development of 200 million Baht
with a price tag of 200 million Baht from 2005 - 2006

9) 4 Cointainer yards with a price tag of 235 million Baht done from 2004 to 2011 (Sila At for Northern Line, Ban Thung Pho Junction for Southern Line, Kud Jik for Ubon Ratchathanee line and Nam Phong for Nong Khai Line)

10) Modification of Rom Klao Truck terminal into Romklao ICD (Lad Krabang ICD branch 3) with a price tag of 343 million Baht to be done in 2006

11) Studies on Pak Bara Railway Lien 15 million Baht to be done in 2006
as well as the studies on Surat Thani - Khirirat Nikhom - Phang Nga - Tha Nun
(163 km - 12.810 billion Baht) and the plan for connecting Northern Railway with Northeastern region as well as the Northern Railway link with the route to Laem Chabang Deep sea port

// --------------------------------------------------------------
Note:

The extra dounel track will be at the following line if the demands have been shot up:
1) Rangsit - Kaeng Khoi - Pakchong - Khorat (233.9 km)
2) Khorat - Bua Yai - Nong Khai (357.45 km)
3) Phisanulok to Uttaradit (95.89 km)
4) Surat Thani to Nakhon Srithammarat via Thung Song and Khao Chumthong [Ron Phibun] ... (181 km) ...

Furthermore, SRT has come up with the new shortcut routes as the way to shorten the route from Uttaradit to Chiang Mai from 250 km to 180 km even thoug it requites 2 substantial tunnels while bypassing Lampang from

1) Kaeng Luang (km 546.94) - Mae Tha (km 628.45)
This shotcut will leave the route to Mae Moh mine for Cement Train and tourist train ONLY ... 1 Tunnel to replace Huay Mae Larn Tunnel

2) Hang Chat (km 654.85 ) - Nong Lom (km 713.01) ... This one will leave Khun Tan tunnel for the tourist trains ONLY ... and requite very long tunnel whcih could DWAFT Khun tan tunnel

3) Double tracking from Chiang Mai to Lamphun (22.21 km)

[jpatokal]

So this is SRT's wishlist... but how much and what parts of this have any chance of becoming reality?

[Wisarut]

So far, ONLY the double tracking from Kaeng Khoi to Chachonegsao via Klong 19 and Chachoengsao to Laem Chabang via Sri Racha as well as the Phase 4-5-6 Track rehabilitation are the obligations SRT MUST fulfill at ALL COST ...

After that, the new Loco to cope with the servicable loco shortage is the second things htey feel convinced that it is goign to become a reality (or nightmare if they are thsoe malfuctioned Chinese locos )

[Yappofloyd]

Khun ncr, doesn't seem that the list is forthcoming...

Going back to the double-tracking corruption due to inflated prices, I found an old article in The Nation (26/02/05) which said that the amount involved was 3 billion baht (about US$80m)!!!

Have any of the SRT officials been charged yet? And surely this was done in collusion with the relevant material suppliers thus allowing legal recourse for SRT to recover some of the money.

[Wisarut]

The following is the detailed data which SRT Governor DID NOT tell you about the double tracking:

Phase 2 Double Tracking
1) Chachoengsao - Sri racha - Laem Chabang 78.86 km -> 5.3 billion Baht
[Note: For Laem Chabang Port]

2) Lopburi - Nakhon Sawan 112.97 km
[Note: For Rice Merchants at Nakhon Sawan]

3) Prachuab Khirikhan - Sarat Thani 332.69 km
[Note: To Solve Rail Traffic Congestion at Prachuab Khirikhan - Surat Thani]

4) Kaeng Khoi - Klong 19 - Chachongsao 107.45 km

5) Map Krabao - Nakhon Ratchasima 129.35 km
[Note: To relive the cargo traffic congestion from Isan to Laem Chabang]

Total: 761.32 km -> very closed to the target 757 km

After finishign Phase 2, Phase 3 Double tracking will consist of the following routes:

1) Lopburi - Phitsanuloke -> to speed up the crude oil traffic (AKA Black Express) from Bung Phra station whcih has already been upgraded to 1st class station

2) Nakhon Pathom - Prachuab Khirikhan -. to speed up the tourist trains and passengers trains to the South.

3) Triangle tracks at Chachoengsao, Klong 19 and Kaeng Khoi to speed up the cargo traffics from the North and Northeast to Laem CHabang

4) Isan routes -> Kaeng khoi - Lum Narai - Bua Yai to serve ICD at Khon Kaen or Ubon Ratchathani double tracking -. Depending upon the lobbying ...

[Wisarut]

After Further Investigatio, I found that SRT wants to build the 3rd track on
the following routes:

1) Lad Krabang ICD - Chachognsao (33.03 km) for the lucrative traffics between ICD and Laem Chabang Port.

2) Kaeng Khoi - Map Krabao (9.2 km) to facilitate TPI Cement
Transportation. We usually call TPI Cement Train as "Blue Millepede" ->
esp when SRT used HID Loco to pull thsoe Blue Millepede from
Cement factory at Map Krabao to Laem Chabang

So the total length is: Total: 761.32 km + 33.03 + 9.2 = 803.55 km

[Yappofloyd]

Originally Posted by Yappofloyd

Khun ncr, doesn't seem that the list is forthcoming...

Going back to the double-tracking corruption due to inflated prices, I found an old article in The Nation (26/02/05) which said that the amount involved was 3 billion baht (about US$80m)!!!

Have any of the SRT officials been charged yet? And surely this was done in collusion with the relevant material suppliers thus allowing legal recourse for SRT to recover some of the money.

