The Government of Thailand has approved Phase 2 of the China-Thailand High-Speed Railway (HSR), a key project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which will connect Thailand to China via the China-Laos Railway.

This 357-km extension from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai, with an estimated cost of THB 341.35 billion (US$ 10 billion), is expected to begin construction in 2025 and be operational by 2031. Once completed, the railway will enhance Thailand’s export capacity, attract foreign investment, and strengthen its position in the Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) network. The project will integrate freight and passenger services, including a transit centre in Nong Khai for cross-border cargo transport. The HSR, Thailand’s first standard-gauge high-speed rail, will operate at speeds of up to 250 km/hr using Chinese railway standards.

The first phase, a 253-km link between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima, is currently 35.74% complete and set for full operation by 2028. Upon completion, travel time between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima will drop from over four hours to just one hour. Additionally, the expansion also aligns with broader BRI cooperation, further deepening China-Thailand economic ties amid growing trade, which reached USD959 billion in 2024.