Ministry of Transport Visits Japan

27/05/2015

During 27-29 May 2015, Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong visited Japan with Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith and his group, to have a discussion with Mr. Akihiro Ohta, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism: MLIT and the Ambassador of Thailand to Japan, about the cooperation on railway systems on 27 May 2015.

The ministers signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on developing high-speed rail links for Bangkok - Chiang Mai line, Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) line, Kanchanaburi – Bangkok line, Bangkok – Chachoengsao - Aranyaprathet District line, Bangkok – Chachoengsao – Laem Chabang line, and other future lines by adopting Japan’s bullet train technologies and experiences in the field. Japan will be preparing for the project as soon as possible.

On 28 May 2015, the minister also went to Japan Transport Engineering Company (JTREC) to observe the progress of the trains for Thailand’s purple line which are expected to be delivered by October 2015 and start the test run on 5 December 2015 before opening for the public next year. The minister rode the E7 series bullet train and observed JR East’s control center as well.