The meeting, held at Phang Nga Provincial Hall, saw local leaders and government agencies review and discuss the project’s feasibility, reports the national branch of state news agency NBT.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has hired a consulting firm to conduct a feasibility study for the 18-kilometre railway, which would include four stations: Khok Kloi, Tha Noon, Mai Khao and Phuket International Airport, the report noted.
Suwat Kanphum, Head of the Project Development and Environmental Control Division at SRT, along with representatives from the consulting company, presented project details
However, no details of the meeting were reported. The Public Relations branch for Phang Nga Province failed to mention anything about a rail project in its report, posted on Tuesday (Oct 1).
The State Railway of Thailand has no details about the project posted on its website, other than an annual report marking that the project is to go ahead.
A consulting firm (not named in the government report) is currently gathering data and engaging with local communities in both Phang Nga and Phuket as part of the environmental and public participation studies, said the report.
“This information will be used to develop a comprehensive project plan to present to the Cabinet for further consideration,” the report concluded.
Phuket officials have yet to announce any details about the bridge that will need to be built to make the rail connection a reality.
The most Phuket officials have revealed about the project is that a feasibility study costing B80 million (more than US$2.3mn) is underway as part of the ‘new Sarasin Bridge’ project, which is to feature a ‘dual-track railway.
That information was revealed by the new Phuket Highways Chief, Somkid Kittisopit, early last month.