Thailand, August 2026 – The Thanon Chira Junction–Ubon Ratchathani double-track railway is included in Phase 2 of Thailand’s national double-track railway development programme. The Transport Ministry is pushing to secure investment approval for the project, which is intended to strengthen rail connectivity across the lower northeastern region and improve links towards border areas and neighbouring countries.
The proposed line will extend 308 kilometres through Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani. The project is estimated to require an investment of 44.01 billion baht (approximately US$1.34 billion). The Transport Ministry is targeting Cabinet submission in the first quarter of 2027, with construction planned to begin in 2028 and railway services targeted for 2032.
For the rail sector, the project would provide additional capacity and operational resilience compared with a predominantly single-track network. Double tracking can support more frequent services, reduce the operational constraints associated with train crossings and improve the movement of passengers and freight, particularly along corridors serving major agricultural and commercial centres.
The four provinces along the proposed alignment form an important economic area for agriculture, trade, investment, tourism and cross-border commerce. Improved rail infrastructure could therefore strengthen connections between production centres, domestic markets and border gateways, while supporting more efficient movement of goods and people across Thailand’s lower Northeast.
The proposed investment reflects Thailand’s broader strategy of developing rail as a backbone for regional economic connectivity. If approved and delivered according to the current timetable, the Thanon Chira Junction–Ubon Ratchathani route would become another significant component of the country’s double-track expansion, supporting longer-term transport capacity and development in one of Thailand’s most populous regions.
Source: The Star
Thailand Advances Double-Track Rail Plans For Lower Northeast
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Thailand is continuing to expand its double-track railway network as part of a broader effort to improve regional connectivity and support economic development beyond Bangkok. A proposed 308-kilometre railway linking Thanon Chira Junction with Ubon Ratchathani is being prepared for Cabinet consideration, with construction targeted from 2028.
