Report SRT Delays Thai-Chinese Rail Project Completion to Late 2025

[webfact]

Picture via Facebook State Railway of Thailand (SRT)

 

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Board has decided to extend the deadline for the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project by 201 days.

 

The delay affects the Saraburi to Kaeng Khoi segment, pushing the completion date from June 7 to December 25, 2025. This decision comes in response to structural challenges, notably needing land-use permissions from the Royal Irrigation Department.

 

SRT Governor, Veeris Ammarapala, affirmed the board's decision to prolong the contract for the high-speed rail line connecting Bangkok to Nong Khai. This is a collaborative enterprise between Thailand and China designed to enhance transportation links in the region.

 

Despite the delay, contractors will not claim extra costs or seek financial compensation, meaning the SRT incurs no additional expenses.

 

 

 

The specific section in question, from Saraburi to Kaeng Khoi, is valued at 8.56 billion baht and spans 12.99 kilometres. Construction began on February 19, 2021, and despite the setbacks, the SRT plans to expedite processes to complete the task within the newly set timeline.

 

Veeris highlights that necessary land permissions have been arranged, aiming to hasten work progression.

 

Moreover, the SRT board is set to propose the erection of six new railway crossing bridges in Nakhon Ratchasima province. With a proposed budget of 797.29 million baht, this development aims to enhance connecting infrastructures.

 

These plans form part of the project's second phase, which was approved by the Cabinet in February, stretching from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai with a projected cost of 340 billion baht.

 

Once finished, the rail system will link Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, and further north to Nong Khai, facilitating high-speed transit to Yunnan, China, through Laos. This ambitious project promises to bolster regional connectivity as it joins the existing high-speed railway operations in China.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-04-28

 

 

[JoePai]

Trying to copy the Uk's (failed) high-speed rail project  😎

[KhunLA]

Good Luck with this timeline 

 

[mfd101]

What is interesting is that you can have the whole project planned & mapped out & approved for years, but you're still negotiating land acquisition hectare by hectare years later even as the bridgework appears just around the corner ...

 

Thailand, global hub of incompetence & corruption!

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Board has decided to extend the deadline for the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project by 201 days.

So they can build it properly with inspections?

[ignore it]

Yep.

 

It's gonna take time to get the rebar from the tragic earthquake collapsed govt building recycled onto rails.

[Srikcir]

Trying to copy China's HS rail failure?

"China Sees More Stations Shut Down as High-Speed Rail Debt Crisis Deepens", 25th May 2024 https://english.pardafas.com/china-sees-more-stations-shut-down-as-high-speed-rail-debt-crisis-deepens/

Remember that Thailand's HS rail system leading to China was initiated and approved by the NCPO under its absolute powers that bypassed any economic review of the project.