Based on the latest data from the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), the Thailand-China high-speed rail project connecting Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima Province reached a completion rate of 71.36% as of August. Thailand's Minister of Transport, Suriya Jungrungreangkit, announced that the first phase of the project is scheduled to be fully operational by 2028.

The construction of the 873-kilometer high-speed railway has been allocated a budget of 341 billion baht. This strategic project, which began in 2017, faced several challenges due to differing views on financing between the two countries involved. The project is divided into 14 work packages, with a total budget of 179.41 billion baht.

Progress in Thai-Chinese High-Speed Railway

The first phase of Thailand's high-speed rail construction began on December 21, 2017, covering a 253-kilometer route from the government center to Nakhon Ratchasima in the northeast. The second phase, which spans 356 kilometers from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai, is estimated to cost $9.8 billion.

The second phase is expected to be operational by 2030 and will connect to the China-Laos high-speed rail network. This phase has passed its environmental impact assessment, and the construction review is scheduled to begin next year, with completion targeted for the first quarter of 2025 and full operation of both sections by 2028.

Of the total work packages, two have been completed, nine are still under construction, and three have yet to begin. This project is part of China's global Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to link China, Laos, and Thailand through a high-speed rail network.

Expansion Plan

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has also been tasked by the Ministry of Transport with finding strategic private sector partners to implement the second phase of the double-track railway project, with a total investment value of US$8.5 billion.

This project covers six main routes: the 285-kilometer Paknam Pho-Den Chai line, the 168-kilometer Chumphon-Surat Thani line, the 189-kilometer Surat Thani-Hat Yai line, the 308-kilometer Thanon Chira Junction-Ubon Ratchathani line, the 45-kilometer Hat Yai Junction-Padang Besar line, and the 189-kilometer Denchai-Chiang Mai line.