The first high-speed train line to Pattaya is expected to begin by 2018 after the government opens a bid to build the service in September, a senior Transport Ministry official said on Monday.
Chula Sukmanob, director of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, said the Pattaya line would take five years to complete for the one-hour route. It will be followed by trains to Nakhon Ratchasima, Phitsanulok and Hua Hin a year later.
The train will run at 250 kilometres per hour.
Mr Chula said the bid for the technology for the four high-speed lines could take place in September followed by bids for other aspects. The bid for technology can help the government to project the entire construction cost, he added.
Japan, China, South Korea, France, Germany and Spain are among possible contenders for the bid on technology.
The train project is part of the government's 2 trillion baht infrastructure development scheme. It plans to forward the draft for the developments to parliament for approval this month.
The second phase of the train project includes the extension of the Phitsanulok line to Chiang Mai.