Mr. Pichet Kunathamrak Director-General of the Department of Rail Transport Revealed the progress of the dual-track railway system development plan, phase 2, stating that the Ministry of Transport is currently pushing the rail system through the development of the capacity of the dual-track railway project. The double-track railway in Phase 1 has already been constructed. Therefore, it has begun to push the project in phase 2 with the potential path for development at the moment. To connect the rail system perfectly, namely Khon Kaen – Nong Khai
However, the current operation is in the process of considering details of land expropriation. to present information to the Budget Bureau The Department of Provincial Administration will be the agency to help explore the expropriation. It is expected that the project will be completed in order to submit the project to the Cabinet meeting (Cabinet) for approval within August, following which the bidding process will begin immediately. to expedite the complete rail network and support rail freight transport between Thailand, Laos and China
As for the double-track railway project, Phase 2, Khon Kaen – Nong Khai, with a distance of 167 kilometers, the project value is 29,748 million baht, comprising advisory fees. Survey on real estate of 9 million baht, land ownership cost of 369 million baht, consulting fee for bidding of regarding 7 million baht, construction cost of 28,759 million baht, and construction supervision fee of 604 million baht, with project implementation period between 2022-2026.
News reports from the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) revealed that initially, SRT proposed to the Ministry of Transport and The Cabinet approves the investment in the Khon Kaen-Nong Khai double-track railway within this year, following which it will begin to prepare a tender document (TOR) and begin the tender process immediately, and in 2023 – 2024 will begin the real estate survey process. and arrange land ownership It is expected that construction will begin in 2023 with a construction period of 36 months and will be completed in early 2026.
Meanwhile, the SRT is still in the process of pushing for the second phase of the dual-track railway in other routes. To complete the development plan, 7 routes, consisting of 1. Khon Kaen – Nong Khai section, a distance of 167 kilometers, with a budget of 2.97 billion baht, 2. Pak Nam Pho – Denchai section, a distance of 285 kilometers, with a budget of 628 billion baht, 3. Chumphon – Surat Thani section, a distance of 168 kilometers, with a budget. 2.42 billion baht
4. Surat Thani – Hat Yai – Songkhla Junction, distance 321 kilometers, budget 573 billion baht 5. Den Chai – Chiang Mai section, distance 189 kilometers, budget 5.68 billion baht 6. Chira Road Junction – Ubon Ratchathani, distance 308 kilometers, budget 3.75 Ten thousand million baht and 7. Hat Yai – Padang Besar junction, a distance of 45 kilometers, with a limit of 6.66 billion baht.