Thai-Chinese High-Speed Rail Project Faces 34.5% Delay

According to a report by Prachachat Business, the first phase of the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project connecting Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima has reached 55.97% completion. However, Siriphong Angkasakulkiat, who recently inspected the site, noted that the project is currently lagging 34.5% behind its original construction schedule.

A primary bottleneck involves the Don Mueang to Bang Sue section, where construction plans overlap with the high-speed rail project connecting three major airports. Authorities are under pressure to resolve these overlapping issues within this year to ensure the project remains on track for a 2030 completion date, with testing expected to commence in 2031.

For residents and travelers, this delay means that the anticipated high-speed connection to the Northeast remains unavailable for the foreseeable future. While the government is actively pushing for acceleration, the timeline remains subject to the successful resolution of the site overlap between the two major rail projects. Stakeholders are waiting for a definitive conclusion on the Don Mueang-Bang Sue segment, which is critical for the project's advancement. As of now, the 2030 target serves as the current goal for project finalization.