Thai-Chinese railway project gets 350-day extension due to delays
The long-awaited Thai-Chinese high-speed railway project has hit yet another roadblock, with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) board approving a 350-day extension due to rental buildings obstructing construction. The new completion deadline has been set for March 10, 2026.
SRT chief Veerith Amrapal announced the decision following a board meeting. The extension affects contract sections 3 to 5 of phase 1, covering the Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima stretch of the Bangkok-Nong Khai railway. The revised operational timeline begins on March 26 and concludes on March 10, 2026.
Veerith emphasised that contractors would not receive any additional expenses or compensation due to the delay.
“There are no extra costs for the Construction Supervision Consultant (CSC) or the Project Management Consultant (PMC).”
Veerith added that the extension would not affect other infrastructure projects or cause financial losses.
The delay stemmed from the SRT’s inability to hand over the construction site on time. Sixty rental buildings had obstructed progress, forcing the SRT to initiate legal proceedings against tenants to clear the area.
After lengthy negotiations, an agreement was reached, allowing the land to be vacated by May 13 last year. With this resolution, the SRT board formally approved the extension.
The Thai-Chinese high-speed railway is a flagship project aimed at improving regional connectivity. Phase 1 spans 12.38 kilometres between Khok Kruat and Nakhon Ratchasima, with construction managed by SPTK Joint Venture Co., Ltd.
The budget for this section stands at 7.75 billion baht, but progress remains slow—civil works had only reached 12.42% completion as of January.
While the delay is the latest in a series of setbacks, officials remain optimistic that construction will stay on track following the site clearance. However, with years of missed deadlines and bureaucratic hurdles, scepticism remains over whether Thailand’s high-speed rail dream will finally become a reality, reported KhaoSod.
In similar news, the SRT plans to modernise its ageing fleet by acquiring 184 air-conditioned diesel railcars for 24.1 billion baht.
These new trains will replace 10 long-distance services, support double-track expansion, and improve efficiency, aiming to boost passenger numbers while reducing fuel consumption, congestion, and environmental impact.
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