By 2030, Thailand will complete a high-speed rail linking China and Thailand via Laos and boost trade.
Thailand will complete the construction of a high-speed rail linking China and Thailand via Laos by 2030 to boost trade and tourism.
Thailand aims to complete the first high-speed rail linking the country to China via Laos by 2030. The ambitious project, which has been repeatedly delayed, is seen by officials as key to strengthening bilateral relations and boosting trade.
According to government spokesman Jirayu Khungsub, construction of the first phase connecting Bangkok and Nakhonratchasima province is about 36 percent complete. The design of the second phase, which will extend the rail line to the northeastern border province of Nongkhai, has been completed and is ready to be submitted to the cabinet for approval.
The rail line will be 609 kilometers long and is estimated to cost 434 billion Thai baht (US$12.9 billion). It will connect the Thai rail network to the Lao-Chinese line via a bridge over the Mekong River.
The project is strategically vital for Thailand as it seeks to improve transportation links with China, its largest trading partner. Strengthening ties with China is particularly important as Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy struggles to keep up with the growth of its regional rivals. In addition to trade, the countries are strengthening tourism ties: last year, both abolished tourist visas for their citizens.
Once operational, the Thai-Lao rail network will allow travel from Bangkok to the Chinese capital, with stops in Vientiane and the southern Chinese city of Kunming. From there, there is a separate high-speed rail link to Beijing.
Construction of the high-speed rail network in Thailand began in 2017 as part of China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative. The Thai government is responsible for all investment in the project, construction of civil facilities, and using Chinese construction technology and rail systems.
The first phase of the project, estimated to cost 179 billion Thai baht to build, is expected to be operational in 2027.
Many see the Laos and Thai segments as the beginning of infrastructure that will directly connect China to much of Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and Singapore. Laos opened its rail line connecting the country to China in 2021. It cost nearly $6 billion.
According to Jirayu Hungsub, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtharn Shinawatra has ordered an acceleration of work to build high-speed and double-track railroads and a land bridge to make Thailand the logistics hub of Asia. This ambitious plan underscores Thailand’s ambition to occupy a key position in the regional transportation network and capitalize on growing economic integration.
The successful implementation of the high-speed rail project will strengthen trade and economic ties with China and create new opportunities to boost tourism and attract investment, contributing to Thailand’s continued economic growth. The project also demonstrates China’s growing influence in the region and its active participation in infrastructure development in Southeast Asian countries.
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