Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn is accelerating the construction of the Den Chai–Chiang Rai–Chiang Khong double-track railway, spanning over 321 km with 74% progress. He inaugurated the breakthrough of the 6.2 km Ngao Tunnel, the longest in Thailand, expected to complete by December this year. The project targets operation by 2028 to enhance freight capacity, reduce logistics costs, and connect Northern Thailand’s economy to the Thai-Laos border.
Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, stated after presiding over the tunnel breakthrough ceremony for the Den Chai–Chiang Rai–Chiang Khong railway project, Contract 1 (Den Chai–Ngao section) in Ngao District, Lampang Province, today (11 Nov 2026), that the Ngao Tunnel is 6,215 meters long, making it the longest railway tunnel in Thailand.
Construction of the tunnel began on 22 Dec 2023. At the breakthrough stage, 24.30 meters remained to be excavated, with full completion expected by December 2026. Following this, internal structural work, installation of signaling and safety engineering systems, and international-standard trial runs will commence.
Pipat emphasized that the Ngao Tunnel breakthrough is not only an engineering achievement but a major step in opening a new 323.1-kilometer railway line linking four provinces—Phrae, Lampang, Phayao, and Chiang Rai—to the Chiang Khong border checkpoint, a crucial trade gateway between Thailand and Laos.
The Ministry of Transport is promoting rail as the main transport network to connect the North with Central and Southern Thailand, as well as key trade gates and ports. This reduces logistics costs, decreases long-distance road transport dependency, and enhances national competitiveness, aiming to open for public and business use by 2028.
Anan Phonnimdaeng, Governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), explained that the Ngao Tunnel construction is highly challenging due to excavation through mountains and complex geological formations, requiring specialized engineering techniques and strict safety measures.
As of the end of October 2026, the Den Chai–Chiang Rai–Chiang Khong railway project has cumulative progress of 74.076%, divided by construction contracts as follows:
The State Railway is expediting remaining work across all three contracts to meet engineering standards and prepare for operation in 2028, supporting passenger travel and transportation of agricultural and industrial goods in the North.
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