High-Speed Railway: Opportunities and Impacts to Thailand

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the opportunities and impacts of the Thai-Chinese High-Speed Railway on Thailand. It aims to explore how this project enhances regional connectivity, stimulates economic development, and fosters integration between ASEAN and China. Design/Methodology/Approach - The research adopts a case-study approach, focusing on the Thai-Chinese High-Speed Railway project. It draws lessons from China’s successful high-speed rail systems, such as the Beijing-Shanghai line, and integrates policy recommendations for Thailand’s socio-economic and urban development. Recession research found that HSR will have a large effect on Thailand’s development in terms of population flows as many areas in Thailand are underdeveloped. Findings - The paper identifies the project’s key benefits, including economic growth through Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased urbanization, and improved regional collaboration. It also highlights challenges such as construction delays and cost management. The effect of HSR construction on population inflows to large cities in underdeveloped regions is significantly higher than in developed regions. Research Implications - The findings underline the importance of sustainable urban planning, leveraging high-speed rail to boost industrial and regional growth, and enhancing collaboration within ASEAN and between ASEAN and China. The research offers insights into maximizing the socio-economic benefits of large-scale infrastructure projects.