Thailand is advancing an 873km high-speed rail project linking Bangkok to the Laos-China railway, set for completion by 2028 under China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The project, costing up to US$9.9 billion, aims to enhance regional connectivity, reducing travel time from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima to 90 minutes. This railway integrates Thailand, Laos, and Malaysia into the Pan-Asian rail network, pivotal for regional trade and infrastructure development. Concurrently, China expands its rail influence, connecting Chengdu and Chongqing to Vietnam’s Hanoi, cutting transport times significantly. Additionally, China’s support for Indonesia’s first high-speed railway underscores its broader strategy to bolster Southeast Asia’s infrastructure, facilitating economic growth and logistics efficiency across the region.
