Rail link forges trade, diplomatic ties

Thai-Chinese high-speed link a regional game-changer, backers say

- 

In the heart of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), a new chapter in infrastructure and diplomacy is being written—one rail at a time.

This story is written to mark the Golden Jubilee of Thai-Chinese diplomatic relations this year.

It is the story of the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project, a landmark initiative set to transform regional connectivity, deepen international cooperation, and redefine transport in Thailand.

Slated for its first phase completion in the year 2029, this ambitious project will link Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima with a high-speed rail line capable of reaching speeds of 250 kilometres per hour.

By 2032, the route will extend further to the border province of Nong Khai, creating a direct link between Thailand and Laos, and ultimately, to China.

But this journey has been far from smooth.

The vision for a high-speed rail network in Thailand has been in the national conversation for decades. The earliest proposals date back to 1992, during the administration of Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai.

At the time, the proposed route was designed to support Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard development, connecting Bangkok to U-Tapao Airport. While the plan was approved by the cabinet in 1994, political turmoil brought it to an early end.

Successive governments, including that of Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa in 1995, expressed interest in reviving the project.

His administration proposed multiple routes, including links to Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, and Ubon Ratchathani. But a combination of political instability and the 1997 Asian financial crisis again forced the plans into hibernation.

Then came a turning point.

In 2014, following a political shift in Thailand, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha took the reins of power and reignited the high-speed rail agenda.