Malaysia pitches in on Asean rail link

The Transport Ministry is joining fingers with its Malaysian version to jointly create a high-speed railway system connecting four people of the Association associated with Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

Chayatan Phromsorn, permanent secretary for transport, on Tuesday made welcome Datuk Isham Ishak, his Malaysian equal, and companies through the neighbouring country to talk about ways of cooperating to create a railway program linking the two nations.

Some other attendees included Punya Chupanit, director-general of the Office of Transportation and Traffic Policy and Planning, Rail Transport director-general Pichet Kunadhamraks, and associates of the State Railway of Thailand and the Mass Rapid Transportation Authority of Asia.

The Malaysian officials showed up after Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob released an order to follow along with up on the Feb 25 talks in between Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob for the issue.

Malaysia earlier requested a high-speed train connection with Thailand as being a transit point to hyperlink up with Laos plus China.

Both sides possess exchanged information about the project and Malaysia agreed with the concept of Thailand forming the joint working -panel to discuss such a train system connecting Tiongkok, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. The particular panel has been advised to have a plan in position by the time Asean following meets to discuss transportation issues.

Meanwhile, the first meeting of the Thailand plus Malaysia Railway Joint Working Committee on Aug 5 was hailed as a success by both edges. It was held with a teleconference call plus was chaired by director-general of Thailand’s Land Transport Section.

The 2 sides also discussed preparations for reopening the rail provider from Sungai Kolok district in Narathiwat to Rantau Panjang in Malaysia’s Kelantan state.