Japan is planning to undertake a joint feasibility study for a proposed high speed rail link service from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Japan, which has been looking for a consultant to partner it in the study, will sign the contract this year itself in order to finish the four-month study for the 754km rail route early next year. While the State Railway of Thailand will compare the results of the study with those of an earlier OTTPP feasibility study to decide whether it must go ahead with the project or not, Japan will decide on the project after the study is completed.
The study will be looking into the cost and benefit ratio of the project, the route alignment options, number of stations, the best size of track gauge for the route, the railway operating system and the number of potential passengers.
