Thailand's Transport Ministry has approved construction of three dual-track railway lines in the South (Chumphon–Surat Thani, Surat Thani–Hat Yai, and Hat Yai–Padang Besarusing 106.8 billion baht total funding) to complete missing logistics links. The project aims to connect southern China via Laos, enabling faster exports of durian and agricultural goods to southern China, and providing Thailand's lowest-cost access to Indian Ocean markets via Malaysian ports for trade to India, the Middle East, and Europe. Implementation spans 2026–2031.