“Many stations along the railroads have potential to develop commercially,” he said after meeting yesterday with Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith on drawing up a plan to make use of land along the rail lines.

The move is part of the government’s policy to drive the economy through investment along the East Economic Corridor.

The three other lines are Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima, Bangkok-Hua Hin and Bangkok-Chiang Mai.

The Transport Ministry would study the return on investment of each project and the number of stations with potential for commercial development.

“We expect the study’s results within two weeks before submitting it to the premier,” he said.

The Bangkok-Rayong high-speed railway project would be put on the agenda of the PPP (public private partnership) Policy Committee, he said.

“We know that what foreigners are watching is the investment in the Bangkok-Rayong high-speed railway, airport and seaport projects,” he said.

The faster these projects are materialised, the more economic growth will be driven.

Conceptually, the government would not only avail of the surrounding areas of the railway projects, but also other infrastructure projects. The land to be developed would not only belong to the government, but also the private sector.

After the Highways Depart-ment proposed some rest areas along the Bangkok-Rayong railroad, he asked the department to think more about them, developing them like the rest areas in Japan that are attractive to users.

At the rest areas, outstanding shops and restaurants should be found, not just fast-food courts.

The rest areas should be developed as part of the tourism corridor, not only the economic corridor.

There was much progress on the investment projects, especially the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed railway project.

The 253-kilometre Bangkok-Ratchasima railway is the first phase of the 873km Sino-Thai high-speed railway running from Bangkok to Nong Khai.

Arkhom said the Transport Ministry expects to propose two high-speed railway projects – Bangkok-Rayong and Bangkok-Hua Hin – to the PPP Committee for consideration this month at the earliest or later next month.

The aim is to seek participation from the private sector.

For the Bangkok-Rayong commercial development project, the ministry expects to open bidding by the end of this year.

In parallel, bidding on the construction and operation of the 193km Bangkok-Rayong and the 211km Bangkok-Hua Hin high-speed railway projects would be pushed to open this year.

The Bangkok-Rayong project was estimated at Bt95 billion and the Bangkok-Hua Hin project at Bt152 billion.

“Both railroads are waiting for the results of their environment impact assessment, expecting that they should be coming out this month before seeking approval from the Cabinet,” he said.

The areas surrounding the stations on the Bangkok-Rayong railroad could be developed into hotels and shopping centres.

The Bangkok-Nakhon Ratcha-sima railway project would be next for commercial development.

The Sara Buri, Pak Chong and Nakhon Ratchasima stations had high potential.