The high-speed rail project connecting Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima, part of Thailand’s collaboration with China, faces delays due to outstanding issues with two key contracts, according to recent updates. Initiated in 2017, the project aims to establish Thailand’s first high-speed rail line over a 357-kilometer route with an estimated budget of 140 billion baht, yet as of October 25, only 36.94% of construction is complete, lagging behind schedule by 37.83%.
One primary delay involves Contract 4-1, covering a 15.21-kilometer section between Bang Sue and Don Mueang. The project awaits revisions to the agreement, due to structural overlaps with the Don Mueang-Suvarnabhumi-U-Tapao high-speed rail connection. Another unresolved issue relates to Contract 4-5, a 13.3-kilometer stretch between Ban Pho and Phra Kaew. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is currently preparing assessments on cultural heritage impacts, as the route lies near the Ayutthaya World Heritage Site. This study is required by both Thailand’s Fine Arts Department and the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), which manage heritage site protections.
International heritage experts from the World Heritage Committee are scheduled to conduct an on-site review in Ayutthaya in November 2024. Over a five-day period, they will evaluate the project’s cultural impact assessment, particularly in relation to Ayutthaya’s historical significance and proximity to the rail construction. The team will also advise on methods to preserve the site’s value while ensuring compatibility with the new infrastructure.
Further delays stem from the SRT’s second-phase contract with the Chinese government, responsible for rail system installation, including track electrification and the provision of rolling stock. This part of the project, valued at 50.6 billion baht, has achieved only 0.95% completion due to pending civil work on other sections, with full system installation planned to start once 50-60% of the primary construction is completed.
In a recent shift, Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit has assumed direct oversight of the SRT’s contract management. Earlier, Transport Deputy Minister Surapong Piyachote had instructed the SRT to finalize agreements with Boonchai Trading (1979) Co., Ltd., the contractor for Ayutthaya station and track construction, by October 2024. However, with management adjustments, Suriya will now review the terms, with contract finalization expected soon. Boonchai Trading has maintained its initial bid of 10.3 billion baht for the project.
Despite the setbacks, the SRT maintains a revised timeline to complete Phase 1 by 2028, with construction on ten of the fourteen contracts already underway.