PM bites bullet after riding high-speed train in Japan

Thailand plans to build high-speed railway links connecting Bangkok to tourist destinations south of the Thai capital modeled on Japan's bullet trains, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Thursday.

Prayuth heads a military government that is looking for big ticket schemes to stimulate growth in Thailand, Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, which is still struggling to regain traction following the coup in May.

During an official visit to Japan this week where he met Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, Prayuth rode the Shinkansen, or bullet train, from Tokyo to Osaka, prompting him to consider a similar network for Thailand.

"I would like to see it happen for tourist destinations like Pattaya and Hua Hin using funding from the state and the private sector," said Prayuth, referring to beach destinations south of Bangkok.

"I am inviting interested parties to fund and support this idea which should happen in the very near future," he added, giving no further details.