The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is speeding up the development of several railway stations to pave the way for logistics and investment projects involving Laos.
Chairman of the board of State Railway of Thailand Jirut Wisanjit on Monday inspected the construction of four railway stations -- Udon Thani station, Nong Takai station, Natha station and Nong Khai station. Mr Jirut said rail lines connect with the Udon Thani industrial estate and development projects at Nong Khai and a container yard at Natha station.
Mr Jirut participated in a seminar on Monday focused on the 3.7km railway extension from Nong Takai station to the industrial estate which will be used as a logistics centre to promote economic growth, including tourism, in the area.
Among the many products transported by rail in the area include malt, asphalt, plastic granules, consumer products and fruit.
The development projects at Nong Khai and Natha stations will promote Thailand as a logistics centre in the Mekong subregion and cross-border logistics between Thailand and Laos, Mr Jirut said. More than 46,000 square metres of Nong Khai station have been allocated as a customs discharge area. The rest of the land will be reserved for both investment purposes and as a central area. The development of Natha station's depot will result in it connecting with a highway and a truck terminal.
Consultants have been hired to design civil work and a committee has been set up to hire consultants for public private partnership (PPP) investment opportunities.
The SRT will increase the number of trains operating daily on the lines to five.