Always a bit egotistical to quote oneself.....
Khun Wisarut, do you or any of your rotfai friends know is anyone was actually charged over the double tracking corruption scandal?

[Wisarut]

Well, I don't have the insiders whoare at the level of decision makers for Double trackign projects ... sofar ONLU a few small fish whohave
no connections have been kicked out to makea cosmatic repair.

Now,SRT is ogign to sart the E-Auction for Double tracking of
Chachongsao - Sri Racha - laem Chabang Route ... andthe route fo Chachongsao - Klogn 19 - Kaeng Khoi will follow:

[Wisarut]

Now, SRT is startign the bidding process on e-auction for
Chachongsao - Sri Racha - Laem Chabang Double Tracking with
a price tag of 5.3 billion Baht. This would enable to start the
consturction in early 2006 and done in late 2008.

Next in the target of cource -> Chachognsao - Klong 19 - kaeng Khoi
for cargo service and the introduction of new Commuter to pick up those
who live in Ongkharak.

[Wisarut]

NESDB has cut down the budget for nationalwide Doubel trackign from 400 billion Baht to 100 billion Baht, That's Bullsxxx ...

[Wisarut]

Pheng & Nationwide Doublr Tracking
Trying to Woo NESDB to Approve the Project
Thairath - Sept 19, 2005
Matichon - Sept 19, 2005

Minister Pheng is tryign to Woo NESDB to approve the plan for Nationwide double tracking to support Logistic Plan. However, They have to wait unit the have finalized the plans for BKk Mass transit Systme since MOTC if going to fund the nationwide doubek tackign by the saving from the downsized BKk Mass transit systems through the canceled routes, shorten routes with fewer stations ....

SRT said there are 5 routes need to get double tracking immediately with total price tag of 56.7754 billion Baht due to the popular demands... even though SRT officers are studying on the routes and the design of the routes to pass EIA so they can submit the plan to the cabinate by the end of 2005.

1) Chachongsao - Sri Racha - Laem - Chabang (87 km - 5.3 billion Baht)
2) Lopburi - Nakhon Sawan (150 km)
3) Chachoengsao - Klong 19 - Kaeng Khoi (90 km)
4) Kaeng Khoi - Pakchong - Nakhon Ratchasima. (130 km)
5) Prachuab Khirikhan - Surat Thani (300 km)

After finishing all 5 routes, the 2nd phase would be

1) Nakhon Sawan - Phitsanulok
2) Nakhon Pathom - Prachuab Khirikhan along with the track rehab.
3) Ban Phai - Nam Phong route
4) Kaeng Khoi - Bua Yai route [250 km]

Note: Such massive undertaking compells SRT to triple the fleets of track maintainance machines. This will help SRT to rehab the troublesome routes such as the route from Nakhon Pathom to Hua Hin in a speedy manner. This track from Nakhon Pathom to Hua Hin which has become so deteriorated that the max speed in some sections are 30 kph - unacceptable by any standard ... and the Trai n781 (BAngsue - Padang besar) has been derailed yesterday at Rajburi due to the heavy rain that erode the base into the mud.

Changing to 100 Lb track with concrete sleepers WITHOUTwashing, adding, and recompacting the muddy ballast to the tickenss of 25-30 cm won't work.

Note2: Now, both Bangkokians and Rural folks from all parts of the country need to strike a compromise for the downsizing to finance nationwide double tracking... Otherwise, it would inevitably heat up the conflicts between the urban people vs. rural people into a REAL war level. Nationwide fuel tax to finance Nationawide double tracking is a justificable measure though.

[Wisarut]

I got the info from Insiders about the red line commmuter:

1) The reasons for the New Transportation Hub at Lad Krabang instead of Makkasan and Chaing Rak Noy instead of bangsue is DUE to the fact that MOTC hasmade Frausian Deal with MOF that Makkasan and Bangsue have to be developped by Treasury Dept (MOF) as the way to write off the SRT Debts.

2) Well, the section from Rangsit to Chiang Rak Noy (at Grade electrified section) would help TRT secure the conservative voters in Northenr BKk Suburbs ... as well as the voters from industrial estates inNorthern BKk Suburbs - at the expenses of those Democrat Supporters in Ram Khamhaeng and Lad Phrao.

3) The reason for the restriction of the Diesel Electric Engines from passing through Greater BKK area is due to the fact that PTT PCL (owned by Politicians) want to MILK the moeny from SRT and Treasury by forcing SRT to convert virtually all Diesel Electric Loco to use NGV .... with extra charge 1-2 Baht/kg (from 8.50 baht/kg for the market price of NGV) to pay for the engine conversion. Many SRT workers have compalined that the engine conversion would SHORTEN the lifespan of Loco .... in the same wayas NGV Engines of BMTA Aircon Buses .. .They Prefer Euro 3 Diesel Engines for Loco instead.

4) The New Northern/Northeastern Bus terminal at Donmuang is to boost more passengers for Red line commmuters ... he termianlkat rangsit is NOT very convenient for the bus to connect with Red lien commuter.

[Wisarut]

More Info abotu Red Line Commuter


1) Reviving the extension from Suphan Buri by the line from Suphan Buri to Ban Phachi (80 km) instead of Ban Pa Wai,Lopburi to bypass BKK and Bangsue Junction for the connection between Northern Cargo train from Chiang Mai, Norhteastern Cago traisn from Nong Khai and Ubon, and Southern Trains from Padang Sesar.

2)New lien from Ban Phachi to connect with Kaeng Koi - Klong 19 Bypass to allow Norhtenr cargo train to Laem Chabang Port without goign to Kaeng Khoi.

3)Chaingraik Noy station will be the transfer poitn for Intercity train to BKK ...