New NE rail route proposed

New NE rail route proposed

The Transport Ministry will tomorrow submit a proposal to a mobile cabinet meeting in Udon Thani for the construction of a new 336 kilometre rail line between Khon Kaen and Nakhon Phanom at an estimated cost of 41.363 billion baht.

Pranot Suriya, deputy director of the Office of Transport and Policy and Planning, said the new rail route would run across the central Northeast, linking Ban Phai in Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Mukdahan and Nakhon Phanom.

It wouldgreatly expand the existing Nakhon Ratchasima-Nong Khai and Nakhon Ratchasima-Ubon Ratchathani rail network.

The proposal was a response to a request for improved rail links made to the State Railway of Thailand by the Joint Public- Private Consultative Committee.

A subsequent feasibility study conducted by the SRT found the Ban Phai-Nakhon Phanom link is the most suitable investment and would cause the least environmental impact.

If approved, the new rail route was expected to go into service in 2017, Mr Pranot said.

~News courtesy of Bangkok Post~