Resolution reached for Bang Saphan railway crossing delays

Meeting yields construction solutions for Hin Kong railway crossing dilemma as dual track progress edges closer to finish line

Bang Saphan district, Prachuap Khiri Khan: On April 19, 2024, at 3:30 PM, Mr. Sutin Prasertsak (นายสุทิน ประเสริฐศักดิ์), District Chief of Bang Saphan (อำเภอบางสะพาน), convened a meeting with key stakeholders to discuss and find solutions for the construction of the Hin Kong (บ้านหินกอง) railway crossing in Moo 2, Pong Prasat Subdistrict (ตำบลพงศ์ประศาสน์), Bang Saphan District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province (จังหวัดประจวบคีรีขันธ์).

The attendees included:

• Mr. Pramuan Phongthavara Dech (นายประมวล พงศ์ถาวราเดช), Member of Parliament for Prachuap Khiri Khan, District 3
• Mr. Charin Kancharat (นายชรินทร์ กาญจนรัตน์), Provincial Council Member for Prachuap Khiri Khan, District 4
• Mr. Somsak Chusri (นายสมศักดิ์ ชูศรี), District Officer of Pong Prasat
• Mr. Worawit Duangkaew (นายวรวิทย์ ดวงแก้ว), District Justice Officer
• Mr. Thanachai Buachuang (นายธนาชัย บัวช่วง), President of Pong Prasat Subdistrict Administrative Organization
• Mr. Buntham Khaoplod (นายบุญธรรม ขาวปลอด), Headman of Pong Prasat Subdistrict
• Mr. Somnuk Phlangkan (นายสมนึก พลังการ), District Road Maintenance Officer, Ban Krut
• Mr. Sirichai Wajararat (นายศิริชัย วาจารัตน์), Project Coordinator
• Local Administrative Organization members and village headmen

The meeting aimed to address issues raised by Prachuap news media on April 2, 2024, regarding the delayed construction of the Hin Kong railway crossing. The Railway Authority of Thailand’s contract with the current contractor will expire in May 2024, prompting urgent action to resolve the situation.

The meeting resulted in the following preliminary resolutions:

1. The project coordinator will issue a letter urging the contractor to complete the railway crossing construction by May 7, 2024.
2. The Pong Prasat Subdistrict Administrative Organization will allocate a budget of approximately 500,000 THB to construct an underpass. A request for permission to use the land for construction will be submitted to the Governor of the State Railway of Thailand.
3. The project coordinator will discuss with the contractor the possibility of constructing a temporary underpass to alleviate the immediate inconvenience faced by the local residents.

Source

Dual Track Prachuap status update

The entire upgraded dual track route running through Prachuap Khiri Khan, part of the larger Nakhon Pathom to Chumphon project, is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2024. The section from Hua Hin to Prachuap Khiri Khan has already been completed and is currently undergoing tests, with full services anticipated soon.

According to a project update by Matichon from July 2023, the route from Nakhon Pathom to Chumphon, covers a distance of 167 kilometers with 20 stations.

The project is divided into two contracts:

1. Contract 1: Prachuap Khiri Khan to Bang Saphan Noi, 88 kilometers long. This segment includes 10 new stations, 5 conserved stations, 5 stops, 25 overpasses, and 25 U-turn overpasses. As of that date, the construction progress was at 93.51%.
2. Contract 2: Bang Saphan Noi to Chumphon, 79 kilometers long. This includes 10 new stations, 3 stops, 68 bridges, 4 overpasses, 13 U-turn overpasses, and 16 underpasses, with a progress rate of 96.52%.

At that time, the double-track section from Khao Tao to Prachuap Khiri Khan (about 78 kilometers) was already in use. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) planned to gradually open additional sections, starting from Bang Khem to Nong Sala (48 kilometers) and Ban Don Sai to Nong Mongkol (23.77 kilometers).

Track laying was reportedly 100% complete, with only station finishing and minor details remaining. A major concern was the pedestrian crossing between platforms, which required passengers to walk to the ends of platforms and cross at ground level. The Department of Rail Transport recommended building underpasses or overpasses for safety.

Chumphon’s container yard (CY) was finished, and private companies had started using it for rubber transport. Additionally, durians were transported via rail through Laos to China on June 26, 2023. Chumphon’s locomotive depot was being expanded to include a new maintenance and washing facility, expected to be completed by September 2023. This was anticipated to enhance maintenance capabilities for the double-track trains.

SRT planned to open the double-track railway from Prachuap Khiri Khan to Chumphon (Contract 2: Bang Saphan Noi to Chumphon) in phases starting in late 2023. The segments from Bang Saphan Noi to Khlong Wang Chang (47.1 kilometers) were set to open in August 2023, Pathio to Ban Khok Ma (14.7 kilometers) in September 2023, Saphli to Na Chueak (15.4 kilometers) in October 2023, and Chumphon station (1.8 kilometers) in December 2023.

The double-track railway is expected to significantly reduce travel time, enhance punctuality and safety, lower logistics costs, and improve the efficiency of Thailand’s rail transport system.