The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has awarded a 57-million-baht contract for detailed design and environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies for the Thap Put–Krabi dual-track railway. The design phase is scheduled to conclude in October 2026, after which approval of the EIA will be sought in 2027. Construction funding is expected to be requested in 2028, with land acquisition planned from 2029 to 2030. Construction is set to begin in 2031 and conclude by 2035.
According to the preliminary study, the project is deemed economically and technically viable. The initial design incorporates elements of local identity in a modern context, which will inform the next stage of detailed planning.
The route spans 68 kilometers with a meter-gauge dual track comprising 43 kilometers at ground level, 23.4 kilometers of elevated track, and a 1.6-kilometer tunnel. Total project costs are estimated at 32.9 billion baht, including 16.6 billion baht for construction, 3.6 billion for land expropriation, nearly 12 billion for rolling stock, and over 700 million baht for consultancy and environmental work.
The railway will feature five stations—Ao Luek, Khlong Hin, Khao Khram, Krabi, and Krabi International Airport—and three additional halts. Passenger traffic is projected at 3,200 daily trips in its first year, increasing to 6,390 by the 30th year of operation.
The new line will branch off from the planned Surat Thani–Phang Nga–Phuket mainline at Thap Put in Phang Nga province and travel southeast into Krabi province. It will run parallel to major highways such as Route 415 and Phetkasem Road (Route 4), crossing various subdistricts including Ao Luek, Khlong Hin, and Krabi City, before terminating at Krabi International Airport in Nuea Khlong district.
The Thap Put–Krabi railway is categorized as a priority project under Thailand’s 2023–2027 transport infrastructure plan. It is designed to function as a feeder line to the future southern mainline and will offer seamless rail access to the airport. Unlike current services, it will be the first conventional railway—not an airport express or high-speed train—to enter an airport’s terminal zone.
Currently, only the Airport Rail Link connects directly to Suvarnabhumi Airport, and a high-speed rail project linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports is under development.
Attending officials and organizations include the State Railway of Thailand and local authorities from Phang Nga and Krabi, who will oversee route alignment and community coordination throughout the project phases.
