The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has raised the budget for its southern double-track railway projects to 122.72 billion baht after flood risks and construction costs increased.
SRT Governor Anan Phonimdaeng said the board approved the revised budget at its meeting on Monday, raising the total by 18.25 billion baht from the 104.47-billion-baht estimate approved in 2024.
The revised budget covers three sections of the second-phase southern double-track railway: Chumphon-Surat Thani, Surat Thani-Hat Yai Junction-Songkhla, and Hat Yai Junction-Padang Besar, a border town in Malaysia's Perlis.
Mr Anan said the budget was revised to reflect changes in local conditions, including measures to address recurring flooding around Hat Yai after the southern floods in November 2025.
The railway design in the affected area will be changed from ground-level track to about 3km of elevated viaduct and 2km of embankment to reduce the risk of future flooding. Construction costs have also been updated to reflect higher material and fuel prices amid the Middle East conflict.
The Chumphon-Surat Thani section, covering 168km, will see its budget rise from 30.42 billion baht to 36.89 billion baht. Construction is expected to take 60 months from July 2027 to June 2032.
The 321km Surat Thani-Hat Yai-Songkhla section will increase from 66.27 billion baht to 77.46 billion baht. The 291km Surat Thani-Hat Yai section, costing 61.53 billion baht, will be developed first over 72 months from July 2027 to June 2033.
The 30km Hat Yai-Songkhla section, costing 15.92 billion baht, will be considered later because of dense residential areas and existing alternative transport links.
The 45km Hat Yai-Padang Besar section will rise from 7.77 billion baht to 8.37 billion baht, with construction expected to take 48 months from July 2027 to June 2031.
Mr Anan said the SRT would submit the revised proposal to the Transport Ministry this week, with Cabinet approval potentially coming by late August. After approval, the SRT will prepare terms of reference, with construction expected to be divided into four civil works contracts. Around 300 communities along the three main sections may need to be relocated, he said.
