Thailand's High Speed Train Projects moving forward
Last updated on August 29th, 2025 at 09:37 am
Thailand has several ambitious High-speed train routine in various stages of development, the map below shows the routes.
High-Speed Rail Project Linking Bangkok Pattaya to Rayong Awaits Cabinet Approval
To see progress status of Thai high speed train projects – click here
These projects will cut travel costs and travel time to many areas of Thailand. The benefits to Thai residence are increased commerce and tourism. This is part of a large project to improve transportation throughout South East Asia, extending to China and India and beyond, known as the belt and road initiative.
The high-speed rail project connecting Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and U-Tapao airports in Thailand, worth 276.5 billion baht, is currently on hold awaiting the appointment of a new chairman for the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee.
The Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO) has announced that this appointment, which requires approval from the yet-to-be-formed new Cabinet, is expected within the year.
Chula Sukmanop, the secretary-general of the EECO, stated that construction areas under state responsibility are fully prepared for handover to the contractor, Asia Era One.
The initiative is slated to start soon after the new chairman’s appointment and aims to complete by 2029.
The project saw a significant move when the Cabinet approved contract amendments on October 19, 2021.
Reference Thai Times link: “High-Speed Rail Project Linking Three Airports Awaits Cabinet Approval”
High speed train from Bangkok to Nong Khai is 45% completed.
The Thai-China Project on Bangkok–Nong Khai HSR Development is a strategic project regarding ASEAN regional connectivity to develop a linkage route between Thailand and other countries both regionally and globally in congruence with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by the government of the People’s Republic of China.
On 11 July 2017, the Thai Cabinet approved the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to execute the Project on Bangkok–Nong Khai HSR Development for Regional Connectivity (Section 1: Bangkok–Nakhon Ratchasima). The project is an international joint development at the government level between Thailand and China. In this regard, the Thai government is responsible for entire project investment, civil works construction, and application of Chinese construction technologies and railway systems. The project commencement ceremony was held on 21 December 2017. With a total budget of 179,412.21 million baht, the project is now under construction and is expected to start operation in 2027.
Reference: “Thai–Chinese High-speed Railway (HSR)“
