Transport Thailand's Transport Ministry Accelerates Infrastructure Expansion

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

 

Thailand's Transport Minister, Suriya Jungrungreangkit, is driving a rapid acceleration of the kingdom's most ambitious infrastructure projects, setting sights on high-speed rail, expressways, and electric bus upgrades. This decisive action aims to enhance connectivity and modernise transport across the nation.

 

Following a high-level policy meeting on June 10, Suriya announced that by the end of May, the Transport Ministry had already dispensed 93 billion baht of its substantial 212.21 billion baht budget for the 2025 fiscal year. A significant portion of this budget is directed towards the accelerated completion of the Bangkok–Nong Khai high-speed rail line and other critical infrastructure projects.

 

The Bangkok–Nong Khai high-speed rail, which ultimately aims to link the capital to Laos via Nakhon Ratchasima, is witnessing noteworthy milestones. Phase 1, spanning Bangkok to Korat, is nearly halfway completed, with civil engineering efforts marked at 43.79%. However, system installation, rolling stock procurement, and staff training progress have lagged, currently standing at a mere 0.95%.

 

Preparatory work for Phase 2, extending 357.12 kilometres from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai, is underway. The ministry is nearing completion of bidding documents for eight contracts encompassing civil works and rail systems, supported by a massive 341.35 billion baht budget.

 

Beyond rail, the ministry has several high-profile projects awaiting cabinet approval:

 

1. Phuket Expressway Phase 1: Spanning 3.98 km from Kathu to Patong, this section is set for development at 16.76 billion baht.
2. Electric Bus Fleet Modernisation: A 15.36 billion baht plan to lease 1,520 electric buses aims to rejuvenate the country’s aging public transport system.

 

Moreover, the ministry is pushing to merge two rail extensions—the Red Line (Taling Chan–Salaya) and the Light Red Line (Taling Chan–Siriraj)—into a single procurement package, streamlining the expansion of urban rail connectivity in Bangkok.

 

Significantly, out of 326 new procurement initiatives worth 24.18 billion baht, 86 contracts have already been executed, accounting for 1.31 billion baht. The remaining contracts are expected to be finalised by August, underscoring the ministry’s commitment to swift implementation.

 

With funds readily available and efforts intensifying, it is evident that Suriya and the Ministry of Transport are not just making plans—they are paving new pathways for Thailand's future. The strategic investments aim to bolster national infrastructure, positioning Thailand as a leader in regional connectivity and sustainable transport solutions.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-06-11

 

 

[JoePai]

Rushing 🤣

Can anyone remember (that far back) when were we told the Bangkok to N.K. high speed rail would be finished !!

[ChrisY1]

The old High Speed Rail saga has been around for a decade or more....all pi** and wind!

[blaze master]

Did he factor in the debt ceiling crisis ?

[KireB]

When I drove over the Rama 2 yesterday..........

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

Rushing 🤣

Can anyone remember (that far back) when were we told the Bangkok to N.K. high speed rail would be finished !!

China is slacking... 

[FlorC]

Only a small amount of Thai will benefit from the high speed rail project .... and the Chinese .

[Olof Karlsson]

When will the high speed trains come from Bangkok to Hua hin. Today we have in Hua hin a monstrous railway station,but still the old stinky diesel trains.

[mfd101]

I think if I live to mid-century I may even see a high-speed train from Prasat Surin to Bangers!

 

Well, at my age, I'm allowed to spend most of every day dreaming.

[murto]

2 hours ago, JoePai said:

Rushing 🤣

Can anyone remember (that far back) when were we told the Bangkok to N.K. high speed rail would be finished !!

Hold your horses! They're working on it! You have a trip planned?

[spidermike007]

The progress on the High-Speed Rail Project is absolutely pathetic, there's no reason why it should be taking so many years to build one short corridor. Just go ahead and hire China and they'll have the entire country down in a couple of years. 

 

The same applies to Rama II, it is at least a decade behind schedule, and they've only partially built out to kilometer 36? What are we looking at two more decades? 

 

Head should be rolling, the people in charge should be imprisoned, and drastic actions need to be taken. 

[khunjeff]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Suriya and the Ministry of Transport are not just making plans

 

Based on this report, that is in fact all they're doing - there appears to have been virtually no tangible progress on any of these grand projects.

 

And no, "nearing completion of bidding documents" and "ha[ving] several high-profile projects awaiting cabinet approval" doesn't count as "progress" for projects that have been talked about for years, and sometimes decades.

[Grumpy one]

2 hours ago, JoePai said:

Rushing 🤣

Can anyone remember (that far back) when were we told the Bangkok to N.K. high speed rail would be finished !!

The finish date will be next February 30  

[JoePai]

33 minutes ago, murto said:

Hold your horses! They're working on it! You have a trip planned?

Yes

[jojothai]

Rapid acceleration?

What "decisive" action?

Isn't something missing.

