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History of the Project

High-speed Rail and Development of the EEC

Today, we aim to build the foundation for a new developmental endeavor with the initiation of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) to elevate the country towards the era of "Thailand 4.0". Within the pilot area comprising three provinces, namely Chachoengsao, Chonburi and Rayong, the project is investing in the major development of infrastructure and public utility with a view to accommodate investment and enhance the potential for economic competitiveness in the region.

On 5 April 2017, the EEC Policy Committee resolved to establish the EEC Development Plan consisting of eight strategic plans leading to the holistic, tangible and sustainable development of the EEC in every aspect.

High-speed Rail: Global Collaboration to
Advance the Economy of Thailand

The 220-kilometer high-speed rail project is a collaborative investment between the public and private sectors in a public-private partnership (PPP). This partnership was established with the commitment and determination of the Charoen Pokphand Group (C.P. Group) in collaboration with both Thai and international partners, who came together to apply their global expertise and experiences to develop and catalyse this international megaproject.

The consortium of companies and strategic partners of C.P. Group comprise leading national and international corporations with great experience, capacity and expertise in various arenas, joining forces to achieve the successful development of this project. The companies are as follows:

History of the High-speed Rail Project

1992
Research was initiated on the potential construction of a high-speed rail network in Thailand with an aim to establish four routes: a northern route, an eastern route, a northeastern route and a southern route.
1994
The high-speed rail project was approved for the Bangkok-Nong Ngu Hao Airport-Rayong route.
2008
The high-speed rail route was opened up for international parties to conduct studies.
2010
The framework was approved to negotiate a partnership between the Kingdom of Thailand and the People's Republic of China for the following five routes: Bangkok-Nong Khai, Bangkok-Rayong, Bangkok-Padang Besar, Bangkok-Chiang Mai, and Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani.
2011
The Government of Thailand signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of China, which included the Chinese government's aim to collaborate with the Thai government to construct the Bangkok-Chiang Mai high-speed rail.
2012
Part of the budget to construct the Bangkok-Chiang Mai high-speed rail was approved and the project was authorized to initiate construction of the Bangkok-Nong Khai route.
2013
An act was established authorizing the Ministry of Finance to take out a loan of 2 trillion baht for the development of national infrastructure, including the eastern high-speed railway route of Bangkok-Rayong linking three major airports, i.e., Don Mueang Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport and U-Tapao Airport.
2019
The contract between the State Railway of Thailand and the Eastern High-Speed Rail Linking Three Airports Co., Ltd. (the consortium of companies and strategic partners led by Charoenpokphand Holding Co., Ltd.) was signed under the High-Speed Rail Linking Three Airports Project, initiating the project that would be at the heart of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) development in Thailand, which aims to elevate and enhance the capacity of the country in the future.

A Historic Multinational Collaboration

Ambassadors of three counries, H.E. Mr. Lorenzo Galanti, Italian Ambassador to Thailand (left), H.E. Mr. Lyu Jian, Chinese Ambassador to Thailand (second from the left), and H.E. Mr. Shiro Sadoshima, Japanese Ambassador to Thailand (right), joined the ceremony to witness the signing of the contract and memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the High-Speed Rail Linking Three Airports Project. The collaboration was initiated at the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) in Beijing, People's Republic of China, on 25-29 April 2019. A total of 38 countries participated in the Forum, during which Chinese president Xi Jinping met with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe to strengthen China-Japan relations under a new paradigm, shifting from the two nations' competitive past to a new era of cooperation free of animosity towards each other. The success of this meeting between the two countries has resulted in the agreement to jointly support development projects in developing countries, with an initial target of the five countries in the Mekong Basin.

The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) of Thailand was of interest to both China and Japan as it includes the high-speed rail project linking Don Mueang-Suvarnabhumi-U-Tapao airports, which is one of the major projects in the development of the EEC that will accommodate trade and investment growth in the region. The President of the People's Republic of China has cited this project as part of the new Silk Road. This interest in the High-Speed Rail Linking Three Airports Project has successfully culminated in the historic signing ceremony on 24 October 2019 at Santi Maitri Building, Thai Government House. The ambassadors of three countries, H.E. Mr. Lorenzo Galanti, Italian Ambassador to Thailand, H.E. Mr. Lyu Jian, Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, and H.E. Mr. Shiro Sadoshima, Japanese Ambassador to Thailand, joined the ceremony to witness the signing of the contract and MOU in support of the High-Speed Rail Linking Three Airports Project. The historical significance of the occasion is evident as two influential Asian countries, China and Japan, come together as collaborators on this important project.