The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is set to commence construction on the Khon Kaen–Nong Khai double-track railway, the first phase of its second development project, shortly after the Songkran festival in April 2025. The agency has announced that 90% of the required land has been prepared for handover to contractors, with the remaining portion awaiting finalization of expropriation procedures.
According to reports, the project is being undertaken by the Ch. Thavee-AS Joint Venture, which includes Ch. Thavee Construction Co., AS Associate Engineering (1964) Co., Tipakorn Co., and KS Joint Venture Co. The 167-kilometer railway, with an estimated budget of 28.679 billion baht, will connect the provinces of Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, and Nong Khai. Contractors have already established construction camps in Khon Kaen in preparation for the project’s launch.
The construction period is expected to span 36 months, with completion anticipated in 2028. The project involves building an additional one-meter gauge track parallel to the existing railway, adjusting curves for improved alignment, and eliminating all at-grade railway crossings. The infrastructure will include 15 stations, two stop points, 31 overpasses, 53 underpasses, and continuous fencing along the route. The track will consist of 159.5 kilometers of ground-level railway and 9.5 kilometers of elevated sections.
Passenger traffic is projected to reach 3,300 people per day in the first year of operation, increasing to 5,500 by the 30th year. Freight transport is expected to start at 3.3 million tons per year and rise to 4.2 million tons over the same period. This railway is a crucial component of Thailand’s rail network expansion, enhancing connectivity with neighboring Laos and China for passenger and freight transport.
Officials from the State Railway of Thailand and representatives from the contracting companies were present to oversee initial preparations. The land acquisition process, covering approximately 184 rai (29.4 hectares), is expected to be completed by 2027, with a budget allocation of 369 million baht for compensation.
