Hua Hin dual-track rail project to go ahead

[derek60]

But presumably when the high speed trains come they will travel on this new track and stop at the new station. So when the new track is finished will all that is needed be the new high-speed trains?

[Big Boy]

Very unlikely. They will need a dedicated track,, or just get stuck behind the train in front of it. Don't forget, freight will be using this line as well.

[PeteC]

Everything is different with a high speed system. Track bed, sleepers, banked curves, with most of it elevated. I think there's a lot about the Japanese Shinkansen system on You Tube that shows how things are made.

[Dannie Boy]

A very misleading title - nothing to do with the High Speed Rail Link.

Compared to the current 60 kph speeds, 160 is High Speed!!

[HHTel]

I'm not sure that China is making any investment in building the dual track. They did sign an MOU agreeing to LEND funds to Thailand for the project.
When it comes to the High Speed project, I believe that is in partnership with China who will invest.

[HHTel]

But presumably when the high speed trains come they will travel on this new track and stop at the new station. So when the new track is finished will all that is needed be the new high-speed trains?

Agree with Pete. Dual Track and High Speed are two completely separate projects. High Speed track will be completely different to the bog standard ground level track.

Incidentally, the projected operation for the High Speed link to Hua Hin is 2037. That was some time ago. Since then, another study has been ordered so it's probably (if at all) not going to open before 2040!!

How many of us will still be here?

[derek60]

Interesting:

[Big Boy]

Hua Hin dual track railway 85% complete, set to open in Jan 2023

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) have said that the dual track railway which is being constructed in Hua Hin is approximately 85 percent complete.

Despite construction being slightly behind schedule, the dual track railway, which is being built by China Railway Signal & Communication Company, should be operational by January 2023.

The SRT has given Hua Hin Today a breakdown on the various stages of the railway which runs to and from the town:

Nakhon Pathom – Hua Hin
The route (officially known as Route 5) has a distance of 169 kilometres (km), with a budget worth 15,718 million Baht.

This route is divided into two stages, the the first being Nakhon Pathom – Nong Pla Lai, which spans a distance of 92km and is 84.89% complete.

The second stage is Nong Pla Lai – Hua Hin, a distance of some 76km and is 83.81% complete. It is this stage which includes the 4km long elevated track that runs through the centre of Hua Hin.

Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/hua-hin-new ... owyOd0IR1A

[STEVE G]

I've just had the time to watch that drone footage of the construction through Hua Hin and it's actually pretty impressive how much work has been completed in the year or so that I haven't been able to get home.
When I left last March, there were plenty of pillars and cleared land but I don't remember seeing much else.

[LolaBeltran]

Here is a question for the engineers or architects or anyone else in the know. We are currently on our way north from chump on and passing under any number of uturn type overpasses. Presumably meant to keep road traffic out of the way of trains. Best local example.. Palm hills crossing. Why not take the shortest and clearly cheapest solution and go straight over? Why the big uturn to the north? It will be awkward to access and drive over and must be costing many times over building a straight overpass.

[buksida]

must be costing many times over building a straight overpass.

There are many many pockets that need filling on infrastructure projects in Thailand so doing things that cost way more is a lucrative business. There is one bit of road in Thapsakae that has been resurfaced 14 times in the past 3 years!

[Big Boy]

I don't know the answer, but I have been wondering the same thing.

The only logical reason I can think of is that in the likes of Soi 56, the ramp would interfere with the existing dual carriageway on the Klong Road, and would restrict access to the rest of Soi 156 in that area. However, the construction at Suan Son seems a bit OTT, but again, maybe there are buildings that are in the way of any necessary ramp.

[LolaBeltran]

I think we have passed at least a dozen so far still well south of bang sapan now. Many with just dirt roads accessing them. I thought land purchase issues too but all of the straight road crossing are public domain roads... Right?

[caller]

The new road layout where you turn off Petchkasem Road to Pranburi Forest Park tickles me. They have now constructed this huge bridge and new road system to cross the railway line, so you can no longer veer left once you cross the railway to get to the park. You have to follow this oh so long bridge to the right before the railway line and then as you come down, make a U turn, to a new road that takes you back under the bridge, to what was the old road to take you to your destination.

[hhinner]

As can be seen on many major roads Thailand has clearly mastered the building of u-turn bridges. This is a hard-earned skill that must be maintained and repurposed where possible, such as by building u-turn bridges as railway crossings.

It also means that SRT largely only needs to utilise its already owned land instead of trying to acquire more. Past & present projects have seen it perform miserably at land appropriation, eg Hopewell and current high speed rail projects.