The Board of the State Railway of Thailand has approved a 201-day extension for the construction of the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project between Saraburi and Kaeng Khoi, following structural constraints and delays in securing land-use permissions from the Royal Irrigation Department, according to an announcement made on 26 April 2025.
SRT governor Veeris Ammarapala confirmed that the extension concerns the Saraburi-Kaeng Khoi section of the railway, part of the broader Bangkok-Nong Khai high-speed rail system developed in collaboration with the Chinese government. The deadline has been shifted from 7 June to 25 December. He stated that the adjustment will not incur any additional costs for the SRT, as the contractors have agreed not to claim expenses or seek compensation for the time extension.
Veeris indicated that while structural limitations initially delayed progress, the SRT has now delivered 100 percent of the required land to contractors and pledged to accelerate construction to meet the new completion date. The Saraburi-Kaeng Khoi stretch, spanning 12.99 kilometres, carries an estimated cost of 8.56 billion baht and has been under construction since 19 February 2021.
In a related move, the SRT board has decided to propose to the cabinet the construction of six new railway crossing bridges in Nakhon Ratchasima province, with an overall budget of 797.29 million baht, aiming to further modernize the national transport infrastructure.
The high-speed rail project remains a major element of Thailand’s efforts to strengthen regional connectivity with China and boost domestic transportation, reported Bangkok Post.
