By 2030, Thailand’s first high-speed railway network will be up and running. It will connect Thailand to China via Laos. This game-changing project will strengthen bilateral trade between the two countries. Officials hope that this infrastructure, despite the delays, will boost Southeast Asia’s second largest economy in the long term.
Currently, 36% of the first phase, which connects Bangkok with Nakhon Ratchasima Province, has been completed. The design of the second phase, which will extend the line to Nong Khai, in northeastern Thailand has been finalized, and is waiting for cabinet approval. The 609-kilometer (378 miles) rail network, when fully operational, will cost approximately 434 billion baht (12.9 billion). It includes a bridge across the Mekong River that connects Thailand with Laos or China.
This rail network forms part of Thailand’s strategy to strengthen ties between Thailand and China, its biggest trading partner. High-speed rail will provide new opportunities for trade and routes as the country struggles to maintain regional economic momentum. In addition, the two countries have recently waived visas for tourists, further improving tourism connections.
Thailand was responsible for financing and overseeing the project’s development as well as implementing Chinese rail technologies when it began in 2017 as part China’s Belt and Road Initiative. After the first phase is completed, passengers will be able travel from Bangkok, the capital city of China, to Beijing via Vientiane in Laos and Kunming in China. The first phase is expected to cost 179 billion Baht and be operational by the year 2027.
The high-speed train, in addition to boosting the trade, will also greatly improve the transportation connections between China & Southeast Asia. The Thai rail network will complete the Southeast Asian segment. The Laos-China railway route, which opened to traffic in 2021, connects the two nations. The completed rail system will link China directly with several Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia and Singapore.
Thailand’s high speed rail network will play a key role in a region that has seen countries such as China, Japan and Vietnam invest heavily in rail infrastructure. Thailand will benefit from better access to tourism and trade routes. Both are essential for the country to consolidate its position in Southeast Asia’s rapidly expanding economy.
