Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2016 8:40:50 GMT 7
Work underway on the dual track train link between Khon Kaen and Korat, but maybe not fast enough. (Photo by Peter Janssen) NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand -- If all goes according to plan, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha will make a media splash next year with the launch of a 60 kilometer stretch of dual-track train line between Nakhon Ratchasima and Khon Kaen provinces in northeast Thailand. Work on the short spur -- part of a larger project to upgrade the region's freight transport to Thailand's main deep sea port -- is being speeded up to be completed before the next election. But whether the planned publicity stunt will win Prayuth's coup-installed government popularity in the country's poor northeast region remains to be seen. Prayuth's government is banking on heavy investments in infrastructure to both stimulate growth during the current economic doldrums and strengthen Thailand's competitiveness in the future. While most economists concur that the expenditure on infrastructure is long overdue, some say a lot more could be done to help the country's rural poor in the short term. And most of Thailand's rural poor live in the country's northeastern region, known locally as Isaan. asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Economy/Thailand-takes-a-long-term-gamble-on-Isaan-region |
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mistermember
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Post by mistermember on Nov 18, 2016 9:02:11 GMT 7
Isaan is not a gamble. Rather anywhere else in Thailand is. Leave the magic plateau at your own risk and folly.
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AyG
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Post by AyG on Nov 18, 2016 12:33:33 GMT 7
Given how wonderfully the State Railway of Thailand manages its existing routes, stock and staff, it can only be an outrageous success.
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me
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Post by me on Nov 18, 2016 12:54:06 GMT 7
Given how wonderfully the State Railway of Thailand manages its existing routes, stock and staff, it can only be an outrageous success. With how well it does with the low fares it is forced to charge by the government they do pretty well. 1000km for 100 baht or so....the restof the 1200b are sleeper and special charges for the fast train. If they were allowed to double the base fare to20 satang a kilometre they would be in a better state. What other railways can run on those fares. |
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me
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Post by me on Nov 18, 2016 12:55:09 GMT 7
Isaan is not a gamble. Rather anywhere else in Thailand is. Leave the magic plateau at your own risk and folly. There are those who think they should turn off the water taps and let it go back to what it was 50 years ago. |
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AyG
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Post by AyG on Nov 18, 2016 13:20:19 GMT 7
Given how wonderfully the State Railway of Thailand manages its existing routes, stock and staff, it can only be an outrageous success. With how well it does with the low fares it is forced to charge by the government they do pretty well. 1000km for 100 baht or so....the restof the 1200b are sleeper and special charges for the fast train. If they were allowed to double the base fare to20 satang a kilometre they would be in a better state. What other railways can run on those fares. Well, South Africa, Georgia, Egypt, Ukraine, Malaysia and Turkey all manage to do it for less. Source: www.ibtimes.com/pulse/countries-most-expensive-cheapest-transportation-one-infographic-1671246SRT's primary problems are overly powerful unions (meaning things can't change) and ridiculously generous pension provisions putting the company massively into debt and unable to finance improvements. The low fares are, on the scale of things, a relatively minor problem. And, to be honest, given the generally dilapidated state of the trains, higher fares really can't at the moment be justified. |
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me
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Post by me on Nov 18, 2016 13:24:58 GMT 7
With how well it does with the low fares it is forced to charge by the government they do pretty well. 1000km for 100 baht or so....the restof the 1200b are sleeper and special charges for the fast train. If they were allowed to double the base fare to20 satang a kilometre they would be in a better state. What other railways can run on those fares. Well, South Africa, Georgia, Egypt, Ukraine, Malaysia and Turkey all manage to do it for less. Source: www.ibtimes.com/pulse/countries-most-expensive-cheapest-transportation-one-infographic-1671246SRT's primary problems are overly powerful unions (meaning things can't change) and ridiculously generous pension provisions putting the company massively into debt and unable to finance improvements. The low fares are, on the scale of things, a relatively minor problem. And, to be honest, given the generally dilapidated state of the trains, higher fares really can't at the moment be justified. The fare quoted there for thailand bears no comparrison with the fares actually charged. They allege they use their own index......let the fares speak for themselves....check the srt website. |
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AyG
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Post by AyG on Nov 18, 2016 15:08:51 GMT 7
I did, and the fares bear no relationship to your "1000km for 100 baht or so". For example, the cheapest adult fare from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is 231 baht. That's for a journey of 751 km, 3rd class in a seat. That's over 300 baht for 1000 km - triple your figure. |
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me
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Post by me on Nov 18, 2016 15:35:39 GMT 7
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