Construction of four sections of a double-track rail route under joint development by Thailand and China is to start this year, according to plans announced by Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong on Thursday. Two sections are expected to be ready in 2017 and the others in 2018, he said. The minister was speaking after a preparation meeting for talks with Chinese counterparts scheduled for Tuesdayand Wednesday in Bangkok on the joint development of the double-track railways
Thais and Chinese could be riding back and forth on a dual-track railway before 2020, thanks to plans brought to the top of the agenda by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in a series of meetings with Beijing'elite. Construction of the first two sections — a 133km track from Bangkok to Kaeng Khoi and a 246.5km track between Kaeng Khoi and Map Ta Phut — will begin in September this year, and services on the two sections will begin in December 2017, according to the minister. The two other sections — a 138.5km track between Kaeng Khoi and Nakhon Ratchasima and a 355km track from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai — will be built from December this year, and services will commencein March 2018.