The State Railway board approved three southern double-track sections (Chumphon–Surat Thani, Surat Thani–Hat Yai–Songkhla, Hat Yai–Padang Besar) at 122,720.74 million baht, up 18,254.80 million from the 2024 budget, mainly due to flood-proofing Hat Yai and higher material and fuel costs. It goes to the cabinet by late August 2026, with tenders in early 2027 split into four civil-works contracts; construction is due to start July 2027. The Hat Yai–Songkhla 30 km segment was dropped for now. For southern SMEs in construction, materials, logistics and transport, this is a pipeline to plan bids and supplier positioning around, not something to act on this week.