The Future Impact (Positive & Negative) of the High Speed Rail Development on Cities in Thailand Saittawut Yutthaworakool

The Future Impact (Positive & Negative) of the High Speed Rail Development on Cities in Thailand Saittawut Yutthaworakool Introduction High Speed Rail is linked to the economic growth of the border, it will be easier to access to the people. It; moreover, reduce the time and cost of travel. More importantly, it reduces the cost of transportation of farmers. High Speed Rail will keep vegetables in quality and fresh
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Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand According to the quotation, there was a debate about the use of High Speed Rail whether it was for transporting agricultural products or for people. The idea of developing High Speed Rail had been introduced and studied in 1992 during Chuans government. Later, the project: Interconnecting Bangkok Rayong was approved by the government on 30 August 1994. In 2004, Thaksins government appointed the feasibility study committee for Bangkok Nakhon Ratchasima route. Unfortunately, there was a coup in 2006. Thus, the project was paused. On December 2008, Democrat Partys government led by Abhisit allowed Japanese and Chinese companies to study on Bangkok Chiang Mai route (Japan), and BangkokNong Khai route (China). Two years later, the parliament approved the negotiation agenda
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a 3rd year student majoring in Politics and International Relations, Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University, THAILAND 2 Translated from "!'' 2.." , 28, 2556. http://www.komchadluek.net/detail/20130328/154964/! 2..html 3 " - -." working paper., , 1995. http://www.nesdb.go.th/specialWork/suvarnabhumi/articles_center/rapid_train_in_thailand/rapid_train_summar y - january2539.pdf. 4 ". .-." , 25, 2554. http://www.thairath.co.th/content/eco/211886 (accessed May 19, 2013).

The Future Impact (Positive & Negative) of the High Speed Rail Development on Cities in Thailand Saittawut Yutthaworakool

in cooperation and development of Railway system between Thailand and China in 5 routes which were Bangkok Nong Khai, Bangkok Rayong, Bangkok Padang Besar, Bangkok Chiang Mai and Bangkok- Ubon Ratchathani. In 2011, Yinglucks government signed the memorandum of understanding with Chinese government including the project of High Speed Rail from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, which there would be Joint Venture among two governments. In 2013, the agenda of borrowing 2 million million baht to develop the infrastructures of the country, including the High Speed Rail was announced by the parliament.
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" : ." , 11, 2555. http://thainews.prd.go.th/centerweb/News/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNECO5512110020001 (accessed May 19, 2013). 6 , ., . "... 2 ." , , sec. : , 25, 2556. 2http://www.bangkokbiznews.com/home/detail/politics/opinion/aporn/20130425/502093/...-.html (accessed May 19, 2013).
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The Future Impact (Positive & Negative) of the High Speed Rail Development on Cities in Thailand Saittawut Yutthaworakool

Positive Impact 1. Decentralization Process: Distribution of Growth and Wealth and Reduction of

Urban Poverty When High Speed Rail accesses to the cities, growth and wealth enter the cities as well. Inclusive governance which state empowers the public participation becomes reality. Communities start to talk about the positive and negative impact of it. Although they do not want the High Speed Rail to pass their cities, they become awakening of what the government project. Growth and wealth also flow into their cities because the access of network society. Urban poverty will reduce dramatically because employment will strengthen their life. Condominium, gated communities will be constructed similar to Bangkok for higher income people and their well-being. 2. Creation of Network Society
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Regarding to Network Society by Manuel Castells , the force of globalization in various dimensions affects future of the cities. Castells discusses about the interaction between information technology and society which creates new type of society, and play vital role in power relation. High Speed Rail will connect cities around Thailand, and neighboring countries. It tracks cities from full motorization strategy cities to strong center strategy cities regarding to models of the relationship between transport policy and urban structure. Nakhonsawan, Phitsanulok or Saraburi, which have been gateways to other cities such as Chiang Mai or Nakhon Ratchasima will rise up economically when the stops are located
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Castells, Manuel. "Local and Global: Cities in the Network Society." working paper., Department of City and Regional Planning, University of California, Berkeley, October 2001.

The Future Impact (Positive & Negative) of the High Speed Rail Development on Cities in Thailand Saittawut Yutthaworakool

there. Bangkok will become the strong hub supported by sub-centers such as cities mentioned earlier. It will be a large metropolitan region where people live along the BTS or MRT lines. Moreover, transnational cities such as Mae Sot, Tak or Phibun Mungsahan, Ubon Ratchathani emerge along the routes. Cities such as Chiang Mai, Udon Thani or Hat Yai will become cosmopolitan or plural society which is full of multiculturalism. Then it may lead to the creation of transnational issue. Local management becomes stronger as communication accessibility that people do not have to rely on the central government. Ratchaburi and Nakhon Pathom may build up relationship on western gate economic markets without waiting for the central government approval.

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Safe and Convenient Access for Agricultural to Market and Inexpensive

Tourism Industry

The Future Impact (Positive & Negative) of the High Speed Rail Development on Cities in Thailand Saittawut Yutthaworakool

As PM Yinglucks statement and the physical geography of Thailand that agricultural products are the major exported products of the country, High Speed Rail will be beneficial for them to access these products to access not only domestic market, but also global market because of less time length and cost of transportation. In addition, it strengthens the cities to be sub-centers following Bangkok. For instance, rice products from Khon Kaen can be transported to Udon Thani International Airport less than 30 minutes before exporting to China. Products can be kept fresh, whereas farmers earn faster. Foreign tourists no longer take buses or trains if High Speed Rail exists. Some tourists cannot afford for the air ticket, while they do not want to waste time on buses or trains. High Speed Rail becomes an alternative way to travel. Thailand comprises of many beautiful tourist attractions, but there are less than ten cities that are well-known by foreigners. High Speed Train can promote the tourism industry because it contains stops in different provinces such as Chumphon or Uttaradit. Moreover, they can take High Speed Rail to connect to other cities; for instance, getting off at Ratchaburi station, then connecting to train to Kanchanaburi. Cities around these stations will gain benefit, while people will be strong through job employment that stimulates growth and wealth in the region. Then people have more power to control, audit, and participate in the public governance, because Thailands largest industry is always service sector and tourism.
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"Country Profile: Thailand, July 2007." working paper., Library of Congress - Federal Research Division, 2007.

