Illustrative image. (Source: Reuters)Bangkok (VNA) - Proposals to improve ASEAN’srail network and connectivity to meet international standards will be discussedat the 35th ASEAN Summit scheduled for early November.
State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Acting Governor Worawut Mala said topics up fordiscussion include ASEAN's rail connection development, ways to advertise thenational rail system, and railway upgrades.
An online "ASEAN Railways Portal" was also launched at the ASEANRailway CEOs’ Conference in Thailand on October 28 to provide the public withnews and information about rail links in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
Speaking at the conference, Worawut saidThailand has five different projects that it plans to use to connect its railnetwork with neighbouring countries, including Singapore (in the south), Laosand China (in the northeast), Cambodia (in the east) and Myanmar (in the west).
In addition to these projects, Thailand and Malaysia are also discussing a planto revive the Sugnai Kolok-Pasir Mas rail route for the sake of economicdevelopment and border trade, he said.
The Bangkok Post cited a source as saying that the SRT has a five-year plan toexpand Thailand's rail network from its current length of 800km to 4,565km.
The source said 841km of track will be an extension of the normal rail system,while 2,476km are set aside for a dual-track system and 1,248km are planned fora high-speed railway.
The 35th ASEAN Summit and related meetings will take place inBangkok and its neighbouring province of Nonthaburi from November 2-4./.
VNA
