SINGAPORE-based construction and engineering company Econ International has been appointed to assist the Chinese government with the development of part of the proposed Trans-Asia rail network in northern Thailand. Under a recently-signed trade agreement between China and Thailand, China Railway Communication Corp is to fund and build the planned 245 km route between Denchai and Chiang Rai over seven years, at an estimated cost of S$850m.
Econ China will be responsible for design and construction of the trackwork. Subsquent phases of the project are expected to include upgrading of the existing SRT line south of Denchai.
On June 6, Malaysian Railway’s General Manager, Freight, Abd Radzak Abd Malek revealed that KTMB was bidding to assist Royal Cambodian Railways with upgrading its existing line between Phnom Penh and Sianoukhville, and with restoring the war-damaged 48 km cross-border link from Sisopon to Aryanprathet in Thailand, which would also form part of the Trans-Asia network.
