Railway developments in Hua Hin

[Pleng]

I think originally they were planned to run in tandem.
When the new government came in they scrapped the high-speed and prioritized the dual-track.

That's how I understand it, but I could be wrong, of course!

[musungu]

I have always understood that the area for expansion on the line would include all the area on the otherside of the road to Kims Kitchin - where all the shops are either illegal or on short rental from the Railway and this goes all the way back past the Main level crossing over Chomsin Rd (3218) as well. It would make sense.

[Big Boy]

I have always thought the same, yet more and more permanent structures are appearing - TIT I guess.

[Khundon1975]

Sorry, you've lost me?

(unless they're planning on having the station in the middle of the two lines?) - and I can't see that being allowed given its historic significance?

Have you never seen any of those police stations that are built in the middle of the motorway, with the 3 lanes curving around either side of the station?

[Pleng]

Nope I haven't. Though I can kind of see the sense in that; it would mean the police can respond in either direction without having to find a uturn.

[Big Boy]

unless they're planning on having the station in the middle of the two lines?

maybe they could move the station - they've moved part of it before.

Hua Hin's station is one of the oldest in Thailand and its main feature is The Royal Waiting Room that used to welcome King and his court when they were visiting the town.

Originally, it was situated at Sanamchan Palace in Nakom Pathom and was known as Plub Pla Sanamchan. Eventually, the room was transported to Hua Hin.

[Khundon1975]

Nope I haven't. Though I can kind of see the sense in that; it would mean the police can respond in either direction without having to find a uturn.

Pleng
With respect, if you think about that statement for a minute, you will see the flaw in it.

Traveling North, in a line of cars that are traveling, in close convoy, as Thais normally do at 120kph+, past one of these police stations, the police car has to slow down in the fast lane to enter the station. Do you think that can be considered a "safe maneuver" given the poor state of driving in Thailand.

It is even worse, when the police car has to exit the station, either north or south bound, directly into the fast lane, as they have to be bloody quick if they want to slip into traffic traveling at 120kph+ in convoy, without causing a serious crash.
If they had built the station on one side of the motorway, then a u turn to the other side, it would make everything a lot safer.

I only mention this, as I once traveled with my FIL as he visited one of his police stations and how I did not S$$$ myself when he entered, then exited back onto the motorway, I'm still not sure. And he had his blue and red lights flashing, not something the average motorist can rely on, in Thailand.

[Khundon1975]

unless they're planning on having the station in the middle of the two lines?

maybe they could move the station - they've moved part of it before.

Hua Hin's station is one of the oldest in Thailand and its main feature is The Royal Waiting Room that used to welcome King and his court when they were visiting the town.

Originally, it was situated at Sanamchan Palace in Nakom Pathom and was known as Plub Pla Sanamchan. Eventually, the room was transported to Hua Hin.

Yes BigBoy they could but, do the Thais see that as the most sensible option.

Dare I say it, TIT.

[Chazz14]

How can they justify a second line - the existing one is hardly over-used!

I don't believe that high speed trains would be able to actually run at high speed on the existing metre gauge track anyway.

[Pleng]

How can they justify a second line? Have you ever taken a train here? The amount of time spent waiting stationary for a train to come by in the other direction is very noticeable and would certainly cut journey times if it wasn't a factor. And currently if a train is delayed in one direction it has a knock on effect for all trains going in BOTH directions.

This has nothing to do with the high-speed train project, which has been shelved by the current government.

[buksida]

Absolutely, even trains in Burma run on time because they have dual tracks.

[Chazz14]

Yes, Pleng, I agree with you (I can watch the trains from my window)! There's always a big gap with only the local BKK to HH railcars between about 0900 and 1700 every day.

Call me a cynical old sod, but if the will was really there to build a second track, it could have been done 10 years ago!

I think this could be another feel good idea from the new PM - or maybe I've just been listening to Dave Cameron too much of late!

[oakdale160]

The high speed train project.
The Chinese want a China to S'pore link
What the Chinese want, the chinese get.
They are planning/paying for a China to Vientianne Link
The s,porians/Malaysians are buildind the s/p to kl portion now.
Thai could get 'squeezed' into building the link.

[richard]

^ If China wants it China will get it. Thailand is just a toothache that will be overcome by painkillers or extraction

[oakdale160]

So the Chinese and Thai govts have signed a deal to develop a 1.435 m dual track system from the Chinese border.
I have seen some discussion on other sites about which side has the better financial deal. I think the threat is far deeper than the financial deal..
This is neo-colonialism, do you think that the Chinese will supply the technology, have it built and then let Thai Railway Board screw it up. No way, the Chinese are ruthless and are doing this for purely selfish reasons, the rout to Singapore and other ports and a way to bring food in from SE Asia to feed their 1.3 billion people. Not to mention that trains that can carry food can also carry troops.
Remember the Golden rule -- He who has the Gold makes the rules.