It is noteworthy that the first HSR railway systems works are only

"currently standing at a mere 0.95%.".

After several years work.

but what action is being taken.

[ronnie50]

1 hour ago, FlorC said:

Only a small amount of Thai will benefit from the high speed rail project .... and the Chinese .

Not sure posters have ever been to Khon Kaen lately (or ever), but the city has really grown impressively/economically during last ten years. The station seems nearing completion and the elevated infrastructure for the station and a good length of track in KK appears 'finished' (read: built). I go there around once a year, and I hate the 7-8 hour drive from BKK to KK, so I'm looking forward to the completion. Local farmers could benefit if high-speed freight is added - the farmers would take their produce to a forwarding company at the various stops between BKK and Nong Kai. Then transported by truck to Rangsit's Dalat Thai.

 

I agree, just contract it out to the Chinese companies that built all the lines in China and it will be finished quickly. But after the collapse of the China-built Audit Office in Bangkok, the public would be highly critical to allow Chinese companies to take over. As for delays, you know what's causing it - we all do. Everyone needs to get in on the action - one way or another. At least that new motorway M60? has partially opened - a brand new 100 km of roadway - no services yet though. Fill your tank and pack your cooler.

[Hamma]

3 hours ago, JoePai said:

Rushing 🤣

Can anyone remember (that far back) when were we told the Bangkok to N.K. high speed rail would be finished !!

 

[SOTIRIOS]

...Anyone Keeping Count... (?)

...How Much Money Allocated For All these Mega-Projects... (?)

...What Have The Thai People Gotten For Their Money, So Far... (?)

...Flooding Fixed... (?)

...PM 2.5 ... (?)

...Etc... (?)

[Hamma]

It’s not a High Speed Railway, even though they keep calling it High Speed. The LCR travels through Laos at 150 km/h. High Speed Railways are defined as going more than 250 km/h in countries that actually have them, China, Japan, Europe.

[Lee4Life]

25 minutes ago, Grumpy one said:

The finish date will be next February 30  

I think JoePai meant when the original finish date was supposed to be, I do believe that has come and gone years ago, hasn't it?

[renaissanc]

Which country will be building the railway system? ... China, no doubt. The home of "Tofu Dreg" construction. Which country's engineers built the building in Bangkok that collapsed? ... China. Good luck, travellers!

[lordgrinz]

So the plan is to spend money you don't have, on things you don't need, and borrow from the Chinese to pay for it? Sounds like a great plan!

[FinChin67]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

China is slacking... 

Brown envelopes are not moving...

[FlorC]

1 hour ago, ronnie50 said:

Not sure posters have ever been to Khon Kaen lately (or ever), but the city has really grown impressively/economically during last ten years. The station seems nearing completion and the elevated infrastructure for the station and a good length of track in KK appears 'finished' (read: built). I go there around once a year, and I hate the 7-8 hour drive from BKK to KK, so I'm looking forward to the completion. Local farmers could benefit if high-speed freight is added - the farmers would take their produce to a forwarding company at the various stops between BKK and Nong Kai. Then transported by truck to Rangsit's Dalat Thai.

 

I agree, just contract it out to the Chinese companies that built all the lines in China and it will be finished quickly. But after the collapse of the China-built Audit Office in Bangkok, the public would be highly critical to allow Chinese companies to take over. As for delays, you know what's causing it - we all do. Everyone needs to get in on the action - one way or another. At least that new motorway M60? has partially opened - a brand new 100 km of roadway - no services yet though. Fill your tank and pack your cooler.

Yes I have been in KK many times , slept in my car on the militairy hospital parking 👍

But is has been more than 10 years ago.

 

Still the railway is not going to benefit 90 % of the rest of Thailand, unless KK , Bangkok , Korat are all that matters.

[Purdey]

Has the dual track railway promised in the 90s been completed yet? I haven't been bothered to follow its progress after the first 10 years of commitments.

[dallen52]

Must be brown paper envelopes time again. 

[newnative]

Nothing swift about any of this.  It's all glacially slow.

[Srikcir]

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

driving a rapid acceleration of the kingdom's most ambitious infrastructure projects, setting sights on high-speed rail

Maybe completion someday but not ahead of schedule.

"The Bangkok-Nong Khai high-speed rail project is significantly behind schedule.

Construction began on the 253 km first phase between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima in 2017.

Construction on the first phase, from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, is 71.36% complete, but still 36.39% behind the scheduled opening in 2028.

The second phase, from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai, is still in the planning stages and hasn't begun construction." (my bold)

Now in 2025 the government is getting serious about completion.

[Burma Bill]

21 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

However, system installation, rolling stock procurement, and staff training progress have lagged, currently standing at a mere 0.95%.

 Appalling!

 

Thai HST now scheduled for opening throughout in the 22nd Century!

[UbonEagle]

Pretty obvious looking at these numbers and then pie in the sky goals, that political instability is killing the country...