Thailand and Chinese companies have signed two contracts with a total value of Baht 5.2 billion (USD 157 million) for the construction of the first phase of the Bangkok – Laos high-speed rail project. The agreements were signed during BRICS 2017 summit, held on 3-5 September in Xiamen, China.
The first contract has a value of USD 51.38 million and envisages the elaboration of detailed design for the first stage of the 250 km line linking Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima, situated in the northeast of Thailand. For the second contract, valuated at USD 105.78 million, China will provide consultancy services on the railway project.
According to Anon Luengboriboon, acting governor of the State Railway of Thailand, said that the construction on the first phase will be launched this year and it will be completed in 2021. “The Department of Highways will build the first 3.5 km of the rail line while the rest will be open to public bidding for Thai contractors.
875 km is the complete length of the whole line and will offer the railway connection between Thailand and Laos. Currently, Laos has only 3.5 km of rail line linking its capital with Thailand’s Nong Khai province via the Laos-Thailand Friendship Bridge.
The project had been estimated to take four years and cost USD 5.2 billion with Thailand providing the money and most of the materials while China provided the expertise and supervision. The two sides are still working out the particulars of the second phase of the project which will take the rail line an additional 600 km to Nong Khai on the Laos border.
Once both phases are complete, the railway will link up with a China-Laos rail line that is currently under construction, allowing travelers to make the trip between Bangkok and the Lao capital of Vientiane in just four hours, and travel all the way up to Kunming. Further down the line, there are plans for the extension on southwards to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore as part of China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative aimed at improving trade and transport infrastructure in the region.
Share on:
