Transport Thailand's High-Speed Rail Bidding Opens for 2026

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of MGR online

Transforming Travel: Bangkok to Nong Khai in Record Time

 

BANGKOK - The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is gearing up to open bidding for the cutting-edge Bangkok to Nong Khai high-speed railway in 2026.

 

This ambitious project promises to revolutionise regional connectivity by reducing travel times and boosting economic growth. SRT chief, Veerath Amrapal, unveiled the plans during a public consultation, highlighting the strategic significance of this Thai-Chinese collaboration.

 

Veerath emphasised the importance of gathering diverse perspectives to ensure the project meets both public and business needs. By leveraging the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the initiative aims to modernise Thailand’s infrastructure, engaging private entities in system installation, management, and maintenance. Participation from both local and international firms is encouraged, with Chinese investors showing keen interest.

 

As part of the roadmap, a private sector consultation is slated for October 2025. The feedback will inform the investment plan and subsequent presentations to the Ministry of Transport by year-end. The Cabinet is expected to review and approve the proposal in early 2026, paving the way for bidding mid-year and an operational launch aimed for 2029.

 

The project is making good progress, with the first phase's civil works from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima currently 45.65% complete. The government plans to procure four train sets equipped with Fuxing Hao CR300AF technology from China. Whoever secures the PPP contract will manage this phase, while the government will oversee the initial installations.

 

Phase two, stretching to Nong Khai, has completed design and environmental assessments, with Cabinet approval secured. Valued at 340 billion baht (approximately 13 billion USD), preparations for the civil contracts are underway. Completion of this phase is anticipated by 2031, propelling Thailand’s rail capabilities to a new level.

 

Once finished, this high-speed railway will cut travel between Bangkok and Nong Khai to roughly three and a half hours. This advancement not only marks a significant progress in Thailand's transport infrastructure but also establishes the country as a leader in high-speed rail excellence.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-17

 

 

[JoePai]

The project is making good progress  🤣

 

How many years late !!

[Hornell]

Another white elephant to add to the submarine purchase and the Kra-not-a-canal plan!

[oxo1947]

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

The project is making good progress  🤣

 

How many years late !!

Joe if you come the UK --or the USA   that comment would be considered laughable.. .....

 

"California High-Speed Rail, face delays and are not expected to be fully operational for well over a decade, 

January 6, 2015: The official groundbreaking ceremony for the initial construction was held

 

Not even going to mention the London to Birmingham line --and costs

---------------------------------

52 minutes ago, Hornell said:

Another white elephant to add to the submarine purchase and the Kra-not-a-canal plan!

 

Why so ?? do you understand what the main reason for the High speed train is ?-- and not tourist.

The best (cheapest) way to move freight is by ship---- the 2nd less expensive way is by rail.

There is already large amount of road construction Thailand has built--all over ISSAN just to accommodate the Hugh amount of trucking

traveling up from BKK to the land locked country of Laos --its all exports
 

[JoePai]

1 hour ago, oxo1947 said:

Joe if you come the UK --or the USA   that comment would be considered laughable.. .....

 

"California High-Speed Rail, face delays and are not expected to be fully operational for well over a decade, 

January 6, 2015: The official groundbreaking ceremony for the initial construction was held

 

Not even going to mention the London to Birmingham line --and costs

---------------------------------

 

Why so ?? do you understand what the main reason for the High speed train is ?-- and not tourist.

The best (cheapest) way to move freight is by ship---- the 2nd less expensive way is by rail.

There is already large amount of road construction Thailand has built--all over ISSAN just to accommodate the Hugh amount of trucking

traveling up from BKK to the land locked country of Laos --its all exports
 

This was started back in 2017 - and then only to Korat !

[Will B Good]

Sounds like a siren call for some brown envelopes before a general election is called.

[oxo1947]

26 minutes ago, JoePai said:

This was started back in 2017 - and then only to Korat !

Joe it was started in 2017 and stopped like every other project around the world first months of  2020 -- it is now 36% complete in the BKK to Korat stage * it will be 609 KLM long the UK one (if ever finished) is 225 KLM 

 

Do I think its slow--yes , but the only people who throw these things up fast are our good friends the Chinese or on a smaller scale Japan.

Its not just the  BKK-Lao rail going on--BKK -Pattaya --Rayong also the 6 stations must be updated (most have)  Bang Sue Grand Station, Don Mueang, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Pak Chong and Nakhon Ratchasima.

