Our people’s network has tracked the double-track railway programme for a while, and we’ve fallen behind. Let’s catch up.
The double-track railway is the heart of the 20-year national strategy. Rail carries only 2.0% of Thailand’s🇹🇭 freight while roads take 78.7%, and logistics costs run about 15% of GDP. The plan grows the network from 4,507 km in 47 provinces to 6,926 km in 61.
Phase 1 covers 7 routes and 993 km at 124,073.74 million baht; the Chachoengsao–Kaeng Khoi, Thanon Chira Junction–Khon Kaen and Nakhon Pathom–Chumphon (421 km) sections are already open. Phase 2 adds 6 routes and 1,249 km at 297,924 million baht, and on 11 August 2026 the SRT board approved 3 southern routes worth 122,720.74 million baht.
Stations are the heart of it. The Den Chai–Chiang Rai–Chiang Khong line alone has 26 stations across 4 provinces — 4 large, 9 small, 13 halt stops — plus 254 railway crossings needing fixes.
The biggest worry is the at-grade platform crossing. On 14 September 2022 our team crossed the tracks in a wheelchair — over 2 minutes, while trains pass through at more than 100 km/h. The SRT says large and medium stations will get overpasses and lifts, but small northern-line stations will not. On 25 December 2023, the Department of Rail Transport suspended hydraulic panel lifts and ordered underpasses or elevated overpasses at all stations under construction.
This is what we must track together: finished stations, those still being built, and the remaining Phase 2 routes. Let’s follow it strongly, together.
Sources:
• Department of Public Relations, Sakon Nakhon Province — master plan for the 3,157 km double-track railway project, plus Phase 1 and the two new routes — https://sakonnakhon.prd.go.th/th/content/category/detail/id/9/iid/161305
• ReadTheCloud — overview of the double-track railway project, Phase 1 and routes already in service — https://readthecloud.co/double-track-railway
• Daily News — 4 June 2024 opening date for Nakhon Pathom–Hua Hin–Prachuap Khiri Khan–Chumphon — https://www.dailynews.co.th/articles/3495639
• MGR Online — network growing from 4,507 km in 47 provinces to a 6,926 km target in 61 provinces — https://mgronline.com/business/detail/9650000046443
• MGR Online — Phase 2 figures: 6 routes, 1,249 km, 297,924 million baht — https://mgronline.com/business/detail/9680000074712
• InfoQuest — 11 August 2026 SRT board resolution approving 3 southern routes worth 122,720.74 million baht — https://www.infoquest.co.th/2026/630163
• Thansettakij — the 4 new projects being pushed, worth 177,826 million baht combined — https://www.thansettakij.com/economy/megaproject/666874
• Double-track railway project website, Den Chai–Chiang Rai–Chiang Khong (SRT) — the 26 stations and project details — https://www.srt-denchai-chiangrai-chiangkhong.com/รายละเอียดโครงการ2
• Nayoo — station counts and station classifications on the Den Chai–Chiang Rai–Chiang Khong line — https://nayoo.co/blogs/chiangrai/denchai-chiangrai-chiangkhong-double-track-railway-update-2026
• NakornChiangrai News — the 254 railway crossings needing fixes on the Den Chai–Chiang Khong line — https://nakornchiangrainews.com/denchai-chiang-khong-rail-logistics-gms
• Department of Rail Transport — 25 December 2023 resolution suspending panel lifts and the fiscal 2025 budget allocation — https://www.drt.go.th/public-relations/กรมการขนส่งทางราง-ขร-ปร-2
• Bank of Thailand — logistics costs at 15% of GDP and rail’s 2.0% share of transport — https://www.bot.or.th/content/dam/bot/documents/th/research-and-publications-pdf/articles-and-publications/articles/regional/2024/2024-rl-03-no-railway-impact.pdf
• Accessibility Is Freedom — articles and tracking notes on the double-track railway project (tag: รถไฟทางคู่) — https://www.accessibilityisfreedom.org/tag/รถไฟทางคู่/