BANGKOK - Thailand will start construction of the first phase of the Thailand-China railway project in October, or no later than November, once the environmental impact assessment report is approved, Thai Minister of Transport Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said in an interview with Xinhua.

Thailand and China signed two contracts, namely the design contract and the supervision contract, for the 253-kilometer first phase project earlier this month, which will link the Thai capital Bangkok and the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima.

"Once the relevant environmental impact assessment report from Baan Pachi in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province and Nakhon Ratchasima province is approved, we will try to start the construction of the first section in October. If we cannot do that, we will definitely start in November," Arkhom said.