Den Chai–Chiang Khong Line
| Den Chai–Chiang Khong Line | |
|---|---|
Construction of a tunnel in Ngao in December 2024 | |
| Overview | |
| Status | Under construction |
| Owner | State Railway of Thailand |
| Termini | |
| Service | |
| Type | Inter-city rail |
| System | Northern Line |
| Operator(s) | State Railway of Thailand |
| History | |
| Opened | 2028 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 323.1 km (200.8 mi) |
| Number of tracks | 1 |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge |
| Operating speed | 160 km/h (99 mph) |
The Den Chai–Chiang Rai–Chiang Khong railway line is a project of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and one of two extensions of the Northern Railway Line. Its objective is to support travel and freight in the northern region, including supporting the Chiang Khong freight transfer center currently under construction. This project will connect the North–South Economic Corridor from Thailand to Laos, China, Vietnam, and other economic zones under government policy. Construction was originally scheduled for 2017, but was postponed to 2021. In July 2018, the Cabinet approved the Den Chai–Chiang Rai–Chiang Khong double-track railway project, covering a distance of 323 km, with a total budget of 85.345 billion baht and a project duration of seven years. The Ministry of Transport urged the SRT to begin land acquisition and bidding by 2021, with a five-year construction period and opening service in 2028.