BANGKOK — The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Office is in the final stages of revising the joint venture contract for Thailand’s flagship high-speed rail project linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports. The revised contract is currently under internal review and is expected to be presented to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) board by July 17, 2025.

Once endorsed by the SRT board, the contract will proceed to the EEC Policy Committee and the Cabinet for final approval. Authorities aim to sign the agreement by September 2025 and issue the long-awaited Notice to Proceed (NTP) shortly afterward, according to a reliable source within the EEC Office.

The 220-kilometer high-speed rail project, a key component of the country’s infrastructure development plan, will form a strategic link between Bangkok’s two major airports and the rapidly developing Eastern Seaboard, including Rayong and Chonburi. The government expects the project to serve as a catalyst for economic growth in the region.

However, the associated U-Tapao International Airport and Eastern Aviation City project is facing delays. The NTP for this development has been postponed as ongoing negotiations seek to scale down the project’s initial phase.

Originally envisioned to handle significantly higher passenger volumes, the airport will now begin operations with a reduced capacity of approximately 3 million passengers per year. Full-scale expansion will depend on the commencement of high-speed rail services, which will drive future demand.

The high-speed rail and U-Tapao developments are part of Thailand’s broader EEC initiative, a flagship program aimed at attracting investment and transforming the eastern provinces into a regional economic and logistics hub.

Sources: Eastern Economic Corridor Office, State Railway of Thailand, Ministry of Transport (Thailand).