Thailand’s High-Speed Rail Link to China Set for 2030 Completion, Aiming to Boost Connectivity
BANGKOK (Jan 29) – Thailand’s long-anticipated high-speed rail connection to China via Laos is now set to begin operations in 2030, nearly a decade later than originally planned, the government announced on Wednesday.
The 609-km (378-mile) Thai segment of the railway will link Bangkok to the northeastern border town of Nong Khai, enhancing regional connectivity and trade. Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub confirmed that over a third of construction has been completed on the first section, which connects the capital to Nakhon Ratchasima, 220 km away.
Thailand’s high-speed rail project will integrate with the 1,000-km (621-mile) Laos-China railway, which has been operational since 2021. That line, largely funded and owned by China, connects the Laotian capital, Vientiane, with Kunming in southwestern China. The final connection between Nong Khai and Vientiane—just 25 km apart—will complete a seamless high-speed rail corridor from Thailand to China.
A Major Step Toward a Regional Logistics Hub
“This is a significant opportunity for Thailand to integrate into the global economy,” Jirayu stated, emphasizing the country’s goal of becoming a logistics hub in Southeast Asia.
The announcement comes after China urged Thailand to accelerate the project last year. Originally, discussions on the rail link began nearly two decades ago, with Thailand and China formalizing agreements in 2017. The railway was initially slated to launch in 2021, but disputes over financing, design, and setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic led to repeated delays.
Part of China’s Belt and Road Ambitions
The Thai high-speed rail is a key component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to enhance trade and infrastructure connectivity across Asia and beyond. The BRI includes multiple railway corridors originating from Kunming, with routes extending through Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Vietnam, for its part, is pursuing a $67 billion, 1,541-km (958-mile) high-speed rail line linking Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, expected to be operational by 2035. Additionally, a $7.2 billion railway is planned to connect Vietnam’s border with China’s Yunnan province to Hanoi, Haiphong, and Ha Long City.
As Thailand presses forward with its high-speed rail ambitions, the project promises to reshape regional transport, boost economic ties, and strengthen China’s influence in Southeast Asia.– Reuters