The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has approved the second phase of the Thailand-China high-speed rail (HSR) project, extending from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai. 

With a total investment of THB 341.35 billion (US$ 9.2 billion), the new phase will cover a distance of 357.12 km, incorporating elevated and ground-level sections along the railway route. The route is divided into two segments, consisting of a 202.48-km elevated structure and a 154.64-km ground-level railway. The plan entails the construction of five new stations located at Bua Yai, Ban Phai, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, and Nong Khai.

Construction is projected to take four years for civil engineering work, followed by an additional five and a half years to establish the electric rail system, with the project expected to be operational by 2031. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) was approved in February 2024.