Thailand railway news
News about railway and urban rail infrastructure, operations, policy, projects and the supply industry in Thailand.
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Metro Report InternationalBangkok Pink Line monorail opens
THAILAND: Passenger carrying test operations have begun on the 34·5 km Pink Line straddle monorail in Bangkok. Passengers can travel free of charge until January 2. Official opening is scheduled for December 18. The northwest-to-northeast Pink Line serves 30 stations. It links Nonthaburi Civic Centre on ...
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NewsDouble-tracking towards Thai-Laos border funded
THAILAND: The Prime Minister’s Office formally approved State Railway of Thailand’s request for 29·7m baht to double-track the Khon Kaen – Nong Khai railway line on October 16. The 167 km long metre-gauge north-south route runs to Nong Khai near the border with Laos. It handles ...
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NewsETCS Level 1 deployed around Bangkok
THAILAND: A consortium of Thales and River Engineering has completed a project to deploy ETCS Level 1 across 321 route-km and 48 stations on State Railway of Thailand’s Northern, Northeastern, Eastern and Southern lines radiating from Bangkok. The programme began in 2019 and covered routes from ...
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Metro Report InternationalBangkok Yellow Line monorail opens
THAILAND: The opening of the full length of the MRT Yellow Line monorail running 30·4 km from Lat Phrao to Samrong in the east of Bangkok with 23 stations was marked with a visit by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on June 19. Limited preview trips had ...
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In depthComment: Stations really matter
The opening on January 25 of Long Island Rail Road’s deep-level hub at Grand Central Madison in New York encapsulates the challenges facing station developers, who must balance urban regeneration objectives with operational improvements to rail services. This is no simple task, argues our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley.
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NewsFrench companies take on China in Thailand’s rail market
THAILAND: The Rail Technology Research & Development Agency has signed a memorandum of understanding with four French companies which are aiming to strengthen their links with Thai partners in what Systra said is ’a context of increasing competition in the region, particularly with Chinese technologies’. Thailand’s ...
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Metro Report InternationalBangkok Pink Line monorail branch agreed
THAILAND: Agreements have been signed for the construction of a branch off the Bangkok MRT Pink Line monorail to serve exhibition, hotel and retail destinations to the north of the city. Expected to cost 4bn baht to complete, the 3 km branch will run from Si ...
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In depthSoutheast Asia: Tackling the break of gauge
Passenger and freight facilities are being developed in both Vientiane and Nong Khai to facilitate increased rail traffic across the Laos-Thailand border.
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Metro Report InternationalMRTA lets contracts to build Bangkok Purple Line extension
THAILAND: The Mass Rapid Transit Authority signed six construction contracts for the 23·6 km extension of Bangkok’s Purple Line at a ceremony held on March 11.
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In depthSoutheast Asia: Progress falters with Thai projects
Construction of a new line through Laos from the Chinese border to the capital at Vientiane in just five years is in marked contrast to the halting progress being made by several rail schemes in neighbouring Thailand. Peter Janssen reports from Bangkok.
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NewsThai locomotives rolled out in China
THAILAND: CRRC Qishuyan has rolled out the first of 50 diesel locomotives ordered by State Railway of Thailand to replace locos more than 40 years old. The 6·5bn baht contract signed on August 31 2020 required the first 20 locomotives to be ...
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NewsThailand looks at battery traction
THAILAND: The Ministry of Transport is pushing ahead with the procurement of battery railcars, and consideration is being given to local production and the conversion of existing diesel locomotives to battery power. The Department of Rail Transport and State Railway of Thailand have been tasked with ...
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NewsState Railway of Thailand awards locomotive ETCS contract
THAILAND: State Railway of Thailand has awarded Progress Rail’s ECM subsidiary and its local partner GLI Grandline Innovation a contract to design, supply and install onboard equipment on 70 locomotives to support ETCS Level 1 operation. Italian company ECM develops and manufactures HMR9 microprocessor interlockings and ...
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Metro Report InternationalBangkok light rail study underway
THAILAND: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has commissioned a feasibility and business case study for a proposed light rail line between Bang Na and Suvarnabhumi International Airport, which it envisages could be built and operated under a public-private partnership contract. The two-year study is being undertaken by ...
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NewsSoft launch for Bangkok’s Red Line suburban services
THAILAND: State Railway of Thailand held a soft launch for Bangkok’s Red Line elevated metre-gauge suburban rail corridor on August 2, offering three months of free travel before the start of full commercial services in November. Services on the Red Line were inaugurated by Prime Minister ...
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NewsThai and Japanese railway research organisations to co-operate
THAILAND: The National Scientific & Technology Development Agency has signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan’s Railway Technical Research Institute covering co-operation on technical matters, human development and joint research to help improve the Thai railway network. Initially running until the end of June 2023, the ...
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In depthThailand: Grand opening in prospect
Passengers are expected to start using Bangkok’s Bang Sue Grand station in July as the first phase of the emerging passenger hub begins to serve two elevated suburban routes, reports Peter Janssen.
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Metro Report InternationalBangkok monorail extension approved
THAILAND: Approval has been granted for an extension of Bangkok’s future Pink Line monorail. The 34·5 km Pink Line from Khrae Rai to Min Buri with 30 stations is now 72% complete, with the first section expected to open this year and the full route in 2022. ...
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Metro Report InternationalBangkok metro extension opens
THAILAND: Prime Minister Prayuth Cha-o-cha inaugurated an 9·8 km extension of the BTS SkyTrain Sukhumvit (Green) Line from Wat Phra Sri Mahathat to Khu Khot on December 16. The extension serves stations at Phahon Yothin 59, Sai Yud, Sapahan Mai, Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital, Royal Thai Air Force ...
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Metro Report InternationalBangkok Gold Line peoplemover opens
THAILAND: The first section of Bangkok’s Gold Line peoplemover opened for revenue service on December 16, with Prime Minister Prayuth Cha-o-cha presiding over the launch ceremony. The rubber-tyred peoplemover is the first automated urban rail route in Bangkok, running over an initial 1∙7 km corridor with three ...