Thais Go It Alone on Rail Link

• 10 July 2016
• Local News
• 1195 Views

The Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has announced the country is capable and financially prepared to fully fund its multi-billion-baht high-speed rail project, following a visit to China.

“We will no longer do the project with China. It\’s better to do it alone,” he told reporters in Bangkok.

Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said that under the government- to-government deal, China would be in charge of engineering, procurement and construction management, supplying trains, signaling systems and tracks, though Thai contractors would be allowed to take part in the construction. He expected construction to start as soon as possible but stressed that China should offer “friendship terms” on the interest rate and price.