Khon Kaen: High Speed Rail to Boost Local Industry

Last updated on May 6th, 2021 at 10:36 am

According to provincial governor Somsak Jangtrukul, the second phase of the Sino-Thai High Speed Railway (HSR) would help Khon Kaen realize its capacity as a transport hub in the northeast.

When the high-speed trains are ready to roll, Khon Kaen will be the center of public transportation for the region,   the governor said at the second public hearing on the 365-kilometer long rail route that will connect Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai via Khon Kaen and Udon Thani.

The first hearing took place Monday at Nakhon Ratchasima. Another forum is expected today in Udon Thani and tomorrow in Nong Khai. Around 500 people attended Tuesday’s second meeting, held at the Khon Kaen International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Khon Kaen already has a large elevated railway station and a fully operating double-track railway serving both passenger and freight services.

Many new road projects are under construction and the airport is expanding.The expansion would increase the annual passenger handling capacity of Khon Kaen Airport to 5 million, with six new aprons being installed in addition to the five already in operation.

Mr Somsak said the second phase of the project would accelerate the construction of a rail transport network across key northeastern provinces, which will in turn attract businesses along the high-speed rail route.

Phase 2 of the project will see the construction of five stations along the line, namely Bua Yai station in Nakhon Ratchasima, Ban Phai station in Khon Kaen, downtown Khon Kaen station, Udon Thani station and Nong Khai station.

The line would have a standard 1.435 meter track gauge and a total of 241 crossings. Once done, it will only take about three hours and 15 minutes to make a ride from Bangkok to Nong Khai.

Project and feasibility studies for the project’s second phase, which began last year, are expected to be completed next year. Cultural heritage of the Northeast will be integrated in station architecture. The hearing in Khon Kaen came after last month ‘s board of Thailand ‘s State Railway (SRT) accepted the draft so-called “Contract 2.3” with China, paving the way for the high-speed train project to start construction.