"Phiphat" , unveils transport plans and confirms the permanent opening of the M6 Motorway on 25 Dec 2026, advancing solutions to traffic congestion on the route to southern Thailand, with plans to expand Phetkasem Road to 8 lanes and accelerate the double-track railway network linking Malaysia and China.
Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, revealed the country’s infrastructure upgrade plans as follows: The M6 Motorway from Bang Pa-in to Nakhon Ratchasima is scheduled for permanent operation on 25 Dec 2026, having been previously open only Fridays through Sundays.
To address long-term traffic jams heading south, the Ministry of Transport plans in 2027 to extend the parallel Phetkasem Road from Nakhon Pathom to Pak Tho via Kaeng Krachan, connecting at Pranburi, to relieve traffic from Rama 2 Road.
For the stretch from Pranburi to Chumphon, discussions are underway to widen Phetkasem Road from 4 to 8 lanes and upgrade the central 4 lanes into a motorway, allowing uninterrupted long-distance travel without traffic lights, while side roads will provide normal access to districts, subdistricts, and provincial centers.
Mr. Phiphat said the investment will partly come from the motorway fund, with additional financing to be coordinated with the Ministry of Finance through the Thailand Future Fund. He believes this will unlock long-standing traffic issues heading south and offer travelers more convenient route options.
Regarding rail, Thailand currently has about 1,111 kilometers of double-track railway completed, over 900 kilometers under construction, and more than 500 kilometers planned for procurement, aiming for a total network of around 2,800 kilometers nationwide in the near future.
The northern route connecting southern China via Den Chai–Chiang Rai–Chiang Khong is expected to finish around 2028. The Khon Kaen–Nong Khai line linking Laos is anticipated by 2031, while the Korat–Ubon Ratchathani route targets completion in 2034.
In the south, the cabinet has approved double-track projects from Chumphon–Surat Thani, Surat Thani–Hat Yai, and Hat Yai–Padang Besar. The Hat Yai–Pattani–Sungai Kolok route is under study and design, with an expected finish in 2027 to connect rail systems to Malaysia’s west and east coasts.
Once complete, trucks will shift to feeder roles operating within 150 kilometers, transporting goods from factories or production areas to railway stations for onward rail shipment, reducing long-haul truck traffic on roads, easing congestion, and improving freight efficiency.
Additionally, the Ministry plans to extend the M5 Motorway from Din Daeng to Don Mueang and further to Bang Pa-in Interchange, about 21 kilometers, with procurement expected in 2028 to better connect the motorway network into Bangkok and central Thailand.
Mr. Phiphat stated that connecting Thailand to the global economy requires both sea and air routes. Laem Chabang Port currently handles about 10 million TEUs and is expanding Phase 3, expected to increase capacity by approximately 7 million TEUs in four years.
After canceling the Chumphon–Ranong Landbridge project, the Ministry is studying a deep-sea port on the Andaman coast to open direct shipping routes to the Indian Ocean, Middle East, and Europe, and is also exploring a new deep-sea port on the southern Gulf side to link both coasts via rail.
Regarding air freight, although it accounts for less than 1% of export volume, it represents about 33% of export value, roughly 3.5 trillion baht annually. Suvarnabhumi currently handles around 1.7 million tons of air cargo per year.
With the third cargo warehouse opening in 2029, capacity is expected to rise by 600,000 to 700,000 tons annually, increasing total capacity to 2.3–2.4 million tons valued at approximately 5.5 trillion baht. Plans are also underway to expand air cargo transport to Don Mueang, U-Tapao, and Krabi airports in the future.
Mr. Phiphat said the infrastructure goal is to make rail the main domestic transport mode, trucks as short-distance feeders, sea routes for heavy goods, and air freight for high-value items, elevating Thailand as a logistics and transport hub linking China, India, ASEAN, the Middle East, Europe, and the U.S.
“What was not possible before, I am confident that in Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s era, we can accomplish. Thailand can move forward and must recover soon,” Mr. Phiphat said.
Read more news " Government Policy "