SRT plans high-speed rail talks with Malaysia
Thailand is preparing to sit for talks with Malaysia to discuss an ambitious initiative to build a new high-speed train system linking Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. The planned meeting follows interest expressed earlier by the Malaysian transport minister, which drew an enthusiastic response from Thai transport officials who are thinking about an alternative to planes, appropriate train routes and the number of prospective passengers. The State Railway of Thailand has been instructed to hold initial talks with Malaysian transport officials to pave the way for high-level meetings between ministers of the two countries, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said on November 23. This is an international route, so authorities need to plan carefully from the beginning and decide whether the countries will jointly study the whole route or look into sections of the rail tracks in each country separately, he said.
