[Tlc] L-railways

[justinm at ucr.edu]

FYI.
Thanks,
justin



2008-1121 - ANN - Laos plans national rail network

http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?id=2769&sec=2&t=2720

Laos plans national rail network

By Phonsavanh Vongsay
Vientiane Times
Publication Date: 21-11-2008

The Lao government plans to develop a nationwide railway to support the growing mining sector and heavy goods delivery.

It is envisaged the railway will cover 2,500 km and cost about 113 trillion kip (more than US$13 billion) to build.

Planning and Cooperation Department Deputy Director General, Phetsamone Viraphanth, said in a recent interview the idea had gathered pace in response to the needs of investors in the mining sector.

“This step is necessary because industrial development projects are booming and require improved infrastructure for goods and equipment delivery,” he said.

The project calls for the laying of track from China to Vientiane , and from Vientiane to the provinces of Khammuan, Savannakhet and Champassak. The proposed network would also be linked to Cambodia , Vietnam and Thailand .

“But we have a problem finding funds for such a project at this time,” Phetsamone said.

The railway would mainly provide service for projects such as the mining of iron ore, copper, aluminium and gold.

One iron ore mining project currently delivers 50,000 to 150,000 tonnes a year. Laos produces 200,000 to 300,000 tonnes of minerals for export each year.

“We can't use roads because they aren't good enough at present. They are not designed for heavy transport and will rapidly deteriorate,” he said.

Road surfaces are already deteriorating as a result of heavy trucks loaded with minerals.

“A railway can transport many more tonnes than our roads can,” Phetsamone said.

The government has given permission to the governments of China and Vietnam to conduct studies and design the main lines, the backbone of the project. Branch lines will link to provinces and mining sites.

The Chinese study covers a rail link from the Chinese border to Champassak province. The southern province will then become a rail gateway to Thailand .

“ China has completed the study and design phase. We are now waiting for a report of the results,” Phetsamone said.

Vietnamese experts have designed another main line running from Khammuan province to the Vietnamese border.

“The study was completed and reported to us but we are now searching for investors willing to fund the project,” he said.

“We hope to see progress by 2015. Some companies have expressed interest in investing in such a project.”

The government has already signed memorandums of understanding with two foreign investors.

One investor, Giant Group Limited, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands , will conduct a survey and design a railway from Savannakhet province to Lao Bao at the Vietnamese border. The design covers 220km of electrified railway track and includes three main stations.

The Flagship Superconductivity Group, a group of experts from Hong Kong and Japan , will undertake a feasibility study to assess the possibility of an elevated high speed rail network in Vientiane .

The present proposal is an elevated track 51 kilometres in length, with six stations at the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge , Morning Market, Wattay International Airport , Thongpong, the National University of Laos and the new National Stadium.

(c)2002 ASIA NEWS NETWORK
1854 Bangna-Trad Road
Bangna, Bangkok, 10260 Thailand

Telephone Number:: (+66)2-338-3333
Fax Number: (+66) 2-338-3311
__._,_.___

______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu