A logistics expert says the Korat-Nong Khai section (about 347,000 million baht) could reach 500,000 million baht with rolling stock and systems, and still needs cargo transshipment to trucks at the Lao border because the new Mekong bridge plan is unclear. The tender for this phase is targeted for December 2026. For an SME, this is a long-term signal: do not plan cross-border cargo savings from this rail link yet. Keep using current truck and border routes in your logistics budget.