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Jon · Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 2

Hi, Interesting to read about Thai rail.
I was here a few years back and friends showed me a Bangkok Post article about the Australian Rail services signing an agreement with Thai rail to build a wide track system for Thai rail, the first one being Bangkok to Chiang Mai, and supplying wide track trains to replace these antiquated old trains that I often see, and once had to use, but they are very slow and not at all comfortable. Shocked

I have not heard any more about it, do you know about the process, I imagine it's started by now, but I wonder when it will be finished, it will sure be nice to use a modern, comfortable, speedy train service to travel in Thailand. Very Happy

Thanks Jon

admin · Site Admin Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 173

I have the feeling the project has been delayed as is always the case in Thailand. But the Thai government doesn't see the need for standard gauge tracks in Thailand of intercity trains. If they say the project will start in 2009 its likly to be 2010 or 2011 before anything happens.

The project is likely to be modified to retain the 1000mm gauge but with high standard track base and rails to allow 160kph running as is the case in Queensland Australia

In my personal opinion there is no need for 1435 mm gauge tracks on SRT the 1000mm gauge tracks does and will support SRT's future needs for many many years to come.

The current system maximum speed is 90kph for locomotive hauled trains and 120 kph for DMUs. If they increased this to 160kph for both train types and made sure this increase covers most of the system. Then travelling times would be cut in half.

Double track 1000mm gauge is far more important for SRT than 1435 gauge single track. Also remember all of Thailand's near by countries use 1000mm gauge so for connectivity ie makes no sence to use 1435mm in Thailand as it would introduce a "break of gauge that does not occur today"

Jon · Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 2

Hi, yep I wondered as I am in Thailand for a few months now and nobody knows about this. When I read the write up, back about end 2004, I remember it said the Aussie Rail company that was doing the project has set up a workshop near Bkk to assemble the rolling stock bought out from Australia, and would use local business to provide the carriages using both aussie and German technology. I wonder what happened to this. maybe still sitting round somewhere. I remamber the contract amount was around 160 billion Baht, not a small sum..
Maybe sitting in thaksins offshore bank account !!!!