The Ministry of Transport has announced that Phase I of the planned HSR project to Laos will require an investment of 179 billion baht ($5.15 billion). Phase I of the project will focus on a 250 km long railway network from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima province. The government expects construction under the phase to start in December 2016. The project is being jointly financed by the governments of Thailand and China. While the construction costs will be borne by Thailand, China will provide funds for technical systems. Once the entire project is completed, China plans to connect the city of Kunming to Thailand, via Laos.
