A leading logistics expert (U Chiaryuenyongpong, former ASEAN Trucking Federation chair) publicly warns that the Thailand-China Phase 2 high-speed railway project (Korat–Nong Khai, ฿347B budget) lacks a critical bridge crossing the Mekong River to Vientiane, rendering the entire ฿500B total investment ineffective. Without this bridge, passengers and freight must transfer to trucks at Nong Khai, negating "seamless" connectivity and practical ROI. The government has yet to authorize or budget for this essential connector, and the project risks becoming a sunk cost if completed without it.