BANGKOK: Thailand is talking to Japan with a view to building three rail routes in the Southeast Asian country, a Thai minister said on Saturday, the latest move by its military government to kick-start long-delayed plans to modernise its aging rail network.

Thailand wants three new lines connecting the capital, Bangkok, with cities in the east, west, north and northeast and Japan had expressed interest in undertaking the work, said Thai Transport Minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Junthong.

His announcement comes a day after Thailand signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China to construct two separate lines of 867km (542 miles) in the kingdom, starting in 2016.

“We’re still in the process of talks (with Japan). It will be clearer after the Japanese government has finished its election and discussion will be made with both sides,” Prajin told reporters on the sidelines of a regional summit in Bangkok.

An overhaul of Thailand’s rail network was proposed long ago but has yet to materialise. The junta wants to start the ball rolling as part of its big infrastructure plans to try to revive an economy blighted by weak spending and exports.

Published in Dawn December 21th , 2014