
BANGKOK — The Thai cabinet has approved the second phase of the high-speed rail project, which will run from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai with a total length of 357 km and will ultimately connect Vientiane with China. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2030. In the meantime, the Prime Minister has ordered an acceleration of the first phase (Bangkok–Nakhon Ratchasima), which has been delayed.
On February 4, the Cabinet approved the implementation of Phase 2 of the high-speed rail project, which includes the Nakhon Ratchasima–Nong Khai section, with a total budget of THB 341.35 billion ($10 billion) and a project duration of 8 years (2025-2032), as proposed by the Ministry of Transport.
The Thai government will fund the project through annual budget allocations, while the Ministry of Finance will be responsible for obtaining loans and guarantees.
This project follows the 2017 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Thailand and China to strengthen cooperation in railroad infrastructure. On July 11, 2017, the Cabinet approved Phase 1 Bangkok–Nakhon Ratchasima, 253 km (THB 179.41 billion or $5.3 billion), which was originally scheduled to be completed within 4 years (2017-2020). However, due to significant delays, only 35.74% of Phase 1 has been completed, meaning that expected operation is now scheduled for 2028.

Phase 2: Project Scope and Components
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) proposed 2nd Phase, consisting of two main components:
High-Speed Rail Construction (Nakhon Ratchasima–Nong Khai)
Total budget: 335.67 billion THB ($9.9 billion)
Distance: 357.12 km, connecting to Phase 1
Five stations:
(1) Bua Yai
(2) Ban Phai
(3) Khon Kaen
(4) Udon Thani
(5) Nong Khai
Construction period: 2025–2032 (8 years)
Natha Freight Transfer Center Construction
Total budget: 5.69 billion THB ($168 million)
Location: Nong Khai
Purpose: To facilitate the transfer of goods between Thai railways (1-meter gauge) and the China-Laos railway (1.45-meter standard gauge) under a One-Stop Service model.
A broad-based economic analysis (EIRR) combining phase 1 and phase 2 showed a return on investment of 13.23 percent, confirming the economic feasibility of the project. The Board of Directors of SRT has approved the 2nd phase and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has also been approved.
The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) has recommended that the Ministry of Transportation expedite the work:
- A feasibility study on the operating model for the high-speed rail system.
- A public-private partnership (PPP) study to explore private sector participation.
- A review of project assumptions to ensure that they are in line with the current economic situation.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need to speed up the completion of Phase 1 (Bangkok–Nakhon Ratchasima) as it has been delayed for several years.
The Cabinet approved the 2nd Phase in principle and instructed the Ministry of Transport and the SRT to implement the NESDC’s recommendations before moving forward. The project must comply with all relevant laws, regulations and Cabinet decisions before it can move forward.
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