Sanpetch Upgrades Ranong Port and Railway for Landbridge Plan

MGR Online•Economy•14m ago

Reader Briefing

Deputy Transport Minister Sanpetch Bunyamanee is implementing a plan to upgrade Ranong Port and resolve infrastructure missing links to connect with Chumphon.

•Sanpetch Bunyamanee announced the plan on July 19, 2026, following a policy from Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
•The plan involves upgrading Ranong Port's equipment and dredging a 28 km navigation channel.
•The Ministry of Transport aims to resolve the 'Missing Link' by studying a railway extension from Pathiu District, Chumphon to Ranong Port.
•Ranong Port is positioned as a trade gateway to the Andaman coast, connecting Thailand to India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, BIMSTEC countries, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

Overview

•Sanpetch Bunyamanee visited Ranong Port on June 12 to meet with provincial executives, the Port Authority of Thailand, and private sector representatives.
•The Port Authority of Thailand is procuring additional cargo cranes to reduce loading times and increase service frequency at Ranong Port.
•The Marine Department is tasked with creating a plan to dredge and maintain a 28 km navigation channel to accommodate larger vessels.
•The Ministry of Transport will consider expanding Highway 4 between Chumphon and Ranong and developing bypass roads in Ranong and Chumphon.
•Currently, rail transport ends at Sapli Railway Station in Chumphon, requiring goods to be transferred to trucks for the remaining 110 km to Ranong Port.
•Relevant agencies will study the extension of the railway line from Pathiu District, Chumphon, directly to Ranong Port.
•Connecting the rail system to the port is intended to reduce transfer steps, transport costs, and the number of trucks on the road.
•Sanpetch Bunyamanee stated that Ranong Port's development must integrate navigation channels, piers, cranes, hinterland areas, roads, and rail systems.

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Key Quotes

Sanpetch Bunyamanee

"The Prime Minister has clearly set the direction that existing infrastructure must be accelerated to connect and operate at full efficiency."

นายกรัฐมนตรี ได้วางทิศทางไว้อย่างชัดเจนว่า ต้องเร่งทำให้โครงสร้างพื้นฐานที่มีอยู่สามารถเชื่อมต่อกันและใช้งานได้อย่างเต็มประสิทธิภาพ

Key Entities

Person

Sanpetch Bunyamanee(สรรเพชญ บุญญามณี)

Deputy Minister of Transport.

Anutin Charnvirakul(อนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล)ℹ️

Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

Organization

Ministry of Transport(กระทรวงคมนาคม)ℹ️

The ministry responsible for developing Ranong Port and resolving infrastructure missing links.

Port Authority of Thailand(การท่าเรือแห่งประเทศไทย)ℹ️

The agency procuring cargo cranes and developing Ranong Port's facilities.

Marine Department(กรมเจ้าท่า)

The agency responsible for the dredging and maintenance of the navigation channel.

Place

Ranong Port(ท่าเรือระนอง)

A port being developed as a trade gateway on the Andaman coast.

Ranong Province(จังหวัดระนอง)ℹ️

The location of the deep-sea port on the western side.

Chumphon Province(จังหวัดชุมพร)ℹ️

The province that will be connected to Ranong via improved roads and rail.

Pathiu District(อำเภอปะทิว)

The district in Chumphon proposed as the starting point for the railway extension to Ranong Port.

Sapli Railway Station(สถานีรถไฟสะพลี)

The current terminus for rail freight before goods are transferred to trucks.

Policy

Landbridge(แลนด์บริดจ์)ℹ️

A government project involving the development of connected infrastructure between the western and eastern coasts.