The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Board has approved extending three key contracts under the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project by up to two years, citing delays caused by land expropriation issues and the relocation of oil pipelines.
The affected contracts include sections Nava Nakhon-Ban Pho (Contract 4-3), Don Muang-Nava Nakhon (Contract 4-2), and Phra Kaew-Saraburi (Contract 4-6). Contract 4-3, originally scheduled for completion on January 23, 2025, has been delayed by 452 days to April 20, 2026. This follows a previous 163-day extension, with the SRT attributing the delays to challenges in delivering expropriated land.
Contract 4-2 has been extended by 641 days, pushing its new completion date to October 7, 2026, due to structural design adjustments, ground column modifications, and efforts to circumvent oil pipelines operated by private companies. Contract 4-6 faces the most significant delay, now scheduled for February 23, 2027, 780 days beyond the original deadline, also due to land transfer delays.
In addition, the SRT Board has proposed revising plans for managing high-speed rail operations on the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima route. Instead of establishing a new management unit under the SRT, the agency is exploring a public-private partnership (PPP) model for the Bangkok-Nong Khai route.
The SRT has allocated 40 million baht to hire consultants to study the PPP approach, with findings expected in six to eight months. The Department of Rail Transport supports the move, emphasizing that the PPP model could reduce the financial burden on the government.
