CHIANG MAI, 14 January 2013: Thailand’s Chiang Mai, the main gateway to the country’s northern destinations, will be the first city to gain a high speed train service from Bangkok.
Chiang Mai governor, Thanin Supasaen, said: “The project is expected to be completed in three years.”
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has already approved the high speed railway project called northern land port, which was officially presented to her by the Chiang Mai governor.
Once the project is completed, it will turn Chiang Mai into a transportation and logistics hub for the entire north and strengthen the city’s role as the second largest city after Bangkok.
The rail service is expected to be ready by 2017.
Other transport facilities such as ring roads and airport will also be improved to prepare for the upcoming ASEAN Economic Community in late 2015.
The Chiang Mai railway route will stretch 745 km and have 13 stations in 11 provinces. Even with all the stops officials are claiming the journey will take no more than three and a half hours.
Officials also claim trains will be able to carry as many as 34,800 passengers daily. Trains will travel at 250 km per hour and if they can attract passengers, as stated by officials, they will represent the most efficient and environment friendly means of transport, based on fuel burn per passenger carried.
Last year, TTR Weekly’s update on tourism in the north interviewed Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organisation president, Boonlert Buranupakorn, who said the province required a good public transport system to attract more tourists both foreigners and domestic.
“We believe the construction of the first high speed railway project should be ready in three years, connecting Bangkok and Chiang Mai. This was confirmed by PM Yingluck who believes it will boost tourism to the province.
“It will reduce travelling time from Bangkok to Chiang Mai from seven hours to three and a half hours and will carry more travellers than other mode of transport.”
There are five high-speed rail projects that will cost Bt983.47 billion. The other four routes are: Bangkok-Nong Khai, Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani, Bangkok-Rayong, and Bangkok-Padang Besar.
On average, 5 million tourists visit the province and generate around Bt30,000 million to Bt40,000 million a year. Of that, 70% are Thais and 30% foreigners.
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