Thailand’s cabinet formally approved the second phase of its high-speed railway to China through Laos on Tuesday, committing 340 billion baht, about $10bn, in funding, Bangkok Post reports.
Phase 2 will run 357km from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai near the Laotian border.
Last week, the country’s transport ministry said it expects to open bidding for the phase this year, with the line to be operational in 2030.
Work on the 220km phase 1 from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima is about 36% complete, several years behind schedule.
The Post said delays have been caused by “disputes with China over financing, problems with contractors facing liquidity problems, the pandemic, as well as a controversy surrounding the construction of the Ayutthaya station, which conservationists said could affect a Unesco World Heritage site”.
From Nong Khai, trains will go through Laos to the Chinese network in Yunnan province.
The line will operate Chinese Fuxing Series trains, which will be able to run on all three systems.
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