Thai–China rail keeps 2030 target despite 34.5-point lag
Construction has reached 55.978% against a planned 90.487%, while the shared section with the three-airport railway awaits a year-end decision.
Phase 1 of the Thai–Chinese high-speed rail project is 34.509 percentage points behind its cumulative construction plan, although the Transport Ministry is retaining its target of opening the Bangkok–Nakhon Ratchasima route in 2030.
Actual progress stands at 55.978%, compared with scheduled cumulative progress of 90.487%, according to Kampol Boonchom, chief engineer for special projects and construction at the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). The 250.77-kilometre route is divided into 14 civil works contracts.
Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat said that although overall construction remained behind schedule, the ministry believed the work could be accelerated sufficiently to meet the opening target. The project is intended to improve passenger travel and freight transport.
Siripong inspected Contract 4-7 covering the Saraburi–Kaeng Khoi section and Saraburi Station. He was accompanied by Saraburi Governor Bancha Chaowarin and Department of Rail Transport director-general Pichet Kunadhamraks.
Kampol, SRT executives and representatives of relevant agencies received the delegation and reported on construction progress.
Contract 4-1 decision due by year-end
Several construction contracts have yet to begin, most notably Contract 4-1 covering the Bang Sue–Don Mueang section.
The section includes structures shared with the three-airport high-speed rail project linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao airports. Siripong said officials expected to reach a conclusion on how to proceed by the end of 2026.
“We have to see how the EEC committee responds to the proposed amendment to the public-private partnership agreement and how the three-airport project will proceed,” Siripong said.
The SRT has the option of putting the shared structure under Contract 4-1 back out to tender and starting construction independently to prevent further disruption to the Thai–Chinese high-speed rail project.
Siripong said building the structure first would allow it to support the Thai–Chinese line as well as a high-speed rail connection between Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports.
Kampol said the SRT was closely monitoring progress under each contract and coordinating with relevant agencies to resolve problems that could prevent construction from continuing.
Saraburi section reaches 73.25%
Contract 4-7 covers 12.99 kilometres between Saraburi and Kaeng Khoi. Its scheduled cumulative progress stands at 81.50%, while actual progress is 73.25%, leaving the contract 8.25 percentage points behind plan.
Construction of elevated railway structures and other high-speed rail components is continuing. Segment installation is 86% complete, balance-beam construction 33% and switch-beam construction 68%.
Saraburi high-speed rail station is an elevated four-level station in Takut subdistrict of Mueang Saraburi district.
The first level will contain the building entrance and platforms for long-distance trains. The second level will provide ticketing facilities for high-speed and long-distance services, while the third will serve as a passenger waiting area.
High-speed rail platforms will occupy the fourth level. The station will have two platforms, each 450 metres long, and four railway tracks.
Construction of the station has reached 29.30%, compared with scheduled progress of 47.22%. It is therefore 17.92 percentage points behind plan.
Safety controls tightened at construction sites
Siripong instructed the SRT to manage the project efficiently while giving the highest priority to safety, particularly at construction sites close to operating railway lines and routes used by the public.
He said strict precautions were required to prevent accidents and minimise potential effects on surrounding areas.
The SRT was also ordered to monitor tunnel construction areas closely, carry out safety inspections and prepare preventive measures and emergency response plans.
The railway authority said it would continue monitoring and accelerating work while ensuring that construction met the required standards so Saraburi Station could support future high-speed rail services.
