Bangkok district will be nexus of Trans-ASEAN bullet train

All aboard for Bangkok. The Thai capital’s district of Bang Sue is set to become the nexus for four high-speed rail lines dubbed the “Trans-ASEAN bullet train” that will stretch from Singapore to China, as part of the government’s plan to make Thailand the logistics hub of the region.

“Thais will be able to take high-speed trains to China and Singapore from a railway station in Bang Sue,” said Deputy Transport Minister Pailin Chuchottaworn.

High-speed rail is a major focus of the government’s comprehensive infrastructure upgrade and development plans. The new, cutting-edge portfolio of projects – that also includes new or expanded airports, highways, and deep-sea ports – are designed to support the national strategy named Thailand 4.0. The strategy’s goal is to transition the economy into one that will rely on innovation, research and development, green and higher-tech industries.

Aksornsri Phanishsarn, an associate professor at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Economics, said the rail projects would elevate Thailand’s presence in the region. They will increase Thailand’s competitiveness and connectivity with neighboring countries.

The Trans-ASEAN bullet train network will cover 1,984 miles and require an investment of $67 billion. The government has already begun construction on parts of the network. The section running from Bangkok to north-eastern Nong Khai province, which will then connect to a line linking it with Vientiane, the capital of Laos, is scheduled for completion in 2023.

Laos is the only landlocked country in ASEAN, and the rail line should provide the country with greater connectivity, which should result in better economic and development prospects for the entire region.

The network is a part of an extensive infrastructure network that is aimed to expand trade between Asia, Central Asia, and Europe.
Photo courtesy of https://www.todayonline.com/chinaindia/china/rail-link-laos-help-boost-chinese-economic-interest