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Transport and urban development in Southeast Asia. Dispatches from my travels in the region, and news about future city development, transport, and infrastructure.

Khon Kaen - The future crossroads of Isaan

Siem Reap Airport, lost waterfronts of Singapore, proposal for a Disneyland in Ho Chi Minh City, and more construction and transport news in Southeast Asia.

James Clark

Feb 23, 2022

Greetings from Khon Kaen! I’m doing a research trip around the Isaan region, basically following the path of future proposed railways. I got the train here from Bangkok, which took over 7 hours to traverse the 476 km distance (about 65 km/h). This will be a quicker trip when (or if) the Thai-China high-speed railway is built. At a speed of 250km'/h this could put Khon Kaen about 2 hours away from Bangkok.

This week I’ve made a Future page for Khon Kaen. There isn’t much to report yet (apart from a few highrise towers that wouldn’t be out of place in Bangkok), but things are happening here.

[The Houze Lifestyle Condominium, Khon Kaen.]

Khon Kaen is a future city to watch as there are three transport projects that could turn Khon Kaen into the crossroads of Isaan. In addition to the high-speed railway (for trains to Vientiane and Kunming), there is the East-West Economic Corridor Railway(for trains to Yangon and Danang). And to top it off, there is a light rail transit system planned for Khon Kaen City.

I have been walking around the city along the planned route of the light rail. The photos don’t convey anything that suggests a light rail will be built here. I was looking for some kind of cover photo to use, and then I found out that the Isan Creative Festival was setting up a display for the light rail! Unfortunately I am leaving before the festival starts, but I presume there will be displays inside the display carriage.

[Light rail display in Khon Kaen.]

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