Transport News
Thailand transport news, infrastructure updates, public transit, and traffic reports—stay informed on groundbreaking developments and real-time travel updates. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for transport news in Thailand.
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Sponsored 9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand
Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...
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Thai Smile Bus launches electric bus services across Bangkok
Thai Smile Bus (TSB) launched 24-hour air-conditioned bus services across 13 routes in Bangkok, featuring electric-powered buses operating every hour. This initiative aims to assist night-shift workers who struggle with transportation. The service began today, August 20. Kulapornphas Wongmacharapinya, CEO of Thai Smile Group, announced that the licenced public transport provider has expanded its services to meet the demand for…
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DoH advises toll cuts over extension to ease Bangkok costs
The Department of Highways (DoH) urged the Government of Thailand to focus on reducing toll fees rather than extending the concession for the Don Mueang Tollway, as a strategy to lower living costs in Bangkok. Caretaker Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit recently proposed extending the current concession for Don Mueang Tollway Plc, which is set to expire in 2034. Suriya argued…
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Pattaya targets traffic congestion with new management strategies
Efforts to address Pattaya’s persistent traffic congestion took a significant step forward as Bang Lamung district chief Wikit Manarojkit led a pivotal meeting with key stakeholders at Pattaya City Hall just before the weekend. The gathering included Pattaya City Mayor Poramese Ngamphiches, Police Colonel Nawin Thirawit, Superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, Police Colonel Tawi Kutthaeng, Superintendent of Nong Prue…
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Delays loom for Thai-Chinese high-speed railway project
In a major transport initiative between Thailand and China, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) reported that the first phase of the high-speed railway linking Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima is around 71% complete. However, it’s trailing behind its scheduled opening in 2028 by around 36%. This ambitious 873-kilometre rail project, pegged at a whopping 341 billion baht, has faced significant…
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Mercedes-Benz shifts into high gear with ByteDance partnership
Mercedes-Benz is revving up its tech game by teaming up with ByteDance’s cloud division, Volcano Engine, to explore cutting-edge large language models (LLMs), generative artificial intelligence (AI), and big data. This turbocharged collaboration aims to supercharge Mercedes-Benz’s in-car systems in China with ByteDance‘s advanced LLM technology, giving their virtual assistants a full-throttle upgrade. According to both companies, ByteDance’s LLMs will…
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Rama II Road inbound lanes closed for construction, August 16-31
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) announced a temporary closure of the inbound parallel lanes on Rama II Road near the Big C Kheha Thonburi bus stop from Friday, August 16 to August 31, from 10pm to 5am daily. Reports today, August 14, confirmed that EXAT, under the Ministry of Transport, hired the joint venture of UN-CC, comprising Unique Engineering…
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Pattaya amps up city services with an ‘electrifying’ EV overhaul
Pattaya City is sparking a revolution in government services with a groundbreaking new project to integrate electric vehicles (EVs) into its operations. In an exciting collaboration with seven prototype municipalities and Pathum Thani University, the city officially signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to kick off this forward-thinking initiative. The signing took place yesterday, August 13, in the Thappraya Room…
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Tesla’s Thailand gamble: EV plans still in the slow lane
Tesla’s investment plans in Thailand remain uncertain as the Government of Thailand awaits confirmation from the United States-based electric vehicle (EV) maker. Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke highlighted that Tesla is reassessing its global investment strategy, which has been affected by slowing sales growth and intense competition, particularly from Chinese EV manufacturers. Reports suggest Tesla aims to concentrate on its existing…
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MG to produce hybrid electric vehicles in Chon Buri next year
Thailand’s hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) market is set to witness heightened competition as automakers roll out investment plans. The Chinese-Thai joint venture SAIC Motor-CP and MG Sales (Thailand) announced their intention to produce HEVs under the MG brand in Chon Buri by next year. MG is capitalising on a burgeoning domestic market for HEVs, spurred by the Board of Investment’s…
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Thailand launches new double-track railway, enhancing logistics
Thailand’s double-track railway on the State Railway of Thailand’s southern line, spanning from Nakhon Pathom to Chumphon, has officially started operations. The announcement was made yesterday, August 12, by the agency. The head of the SRT governor’s office, Ekarat Sri-arayanpong, stated that the new track will enhance logistical operations along the 421-kilometre route. The upgrade is set to reduce journey…
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Billion baht boatloads: Bangkok’s big splash in water transport
Thailand’s Office of Transport and Traffic Policy Planning (OTP) announced an ambitious plan to invest 8.87 billion baht to enhance water transport networks in Bangkok and its surrounding provinces. This comprehensive development plan aims to bolster public transport by boat, spanning from 2024 to 2032. Panya Chupanich, Director-General of the OTP, confirmed that the Transport Ministry approved the project, which…
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Phuket your plans: Steer clear of roadwork zones at night
Motorists are being urged to steer clear of Thepkrasattri Road, Dibuk Road, and Phuket Road in Phuket Town during nighttime due to ongoing construction work aimed at installing power cables underground. Phuket Town Mayor Saroj Angkhanapilas announced that this project, which started on November 14 last year and is set to conclude by November 7 this year, aims to enhance…
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Toll fees on Bangkok expressways waived for Mother’s Day
