Thailand’s Ministry of Transport is preparing to seek Cabinet approval on September 1 for the first phase of the southern double-track railway project, covering 504km and involving an investment framework of approximately THB106.798 billion. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) board has approved the implementation approach for the project, with construction targeted to begin in July 2027.
The first phase comprises the 168 km Chumphon–Surat Thani section, 291 km of the 321 km Surat Thani–Hat Yai Junction–Songkhla corridor, and the 45 km Hat Yai Junction–Padang Besar section. The three sections will provide a continuous double-track railway from the upper South through Hat Yai to Padang Besar on the Malaysian border. The 30 km Hat Yai Junction–Songkhla section will be considered separately at a later stage.
The Chumphon–Surat Thani section has an investment framework of THB36.89232 billion and is expected to take 60 months to construct, from July 2027 to June 2032. The 291km Surat Thani–Hat Yai Junction section has a budget framework of THB61.53455 billion and a 72-month construction period from July 2027 to June 2033. The Hat Yai Junction–Padang Besar section has a budget of THB8.37145 billion and is expected to take 48 months, from July 2027 to June 2031.
The project includes revised designs around Hat Yai following flooding in November 2025. Around 3 km of railway previously planned at ground level will be constructed on an elevated viaduct, while another 2 km will use an embankment structure to improve flood resilience and reduce obstruction to waterways.
If approved, civil works are provisionally planned to be divided into four contracts: one for Chumphon–Surat Thani, two for Surat Thani–Hat Yai Junction and one for Hat Yai Junction–Padang Besar. The expanded double-track network is intended to increase passenger and freight capacity, reduce transport and logistics constraints and strengthen rail connectivity between southern Thailand and Malaysia.
