November 1, 2016

Cabinet green lights double-track routes

Kobsak Pootrakool says routes will drive passenger traffic. PANUPONG CHANGCHAI

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The cabinet yesterday approved three double-track rail routes worth 55 billion baht spanning a total of 403 kilometres.

According to Kobsak Phutrakul, assistant minister to the Prime Minister's Office, the three rail lines comprise the 165km Nakhon Pathom-Hua Hin route, worth 20.5 billion baht; the 90km Hua Hin-Prachuap Khiri Khan route, worth 10.2 billion baht; and the 148km Lop Buri-Pak Nam Pho (Nakhon Sawan) route, worth 247 billion baht.

The three lines are among the seven rail development projects slated for the first stage of the government's double-track rail route development plan, covering 990km at a combined cost of 139 billion baht.

The others are the 106km Chachoengsao-Kaeng Khoi route; the route from Jira in Nakhon Ratchasima to Khon Kaen (187km); the Prachuap Khiri Khan to Chumphon route (167km); and the route from Map Ka Bao in Saraburi to Jira in Nakhon Ratchasima (132km).

The Chachoengsao-Kaeng Khoi route and the route from Jira in Nakhon Ratchasima to Khon Kaen are already under construction. The Prachuap Khiri Khan to Chumphon route and the route from Map Ka Bao in Saraburi to Jira in Nakhon Ratchasima, meanwhile, have already been approved by the cabinet.

Mr Kobsak said the seven double-track projects will help double the number of passengers and goods transported.

The government also plans to develop the second phase of double-track projects covering seven routes running a combined 1,536 km.

They are the routes from Pak Nam Pho in Nakhon Sawan to Den Chai in Phrae; Jira in Nakhon Ratchasima to Ubon Ratchathani; Khon Kaen-Nong Khai, Chumphon-Surat Thani; Surat Thani-Songkhla; Hat Yai-Padang Besar; and Den Chai-Chiang Mai.

The Transport Ministry is set to propose the projects for cabinet approval.

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