Its easy to Knock Thailand--but I dont know of another country (similar to Thailand)   that is doing this alone---without giving up to some deal from China.

 

 

*https://www.railway-technology.com/news/thailand-high-speed-rail-china/

[spidermike007]

The very short Bangkok to Korat line was started 8 years ago and it's still not complete. I think the Thais simply need to surrender, and let the Chinese take over the railroad construction. The progress that they've made with high-speed trains is astonishing, Thailand is 70 years behind the curve, using antiquated carriages from the 50s and 60s. 

 

 

[NemoH]

It’s part of the China belt and road - linking Laos to Yunnan China.

Of course part of this is also for the new capital in case BKK is shifting 🤣🤣🤣

[Burma Bill]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

to open bidding for the cutting-edge Bangkok to Nong Khai high-speed railway in 2026.

 an operational launch aimed for 2029.

 

 

Add another 10 years would be more realistic IMO.

[Kenny Boy]

I am more worried about who’s going to be driving them 😳

[cracker1]

My understanding of the High-Speed Trains running in Thailand is that they will be operating at less than 150 kph.

Can anyone confirm different ?

[oxo1947]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

The very short Bangkok to Korat line was started 8 years ago and it's still not complete.

You ever heard of this thing called Covid ?? Do you know anything about UNESCO stopping it for a period--- how about the problems with China shutting down the supply.                         Do I think it could be faster---already said yes.

 

But its nice to see that one of your posts are  not blaming Trump for it all.......

 

 

Yes, the COVID-19 pandemic did cause delays to the Bangkok high-speed train project, particularly affecting the Thailand-China HSR (Phase 1). The pandemic caused disruptions to the supply chain, making it difficult to secure workers and materials, and also impacted the financing and operations of the project.

 

Several factors have contributed to the delays, including financial disputes with China, contractor funding problems, the COVID-19 pandemic, and concerns over the Ayutthaya station's impact on a UNESCO World Heritage site.

[josephbloggs]

31 minutes ago, cracker1 said:

My understanding of the High-Speed Trains running in Thailand is that they will be operating at less than 150 kph.

Can anyone confirm different ?

Yes, you're wrong. Operational speed will be 250km/h. That particular train is designed for up to 400km/h though, but not in Thailand.

[Funkymover]

ah , like a lot of thailand, asia, europe, africa,  it will be chinese owned 

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

highlighting the strategic significance of this Thai-Chinese collaboration.

No lessons learnt then...

[josephbloggs]

33 minutes ago, Funkymover said:

ah , like a lot of thailand, asia, europe, africa,  it will be chinese owned 

It is Thai owned.

[Nickcage49]

They're still talking about this? What a crack up!

[Geoff914]

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

The very short Bangkok to Korat line was started 8 years ago and it's still not complete. 

 

 

I will be extremely generous and knock off 2 years for covid so 36% in 6 years which is very conveniently a pathetic 6% a year. Back of a fag packet estimate puts completion on the Bangkok to Korat section as 2035. That seems about right. I would love to see their monthly progress reports.

[newnative]

Jesus wept--they are only just opening the bidding in 2026???   Glacial.

[josephbloggs]

49 minutes ago, Geoff914 said:

I will be extremely generous and knock off 2 years for covid so 36% in 6 years which is very conveniently a pathetic 6% a year. Back of a fag packet estimate puts completion on the Bangkok to Korat section as 2035. That seems about right. I would love to see their monthly progress reports.

Still much faster and much much better value than HS2 is managing in the UK.

[Sydebolle]

In 2016 the Laotians signed a deal with China which promised the first train rolling on 2 December 2021 - a mere 5+ years later. Guess what, they were ready ahead of time, 170'000 Chinese workers, Chinese engineers and hardware fulfilled one of the most challenging infrastructure projects of the 21st century; rugged country, deep valleys, endless number of tunnels etc. 

2014 Prayut and his geeks took over Thailand, were informed accordingly and only TEN years later the bidding starts. Then you wonder, why Thailand is considered a developing country as everything here takes tremendous time, thick envelopes and kissing bottoms left, right and centre. 

Serves you right; stay under your stones 

[Geoff914]

39 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Still much faster and much much better value than HS2 is managing in the UK.

I don't know about much faster. I wouldn't want to put money on it. But then the UK is cheating by taking the link from Old Oak to Euston out of the scope. Should save a few years.