Re: "High-speed rail line loses va-va-voom", (BP, Dec 27).
It is truly unfortunate that the new train line from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is being downgraded from high speed to medium speed.
Why is the difference important? High-speed trains (defined as 250kph or more) compete with air travel for distances up to 500km. They are safer, more comfortable, competitive in time (taking into account travel time to the airport), less environmentally destructive, and most important more energy efficient. Electric trains are the most energy-efficient means of transport today and are likely to remain so. By contrast, medium-speed trains do not compete with air because travel times are doubled.
A new passenger train is an investment for 50 years in the future. It is a poor investment to build them with technology from the 1970s. Passenger trains of 300kph and more are the norm in many countries. (In China this year I travelled in a prototype 1800kph train. That's Bangkok to Chiang Mai in 20 minutes!)
I don't expect to see maglev trains in Thailand for a long time, but high-speed trains are a mature, well-understood technology and Thailand should be using them on all high-volume overland passenger routes while reserving medium-speed trains for freight and low-volume routes.
Kurt Rudahl
King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi
Enjoying the ride
I see the bullet train project is slated to cost 420 billion baht. My question is why? Why does Thailand need this?
As a frequent train user I find the current train travel enjoyable. If I travel from Bangkok to Buri Ram on a sleeper we have a meal in the dining car and than go to our room and sleep until we get to Buri Ram.
The trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai could not be nicer. Dine on the train, retire to our room and when we wake up in the morning we have a great view of northern Thailand and in a couple of hours arrive in Chiang Mai.
If I am in a hurry I can fly to Buri Ram or Chiang Mai. It is not expensive. Save the money Thailand. Enjoy the journey.
Raymong Raffaini
Big kids on roads
Thai children, especially boys, are taught that they have no need to follow rules. Any breaking of the rules set by society is seen to be macho and this attitude is carried into adulthood and supported by their parents.
The ease at which drivers of vehicles are able to flout the rules is not tolerated in any developed country where, keeping to the rules by any means has a considerable effect on controlling road accidents. Until Thai children are taught at a very early age that playing by the rules is the accepted norm, their progression into adulthood will be nothing less than a danger to a civilised society.
Brian Corrigan
Out with it, Trump
Re: "Trump in the swamp", (PostBag, Dec 26).
Kuldeep Nagi is exactly right in questioning the ethical behaviour of President Donald Trump with regard to his unwillingness to disclose his tax returns. If Mr Trump has no ethical skeletons in his tax closet, why not release the returns? Just what is it he is hiding?
The American public (and the world) deserves to see the president's tax returns and ascertain for themselves whether or not they reflect any ethical shortcomings.
Samanea Saman
Subtle colonialism
Re: "Waking up to history", (PostBag, Dec 28).
Prasan Stianrapapongs in his letter expresses a historical naivety. China does not have to colonise or conquer Thailand or any other country these days with force, threats or military intervention, (except for Taiwan of course). Thais will soon ride in Chinese trains, Chinese buses, stay in Chinese-owned hotels, buy Chinese appliances and other products.
Swedish Volvo is currently owned by Chinese interests and Geely Industries is buying into Swedish Volvo big truck manufacturing.
China does not need to turn to aggression anymore as it did for Tibet. China now colonises subtly through economic takeover. The French and the Brits were at least open about it all.
Sun Wu King
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