Cabinet greenlights 3 southern double-track rail projects worth 107 billion baht
Macro
The Cabinet has approved the State Railway of Thailand to proceed with the construction of the second phase of the southern double-track railway, comprising 3 projects with a total investment of 106,798.32 million baht. The government will bear all costs and has adjusted the project details to align with current costs, including materials, fuel, land acquisition, and flood prevention measures. The approved projects are: the Chumphon-Surat Thani section, worth 36,892.32 million baht; the Surat Thani-Hat Yai Junction section, worth 61,534.55 million baht; and the Hat Yai Junction-Padang Besar section, worth 8,371.45 million baht. The Surat Thani-Hat Yai Junction-Songkhla section has been reduced to only the Surat Thani-Hat Yai Junction section for now due to ongoing issues with encroachers. Additionally, the Cabinet has given in-principle approval for 3 more routes: Pak Nam Pho-Den Chai, Den Chai-Chiang Mai, and Chira Junction-Ubon Ratchathani, with the State Railway of Thailand to review their feasibility and prepare business plans before seeking further approval.
