Thailand is advancing its high-speed rail project to connect Bangkok to China through Laos by 2030. Construction began in December 2017 on the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima leg.
The first phase is slated for completion by 2030, nearly a decade later than initially planned. Delays have stemmed from disagreements over financing, design issues, and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Initiated as part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative, Thailand is utilizing Chinese construction technologies and railway systems. A key feature of the project is its connection to the Laos-China railway via a bridge over the Mekong River, facilitating seamless travel between Thailand, Laos, and China.
The second phase, extending the line to Nong Khai on the Laos border, has been designed and awaits Cabinet approval. The network will include stops in Vientiane, Laos, and Kunming, China. From Kunming, travelers can access China's extensive high-speed rail system, effectively connecting Bangkok to Beijing. The entire network will span 609 kilometers (378 miles) and is estimated to cost $12.9 billion.
Thailand views the high-speed rail project as key to boosting bilateral relations and trade with China, its largest trading partner. By improving connectivity, Thailand aims to keep pace with regional growth and aspires to become a transportation and logistics hub in Southeast Asia.
"The government expects the Bangkok-Nong Khai-Vientiane-China high-speed rail project to be an opportunity... to connect Thailand with the global economy, creating opportunities for Thais to trade and invest in markets in the region, including the world market with a population of over 8 billion people," said the Thai Ministry of Transport, outlining the vision for the project's impact.
This rail segment is seen as the starting point for infrastructure directly linking China with Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and Singapore. Historically, connectivity has been hindered by rugged terrain; the railway aims to overcome these challenges and deepen economic integration between mainland Southeast Asia and southern China.
In 2021, Laos opened a nearly $6 billion, 1,000 km railway from Vientiane to Kunming.
Neighboring Vietnam plans to build a 1,541 km (958-mile) high-speed rail line linking Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, estimated to cost over $67 billion with operations targeted to start in 2035.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq