RAILS TRANSPORTATION

Thailand to open bids for high-speed rail project in 2013

The Thai government is planning to open international bidding in early 2013 for the first phase of a high-speed train project planned to be built at an investment of THB400bn ($12.69bn).

The Thai Transport Ministry is expected to propose the master plan for cabinet approval later in 2012.

According to the government, the project is part of its THB2.2 trillion ($69.83bn) infrastructure investment programme to be implemented over the coming years.

Under the plan, four routes will be opened for bidding with companies from China, South Korea, Japan and France reportedly interested in the project.

The proposed high-speed train routes will span 250km, connecting Bangkok-Pattaya, Bangkok-Pitsanulok, Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima and Bangkok-Hua Hin.

Construction work on the four routes is expected to be completed in 2018.

In the second stage, which is scheduled to be completed by 2022, new high-speed lines will be added, including routes from Bangkok-Rayong, Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Nong Khai and Bangkok-Hat Yai.

Construction of the high-speed rail lines, which will be used for freight and passenger services, will be carried out alongside existing railway routes.

The Thai government expects that after completion of the projects, the country's goods shipment transportation total usage will eventually increase to 80%, compared to only 2% now.

Ireland approves Dublin tram link project

The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) of Ireland has granted permission for the E370m Luas Broombridge project to link two Luas tram lines in Dublin city centre.

Under the project, a new Luas line will be built from the Green Line terminus at St. Stephen's Green through the city centre, Phibsborough and Cabra to Broombridge.

The new six-kilometre Luas light rail line is expected to commence operation by 2017, covering the entire journey in 24 minutes, serving 13 stations.

RPA director of light rail Michael Sheedy said: "It will form the foundation of a high-quality integrated network, which will significantly reduce the current high reliance on the private car."

The line will connect trams that are to be transferred between the Red and Green lines with the Maynooth Line at Broombridge.

The new line will serve a recently-approved Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) campus at Grangegorman, which is expected to accommodate more than 20,000 students.

Irish Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar said when complete, Dublin will have an integrated rail and light rail network, which has become the norm in other modern cities.

"For the first time, it will be possible to get a train in Maynooth or Leixlip and get out in Dundrum or Sandyford with just one change," Varadkar said. "Similarly, you will be able to get on the Luas at Tallaght and with just one change, get out at the new DIT campus or at Trinity College."

In 2011, the Luas network carried about 29 million passengers; the new line is expected to transport an additional eight million passengers per year, representing an increase of around 25%.

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