Thailand is accelerating efforts to develop the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link, aiming to position itself as a central logistics hub in Southeast Asia, according to the Department of Rail Transport. The initiative, fast-tracked in early 2025, is part of a broader national strategy to improve regional trade connectivity.
The Department of Rail Transport (DRT) has intensified its focus on the transnational infrastructure project to streamline freight movement across ASEAN. This push aligns with Thailand’s ambition to enhance international trade routes and support economic integration in the region.
As part of this effort, a Thai delegation led by DRT director-general Pichet Kunadhamraks traveled to Chongqing, China—an important hub in the Belt and Road Initiative. The delegation met with representatives from the New Land-Sea Corridor Operation (NLS), a logistics organization under the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative. NLS oversees multimodal transport links connecting western China to Southeast Asia.
The Thai delegation toured the Chongqing New Land-Sea Corridor, a system that combines rail, sea, and road transport to cut freight costs and reduce transit times. The corridor has been noted as a model for efficient international logistics.
Further site visits included the Tuanjiecun Railway Station and a regional container yard, key facilities on the China-Europe Railway network. Thai officials observed integrated cargo handling technologies and cross-border logistics systems. The itinerary concluded at the Chongqing Inland International Logistics Hub Exhibition Center, where the delegation reviewed strategies to apply similar innovations to Thailand’s infrastructure.
The Laos-China Railway, operational since 2021, was cited by DRT officials as a clear example of how improved connectivity can shift trade patterns. Freight volumes between Thailand and the Lao PDR rose sharply from 2,288 tonnes in 2021 to 63,676 tonnes in 2024—an increase of over 37% from the previous year. Rail transport from Thailand to Chongqing now takes just four days, down from more than two weeks by sea, benefitting time-sensitive cargo like perishables.
In 2023, the China-Europe rail network connected 110 cities and carried over 430,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo, underlining the growing importance of rail in global trade flows. Thai policymakers see opportunities to mirror such efficiency to enhance national competitiveness.
Officials attending the Chongqing visit included representatives from the Thai Department of Rail Transport and associated ministries. Their visit aimed to gain technical insights and build partnerships to support Thailand’s rail modernization efforts, according to reporting by the Bangkok Post.
