Final Exam

Master Thesis Proposal

“A Study of Competitiveness between Low Cost Airline and
High-Speed Rail: A Case Study of Northeastern Corridor
in Thailand”

Submitted by
Anurak Janmonta

Student ID: 1961018

Present
Prof. Sung-Bong Chung

Course: Railroad Investment Assessment, 3rd Semester

Date: June, 30th, 2020
 Master Thesis Proposal

○ Research Subject:

“A Study of Competitiveness between Low Cost Airline and

High-Speed Rail: A Case Study of Northeastern Corridor in Thailand”

○ Researcher: Anurak Janmonta (센먼타 아누락)

○ Purpose and Necessity of Research

At the present, Thai railway have problem in term of infrastructure, such as

the single-track cause to have to reshuffle when two train run in opposite direction,
accident in the railroad crossing area and the limited network has not expanded
more. As well as, management issue such as vehicle speed, punctually and safety.
These problems make train travel may not be an option for those who can be travel
other modes and lead to decrease in the volume of passenger traveling by train.

Therefore, the railway efficiency and capability increase to be a modern and

improve the image. Aim to be regional transportation and traffic hub. There are
plan to invest in the railway transportation development as follows;
1) Improve infrastructure for safety
2) Build double track for rail network
3) Build a new railway line
4) Build an express train / high-speed rail
5) Improve infrastructure and multimodal infrastructure

The development of HSR in Thailand requires a lot of investment budget. The

goal of increasing the speed of the train to increase competitiveness. Travelers are
comfortable, reach the destination on schedule and maintain a good service level.
 In addition, the success of the development of HSR must be distance between
the center that is appropriate for travel. Which HSR will bring benefit for traveling
in the medium term. In the short term less than 200 km or longer than 800 km,
the benefit of the HSR will not be clearly seen. The high-speed rail cannot operate
at the maximum speed on the short trip. The HSR system need time to accelerate
and reduce speed to enter the station which is not far apart. This reasonable, make
the time spent traveling does not differ much with ordinary train. Due to the
efficiency in reducing travel time. Air travel much faster than train in long-distance
travel.

However, air travel still has disadvantages such as the average time spent at
least 40 minutes for travel to airport, checked-in, security check, boarding, baggage
handling and French HSR service in TGV Sud – Est. The amount of air passenger
between Paris and Lyon has been reduced by 50 percent (distance 460 km) and
after started of the Spanish HSR service for 2 years. The demand of air travel Madrid
and Sevilla, distance 470 km has been reduced by 60 percent. Therefore, HSR in
Thailand may have a severe impact on airlines that have medium and long distance
is a distance of 200 – 800 km because both modes of travel are similar in many
ways, such as travel time and fares.

High-speed rail in Thailand was first planed by parliament in 2010 with

proposal. In November 2014, Thailand and China signed a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) agree to construction Thai portion of the transportation
railway form Kunming, China to the Gulf of Thailand. Under the framework, a joint
venture will be set up to run the project. China will conduct feasibility studies,
design the system, construct tunnels and bridges, and lay track. Thailand will
conduct social and environmental impact studies, expropriate land for construction,
handle general civil engineering and power supply, and supply construction
materials.
 The Bangkok–Nong Khai high-speed railway or Northeastern high-speed rail
line is a high-speed railway under construction in Thailand. It is the first high-speed
line in Thailand and constituent part of the Kunming–Singapore railway Central
section. Its first phase, between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima.

Construction divided into four sections: Bangkok-Kaeng Khoi, Map Ta Phut-

Kaeng Khoi, Kaeng Khoi-Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Ratchasima-Nong Khai.
Construction of Thailand's 873 km (542 mi) portion of the railway system started
in December 2017 and is expected to take three years for phase 1 to Nakhon
Ratchasima. (The first contract consisted of a 3.5 km section from Klong Dan to
Pang Asok.)

Thailand has great potential as a major center in the regional economy.

