Singapore to Vientiane via Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok

[jjb1970]

A nice pic of a China - Laos train, image from China Xinhua:

[jjb1970]

More from Laos:

 

https://www.vientianetimes.org.la/freeContent/FreeConten2023_First73.php

[BachelorBoy]

On 14/04/2023 at 23:09, jjb1970 said:

A nice pic of a China - Laos train, image from China Xinhua:

 

I am sceptical about the economics of this line.

 

 

[whart57]

1 hour ago, BachelorBoy said:

 

I am sceptical about the economics of this line.

 

 

 

Economics is not part of the equation. There are two geo-political goals here, both of which rely on the extension from that Laos-Thai border to Bangkok and then the deep water harbours in the Gulf of Thailand. One is to give southern China an alternative sea outlet, and the other is to tie the Thai and other SE Asian economies into the Chinese one. Thailand is one of the main rice producers in the world and it has a more varied agricultural sector as well. Already a lot of that output is now heading north whereas before Thai agricultural exports headed to the West. Thai and Malay factories also supply the West with components like instruments for cars or storage for computers. Again, China would like that feeding its own industries rather than providing the West with stuff they can't afford to make themselves.

[jjb1970]

I am not sure ports on the Gulf of Thailand matter to China. It's a single railway, if you look at the scale of trade and port operations in China a single line to mid-size ports doesn't change much. They have much more internal rail capacity to get goods to their own ports which are massively higher in capacity and efficiency.

 

What might be more useful is to get the line to Malaysia and Klang. That would provide a link to a major port which although in the straits of Malacca is well North of the narrow pinch point. Even that isn't a particularly big deal as the capacity constraint would still limit trade flow volume and it's difficult to imagine a scenario in which the straits were blockaded and a rail link to Malaysia was unaffected.

 

China is obviously peddling influence but ultimately their way of peddling influence at least modernises other countries. China is now the most important trading partner for much of SE Asia, better connectivity promotes that trade without precluding trade with others. If China will pay more for rice sell it to China, if Europe pays more sell it to Europe. Better connectivity gives more options. Ditto Malaysia manufactured goods, for Malaysia what matters is who is willing to invest and trade with them. 

 

If the line does reach Singapore (or even just KL) it opens up multi-directional trade within the region and provides more options and access to other markets.

[jjb1970]

A sad reminder of what Britain once was, and as the plaque indicates it's not just ancient history, the Singapore MRT used rails made in Workington for many years. This crane is just outside the Dyson headquarters. The gauge looks very broad.

 

[jjb1970]

Some pics of the Sentosa Monorail. Although this line is short (2.1Km) it is a genuine transport line and not just a theme park ride, it connects VivoCity/Harbour Front on the main island with three stations on Sentosa island (Singapore's resort island). This is the second Sentosa monorail, the forst one was decommissioned in the mid-00's.

 

[jjb1970]

https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2023/04/21/laos-vietnam-railway-construction-could-begin-by-year-end-developer

 

That's a strange choice of train to illustrate a story about the Laos - Vietnam railway........

[jjb1970]

https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202304/27/WS644a420ba310b6054fad0348.html

 

Jakarta - Bandung high speed railway news.

[jjb1970]

From China Xinhua, one of the new Jakarta - Bandung HSR sets testing.

[EddieB]

On 20/04/2023 at 15:27, jjb1970 said:

A sad reminder of what Britain once was, and as the plaque indicates it's not just ancient history, the Singapore MRT used rails made in Workington for many years. This crane is just outside the Dyson headquarters. The gauge looks very broad.

Seven foot gauge (give or take a quarter inch!) and built in 1907.   Named after Sir John Jackson, who were the contractors for building Singapore's dockyards in the 1930s.

[jjb1970]

A big day for Singapore MRT on Sunday, the first of the new NSEWL trains will enter service:

 

https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/newsroom/2023/6/news-releases/first-batch-of-new-north-south-and-east-west-lines--trains-to-be.html

[jjb1970]

 

[jjb1970]

LTA order trains for the new Cross Island Line:

 

https://str.sg/i3E4

[BachelorBoy]

On 28/05/2023 at 02:01, EddieB said:

Seven foot gauge (give or take a quarter inch!) and built in 1907.   Named after Sir John Jackson, who were the contractors for building Singapore's dockyards in the 1930s.

 

Sir John Jackson Ltd was a gigantic company that built alls sorts of big infrastructure projects around the British Empire.

 

And then it suddenly disappeared.

[Talltim]

According to Companies House, it is still going as a Dormant Company, they have the 1898 incorporation document (from when it changed to Sir)

As he died in 1919 its interesting that his company continued into the 1930s but then disappeared.

[BachelorBoy]

39 minutes ago, Talltim said:

 

As he died in 1919 its interesting that his company continued into the 1930s but then disappeared.

 

I did a bit of Googling, and apparently it was involved in building the Aswan Dam after the War.

 

[whart57]

There was of course a bit of a change in Singapore in 1942

[jjb1970]

I had my first ride in one of the new MRT NSEWL trains tonight coming home from work. The interior is classic MRT, pretty much the same interior as every MRT train from day one, if it isn't broken and all that. That's slightly unfair, as it had that 'new train' feel and overall it does feel refreshed compared to older sets. What does make a real difference, surprisingly so, is the new single piece windows rather than the older windows split into two panels. And the train information system is excellent, though I still think the old system of flights and flashing lights on a route map is near perfect and a model for how to do it. The train did feel quieter and smoother, though I'm not sure whether that's a psychological trick from knowing it is a new train or if they really are smoother and quieter (or indeed, somewhere in the middle). They look a lot more up to date in terms of external styling.

 

 

[BachelorBoy]

 

[jjb1970]

The main issue for the KL - Singapore HS proposal is confidence (or rather lack of) in the Malaysian government. Over the last ten years or so Malaysia has lurched from crisis to crisis and the country still hasn't recovered from the Najib kleptocracy era. Singapore would like the link, it'd add connectivity, potentially free up capacity at Changi airport for more lucrative longer haul routes and help a country that faces much more serious challenges than most in emissions reduction on account of being a densely populated city state. China is also very willing to help as it's no secret they see a SE Asia HS rail network as a great asset. If Malaysia can get its act together it'd be a great development for the region.

[whart57]

A bit of history from fifteen years ago, when Thailand's railways were still suffering from the neglect and hostility of the Shinawatra governments. Phaya Thai station on the SRT's Eastern Line photographed from the platforms of the BTS Phaya Thai station in 2008. The building site to the left was holding material for the new Phaya Thai station on the Suvarnabhumi Airport Link.

 

 

One question I have, which maybe someone has the answer to, is whether the line here is double track or whether it is (was) operated as parallel single tracks. My sketch of the point work at Makkasan suggests the latter.

[jjb1970]

The Jurong Region Line taking shape. The concrete structure to support Gel Poh station and the elevated sections now being installed on the pillars.

 

[jjb1970]

More progress on the Jurong Region Line, adjacent to Jurong Point/Boon Lay.

 

[jjb1970]

A big day in Indonesia tomorrow:

 

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20231001/p2g/00m/0in/031000c