BANGKOK, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and several contractors on Thursday signed five contracts relating to the construction of an initial section of the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway.

The initial section will be built between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima province in northeastern Thailand, said SRT Governor Nirut Maneephan, who signed the contracts at the headquarters of the Ministry of Transport.

The five contracts were related to the construction of a 101.15 km route at a cost of about 40.27 billion baht (about 1.32 billion U.S. dollars), the SRT governor said.

The five contractors included Naowarat Pattanakarn Plc., Thai Engineer and Industry Co., SPTK Joint Venture Co., Italian-Thai Development Plc. and Civil Engineering Plc.

Six railway stations will be built along the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima route, including Bang Sue central station, Don Mueang station, Ayutthaya station, Saraburi station, Pak Chong station and Nakhon Ratchasima station, according to the SRT governor.

The Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed rail system is expected to be opened in 2025, Nirut said.

Last month, a key contract, known as Contract 2.3 for work on the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima was signed. The contract covers the railway system, electrical, signaling and communication systems, procurement of train carriages, personnel training, the operation and maintenance works and technology transfer.

Contract 2.3 involved three parties, namely the SRT, China Railway International Co., and China Railway Design Corporation. Enditem