Thailand’s long-awaited high-speed rail project, which will connect the country to China via Laos, is expected to begin operations by 2030, the Thai government announced on January 29.
The rail line, stretching 609 kilometers (378 miles), will be part of the country’s push to improve infrastructure and economic ties with its largest trading partner, China.
Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub revealed that over one-third of the construction has already been completed for the segment linking Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, approximately 220 kilometers (137 miles) away. The entire route to Nong Khai, situated at the Thai-Laos border, is slated for completion by 2030.
Originally scheduled to begin operations in 2021, the project has experienced delays, which, in turn, pushed its expected launch date back by almost a decade.
However, the Thai government remains optimistic, with Jirayu stressing that the rail network will allow Thailand to better connect to the global economy.
He added that the development aligns with Thailand’s broader vision of becoming a regional logistics hub, helping to meet the growing demand for trade and connectivity within Southeast Asia.
The high-speed rail link is part of a broader effort to increase economic ties between Thailand and China. The Thai network will connect directly with a US$6 billion rail line in Laos, which began operations in 2021.
It will further extend to the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming. From Kunming, passengers will be able to reach China’s capital, Beijing, through additional high-speed services.
The Thai segment of the railway is projected to cost 434 billion baht (approximately US$12.6 billion). The Thai government will be responsible for all aspects of the project, including investment, civil works, and the application of Chinese technology and construction methods.
Notably, the Thai-Laos rail connection also promises to facilitate tourism between the two countries, following the recent agreement to waive tourist visas for their citizens. This follows China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), under which the high-speed rail project was initiated back in 2017.
Moreover, in the coming years, the rail line will also become a crucial link in a broader infrastructure network extending from China into Southeast Asia.
The Spokesperson added that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered accelerated progress on this and other major infrastructure projects, including Thailand’s double-track railways and Land Bridge projects, to position the country as Asia’s logistics hub.
China Advances While India Falls Behind
In addition to China’s expanding railway network, India also has ambitions to establish rail connectivity with Thailand. Under the proposed Trans-Asian Rail Network, New Delhi envisions a rail link that would extend from India to Myanmar and Thailand.
However, despite the project being approved several years ago, little tangible progress has been made. The development of the India-Thailand Rail Link primarily hinges on revamping and restoring railway networks in Myanmar.
Additionally, it requires establishing a connection between Moreh, a town in Manipur near the India-Myanmar border, and the broader Indian railway system.
One of the key obstacles hampering progress is the ongoing security crisis in Myanmar. Since 2021, the country has been embroiled in severe conflict between the ruling military junta and insurgent groups, making large-scale infrastructure projects nearly impossible to implement.
Another major connectivity initiative in the region is the India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) Trilateral Highway. This ambitious 1,360-kilometer road network is designed to link Manipur in India’s northeast with Mae Sot in Thailand, passing through key Myanmar cities such as Mandalay and Bagan.
As of 2023, the Indian government reported that roughly 70 percent of the highway had been completed. However, construction on the remaining 30 percent remains stalled due to Myanmar’s volatile security situation.
In comparison to India’s stalled projects, China has made significant headway in developing transportation infrastructure across Southeast Asia.
As part of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has pursued multiple rail and road projects designed to bolster trade and economic ties in the region. The BRI includes three major railway corridors originating from Kunming, which extend through Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Vietnam has also announced ambitious rail development plans. The country is aiming to construct a 1,541-kilometer (958-mile) high-speed railway linking its two largest cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with an estimated cost exceeding US$67 billion and a targeted completion date of 2035.
Additionally, Vietnam plans to build a US$7.2 billion railway connecting China’s Yunnan province with Hanoi, Haiphong, and Ha Long City, further integrating the region’s transport networks.
While India continues to struggle with geopolitical and logistical roadblocks, China’s infrastructure projects are already reshaping Southeast Asia’s transportation landscape, with railway links extending further into Malaysia and Singapore.
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