Rail development project worth 297 billion baht moves to next approval stage at National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) meeting
Thailand's Dual-Track Railway Project Moves Forward
The second phase of Thailand's ambitious dual-track railway project is set to receive approval from the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), following the submission of the project details to the council [1]. The project, spanning 1,249 km and valued at approximately 297.9 billion baht, will significantly upgrade the country's transport infrastructure and enhance regional connectivity [1][4].
The six routes of the project have been categorized into three priority groups. The high-priority routes include the Surat Thani–Hat Yai–Songkhla route (321 km, 66.27 billion baht), Pak Nam Pho–Den Chai route (218 km, 81.14 billion baht), and Chumphon–Surat Thani route (168 km, 30.42 billion baht) [1]. These routes focus on key connections in the southern and northern regions, linking cities such as Surat Thani, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Den Chai, and Chiang Mai [1].
The medium-priority routes consist of the Chira Junction–Ubon Ratchathani route (308 km, 44.10 billion baht) and the Den Chai–Chiang Mai route (189 km, 68.22 billion baht) [1]. The lowest-priority route is the Hat Yai–Padang Besar route (45 km, 7.77 billion baht) [1].
The project's procurement plans include new freight containers, aiming to support increased cargo capacity and logistics efficiency. The new freight container flatcars are expected to be available by 2027–2032 [4].
The Transport Ministry has received the necessary information from the State Railway of Thailand and has submitted the project proposal to the NESDC. Once the NESDC board approves the investment plan, the Ministry will compile all feedback before presenting the project to the cabinet for final approval [1]. Agencies, including the Budget Bureau and the Finance Ministry, have already submitted their opinions [1].
This extensive railway development is a critical part of Thailand’s broader transport infrastructure upgrade, intended to boost regional connectivity and logistic throughput by rail [1][4]. The project's successful implementation will undoubtedly contribute to the country's economic growth and development.
[1] Source: The Nation [4] Source: Bangkok Post
The Transport Ministry's procurement plans for Thailand's dual-track railway project also involve enhancing the finance sector by investing in new freight containers, aiming to boost the nation's logistics efficiency in transportation and finance. The successful implementation of this project is expected to contribute significantly to Thailand's economic growth and development, particularly in the industry sector, by enhancing regional connectivity.
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