Thai and Chinese officials have started a fourth-round meeting on the development of a rail system to link both countries. The talks aim to set out details of the proposed China-Thailand dual track rail system, which the countries agreed to develop in December last year.
The proposed line would be more than 800 kilometres long, linking the Thai-Laos border town of Nong Khai with Bangkok, as well as Thailand’s main deep-sea port on the Eastern Seaboard.
Previously the two sides agreed that Thai companies will be responsible for the construction of the rail system, while China will handle the train technology and design.
“We will use Chinese technology for the trains and the rail signal system. And we will establish a joint-stock company between Thailand and China to oversee the operation and the maintenance of the system,” Thailand’s Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said.
The Thai government wants the construction of the Sino-Thai rail line to start before the end of this year. It hopes to start some services on this line by the end of 2017.
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