Geographically, Thailand can be a gateway for Laos and Southern China, thus the
country can become the transportation hub of South East Asian. The development
of high-speed rail link between Thailand and neighboring countries will benefit
Thailand in terms of strategic position for regional transport center. It is necessary
to understand the economic impacts of the economic integration though the
international railway project in order to benefit from the project effectively. Thus,
this research aims to gather the knowledge and analyze this topic.

The objectives of this research are:

1) To study the factors that affect the change of travel patterns from LCA
HSR towards air transport travel by LCA to the northeastern corridor.
The processes of the research are summarized in figure.,

The research framework in this study the impact on the number of passengers
using services from Bangkok to northeastern corridor that are likely to switch to
HSR services. In this regard, study only the impact and trend of the passenger
volume. Not including freight.
 The expectations from this study were studied to be able to predict the
number of passengers who will switch to HSR services instead of LCA. In order to
be able to know factors related to travelers' mode of travel. Predict the probability
of choosing a mode of transportation for travelers.

Review of literature related to research, in order to gather information in

formulating research guideline and methods. By dividing the into 5 issue as follows;
1) National policies and strategies
1.1) National economic and social development plan
1.2) National transportation master plan 2011 – 2020
1.3) State Railway of Thailand Enterprise plan
1.4) Master plan of railway system and HSR development
2) Traveling by public transport within the country.
2.1) Comparison of travel by public transport within the country
2.2) Domestic air transport (LCA) information and statistics
2.3) Intercity rail transport situation in Thailand
3) HSR system development
3.1) HSR system development from worldwide Perspective
3.2) Benefit of HSR
3.3) HSR system development in the country
4) Analysis of the decision to select travel modes
4.1) Theories involve in the analysis of decision making to travel
mode choice
- Data exploration by Reveal Preference: RP
- Data exploration by State Preference: SP
5) Summary of model suitable for this research

The methodology of this research, in this chapter we will discuss the research
guidelines. Consist of the study area, population determination and sample group,
designing a questionnaire for interviewing travelers. Including guideline for
analyzing travel mode choice in the future. With detail as follows;
 1) Study area
2) Population and sample group
3) Data conduct in survey
3.1) Traveling in current condition
3.2) Traveling option under the scenario
3.3) Attitudes toward domestic air transport
3.4) Traveler’s economic and social information
4) Experimental design

Basic statistical analysis chapter. The chapter discuss the preliminary data
from the sample survey of travelers to the northeastern corridor. The object to
determine the travel characteristic in the economic, travel and opinions regarding
domestic travel.

In the last chapter, we will discuss, summary and recommendation about the
impact of HSR on travel to northeastern corridor. Focus on the prediction of the
impact on the medium-distance to long-distance. The prediction of effect can be
obtained from the creation of the scenario. In which travelers have not had real
experience with HSR. Therefore, may cause some discrepancy in the calculation of
the effect.

○ Research Schedule (Plan)

N Sequence June July August September October November

o. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
1 Data Collection

2 Introduction and
Background
3 Literature review

4 Methodology

5 Basic statistical
analysis
6 Conclusion and
Recommendation
○ Bibliography
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- Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP). Office, The Master
Plan for the Development of High-speed Rail or Express Train System:
Study of the Master Plan for the Development of High-speed Rail and
Train System.
- Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, “Thailand Master
Plan for Development of Double Track Rail and High-Speed-Rail”,
Bangkok, Thailand, 2010.
- Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, “Thailand intercity
public transport study,” Bangkok, Thailand, Final Rep., 2009
- International Union of Railways (UIC). (2013). High Speed Lines in the
World. Available http://www.uic.org/spip.php?article573. [Accessed: 2
May 2013].
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experiences abroad,” Research of Institute of Applied Economics,
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public transport study,” Bangkok, Thailand, Final Rep., 2009.
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Plan for Transport and Traffic Development,” Bangkok, Thailand, Draft
Final Rep., 2010.
- Ministry of Transport,“Draft of thailand high speed rail standard
specification,” Thailand, 2011.
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plan for transport and traffic development,” Bangkok, Thailand, 2010.
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