The Government of Thailand is set to open its national rail freight and passenger markets to private competition within the next two years following the implementation of the Rail Transport Act BE 2568, which came into force on March 27, 2026.
Under the new framework, State Railway of Thailand will continue to own and manage railway infrastructure while allowing private operators to bid for access to operate passenger and freight services on the network.
The Department of Rail Transport stated that State Railway of Thailand will publish a formal network statement by July 2026 outlining network conditions, technical specifications and access arrangements for prospective operators. The first private services are expected to begin operations by 2028.
Private operators will initially run services on Thailand’s metre-gauge rail network, which is currently undergoing extensive double-tracking upgrades. The country is also developing new rail links toward the Laos border, including the Den Chai–Chiang Rai–Chiang Khong line and the Nakhon Phanom–Mukdahan–Ban Phai corridor, both targeted for completion in 2028.