Hey there, travel enthusiasts and news junkies! 📰 Guess what? The China-Thailand Railway is zooming ahead 🚄, connecting more than just places—it's bridging cultures and economies! 🌏
In October, the first continuous beam of this mega railway project was completed, taking us one step closer to an epic journey across Southeast Asia. 🎉
So, what's the deal with this railway? It's divided into two phases. Phase one connects Bangkok, Thailand's bustling capital 🏙️, with Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Phase two will link Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai City, right on the border with Laos. 🌉 And here's the cool part—it'll connect with the China-Laos Railway, creating a superhighway of rails from Thailand all the way to the Chinese mainland! 🚂🇹🇭🇱🇦🇨🇳
This April, Thailand gave the green light to phase two, investing a whopping 341.35 billion baht (that's about $10 billion!). 💰 At 845 kilometers long, this isn't just any railway—it's Thailand's first standard-gauge high-speed railway! Talk about leveling up! 🆙
The project kicked off back in 2014 with a big handshake 🤝 between the Chinese and Thai governments, aiming to weave together the countries of Southeast Asia with speedy, efficient rail links. 🌐
But wait, there were some bumps on the track! 🚧 The first phase hit a snag because of a station being too close to a UNESCO World Heritage site. Yikes! 😬 But don't worry—Thailand's Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote assured everyone in September that they're sticking to the original plan, and there won't be any more delays. 🙌
Both Thailand and China are super committed to speeding up construction. So get ready, world—the China-Thailand Railway is on its way, and it's set to change the game for regional connectivity! ✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