The Future Impact (Positive & Negative) of the High Speed Rail Development on Cities in Thailand Saittawut Yutthaworakool

Negative Impact 1. Routes and Stations Are Not Enough Routes and stations of High Speed Rail according to the plan seem not to be enough. First, the northern route ends at Chiang Mai, which is not the top northern province of Thailand. In my perspective, Chiang Rai should be the destination of this route because its border connects to Myanmar (Tachileik and Mae Sai), where it takes only 300 kilometers to Kunming, China. Second, the northeastern route should not end at Nakhon Ratchasima because it is just the open gate of the Northeast which it takes only 2 more hours or 200 kilometers to arrive by car, while Nong Khai which passengers may drop at Udon Thani International Airport or continue to Vientiane, Laos creates more opportunity for border market earning more than 8 billion baht in 2012.
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Department of Foreign Trade, "4.7.2 () ()." Accessed May 20, 2013. http://bordertrade.dft.go.th/DFT/Report/4.7.2.Detail.asp?Country_Code=LA.
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The Future Impact (Positive & Negative) of the High Speed Rail Development on Cities in Thailand Saittawut Yutthaworakool

Likewise, Rayong has recently announced that it will be the destination of this route despite Trat should represent as it connects to Cambodia. Trat also owns interesting tourist attractions as well. Last, the southern route that should not end at Hua Hin because there are several roads to Hua Hin, and it takes only 2 hours to arrive. It seems unreasonable for Hua Hin to represent the destination. Hat Yai may be more favorable as it is currently southern hub attracting Malaysian and Singapore tourists every year. Moreover, High Speed Rail connects Malaysia and Singapores capitals that may be completed in 2020 Malay Peninsula economy more or less.
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will benefit the

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"Singapore, Malaysia Set 2020 Target for High-Speed Rail Link." Bloomberg, , sec. Sustainability, February 19, 2013. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-19/singapore-malaysia-set-2020-target-for-new-highspeed-rail-link.html (accessed May 20, 2013).

The Future Impact (Positive & Negative) of the High Speed Rail Development on Cities in Thailand Saittawut Yutthaworakool

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Political Power Abuses The High Speed Train megaproject may lead to the abuses in various dimensions. For

instance, Pattaya City had been the destination of the eastern route project at the very beginning. Later, it was changed to Rayong which is one of Eastern Sea Board provinces, despite It takes only 60 kilometers from Pattaya to Rayong. I have predicted that it may be because Rayong does not have Pheu Thai Partys Members of Parliament. In addition, Democrat Party is very strong in the area, thus it may be easier to attract people in Chonburi province which there are more than half Palang Chon Partys MPs in the province. Moreover, Pattaya is a big pluralistic city which both central and local government earns large amount of revenues. Corruption through political power is one of issues that people are affected by actions of central and local governments. There is a rumor that some real estate businessmen have
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The Future Impact (Positive & Negative) of the High Speed Rail Development on Cities in Thailand Saittawut Yutthaworakool

bought the lands that the High Speed Rail will pass in order to gain profit from the expropriation. Moreover, some MPs have connection with local landlords who are also local politicians may use the High Speed Rail project to plan their business in their cities. Another important issue for planning in Thailand is that there is not much public participation. Planning is seen as top-down process despite people who are affected by the project of High Speed Rail should be consulted by the state. Civil society such as NGOs should be the mediator among the state, private and public stakeholders of this project. However, Thailand as deconcentration, bottom-up planning by public hearing process from the citizens has not yet been effective and efficient. 3. Growth and Wealth Effects on Unplanned Cities Thailand is an unplanned country regarding to comprehensive plan and unpractical laws. When transportation system occurs, habitats are built to serve new migrants. Natural resources or ecology can be degraded after these built environments effect the land-use planning. They may destroy or imbalance the three scopes of built, people and non-built environments. However, this issue must be dealt with the local government, and corruption may become an obstacle for these unplanned cities. Therefore, Thailand needs to study physical development planning, economic planning and urban governance according to Healeys 3 main types of planning (Healey, 1997: chapter 1, page 11) Green politics in environmental movement and challenge between capitalist and civil society may cause conflict and slower the High Speed Train progress. Hua Hin, for instance, may inevitably become the resident for the migrants, and totally destroy the uniquely old quiet Hua Hin city. Conclusion

The Future Impact (Positive & Negative) of the High Speed Rail Development on Cities in Thailand Saittawut Yutthaworakool

In my opinion, High Speed Rail has more positive than negative impact because it is beneficial for many aspects, especially economic dimension that it will create the distribution of growth and wealth, and reduce urban poverty, establish network society, and strengthen tourism industry and exporting products, more focusing on agricultural sector. High Speed Rail; moreover, supports the integration of ASEAN Community that capital will flow borderless. However, High Speed Rail with a large amount of loan can raise debt issue and corruption which challenges our future for the next generation, and it is still debatable among the Thai society.

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