Thailand’s Expressway Authority (EXAT) announced that toll fees will be waived on three major expressways tomorrow, August 11, in celebration of Mother’s Day. This initiative aims to ease travel and reduce expenses for the public. Starting from 12.01am to midnight, tolls will be free on the Chalerm Maha Nakhon Expressway (comprising 20 toll booths), the Si Rat Expressway (31 toll…
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Hyundai’s 1-billion-baht ‘charge’ lights up Thailand’s electric future
Hyundai Mobility Manufacturing (Thailand) is set to produce battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and batteries in Thailand by 2026, following the approval of its 1-billion-baht project by the Board of Investment (BoI). The announcement came after the project received approval under the second-phase electric vehicle (EV) incentive package, known as EV3.5, which was confirmed yesterday, August 8. The Thai government offers…
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PTT Station cuts petrol and gasohol prices by 30 satang per litre
PTT Station announced a reduction in retail fuel prices, effective from 5am tomorrow. Petrol and all types of gasohol will drop by 30 satang per litre, with diesel prices remaining unchanged. The cut means petrol will now be priced at 44.94 baht per litre. Gasohol 95 will be 37.05 baht per litre, Gasohol 91 at 36.68 baht per litre, E20…
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Yellow and Pink monorails getting a ‘wheel’ new level of safety
Reinforcement of the guidewheels on all Yellow and Pink monorail trains has been announced to enhance the systems’ safety in Bangkok. The director of Eastern Bangkok Monorail Co (EBM) and Northern Bangkok Monorail (NBM), Surapong Laoha-unya, who is also the CEO of BTS Group Holdings, revealed the initiative yesterday, August 8. This decision follows an incident on January 2 when…
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Bus stop sign location near BTS station sparks online outrage
A bus stop sign erected in the middle of a bush sparked a heated debate online, with netizens criticising its impractical location and safety concerns. The popular Facebook page Footpath Thai Style recently shared an image of a newly installed bus stop sign placed awkwardly within a bush on a narrow and uneven footpath. The page highlighted the location on…
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MRTA seeks approval for Orange Line route through Bangkok
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) has formally requested permission from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to utilise its areas for the construction of the western route of the Orange Line. This new route aims to connect Bang Khun Non and Min Buri. Tawatchai Napasaksri, BMA’s Public Works Department Director, revealed that the MRTA, along with the concessionaire…
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Thailand to revise EEC high-speed rail contract by next month
Government officials anticipate finalising the revised contract for the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) high-speed rail system by next month, paving the way for the project’s next phase. This high-speed rail system, a cornerstone project for the EEC, aims to connect Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and Asia Era One, a consortium led by…
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Global investments start Southern Land Bridge project in 2026
The Southern Land Bridge megaproject is set to move forward, with companies from China, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States expressing interest in investing, according to the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy Planning (OTP). OTP Director-General Panya Chupanich stated that if everything proceeds as planned, construction will commence in 2026 and conclude in 2030. The Land Bridge…
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Trucks run out of fuel, causing major traffic on Rama IX overpass
Three trucks ran out of fuel, causing significant traffic congestion on the Rama IX overpass during peak evening hours. This incident, which occurred yesterday, sparked a flurry of criticism on social media. Reports from FM91Trafficpro stated that at 4.15pm yesterday, August 2, three trucks were found parked end-to-end on the Rama IX overpass heading towards Din Daeng. Initially, there was…
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Sinkhole in Lak Si district disrupts traffic near Ministry of Justice
A sinkhole on Chaeng Watthana Road near the Ministry of Justice in Lak Si district has caused significant traffic disruptions. Temporary steel plates have been placed to cover the affected area, and permanent repairs were scheduled at 10pm last night. The JS100 Radio Facebook page posted images and a report detailing the sinkhole situation yesterday at 5.50pm. The incident occurred…
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Contaminated petrol leads to car breakdown in Wuxi
A car owner recently experienced significant frustration after refuelling contaminated petrol at a small station in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China. After driving only 500 metres, the car broke down completely, leading to a contentious dispute with the petrol station, which refused to accept responsibility. On July 28, an individual, referred to as Li (a pseudonym), visited a small petrol station…
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Ford Thailand urges support for ICE car sector amid EV rise
Ford Thailand is urging the government to extend support to companies in the internal combustion engine (ICE) car segment, particularly motorcycle manufacturers, who are struggling to adapt to the rapid expansion of the electric vehicle (EV) market. Despite the implementation of measures such as tax cuts and subsidies to promote the EV industry, ICE sector operators have yet to see…
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Pattaya seeks public input on Red Line Monorail Project
Pattaya City held a public consultation to gather feedback on the proposed Red Line Monorail Project. The meeting featured presentations on environmental impact mitigation measures and the planned route. Residents attended the session to review the details and provide suggestions to ensure the project meets community needs. Local officials revealed that the Red Line Monorail will stretch from Dolphin Roundabout…
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BTSC demands 40 billion baht Green Line overdue debt payment
The Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC) declared itself ready to negotiate with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Krungthep Thanakom (KT) over the staggering debt tied to the BTS Green Line extensions. This comes hot on the heels of a Supreme Administrative Court ruling on July 26, giving both parties a 180-day deadline to cough up nearly 12 billion baht…
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Pattaya City unveils Red Line monorail to boost economic growth
Pattaya City is gearing up to enhance its public transport with the introduction of a new monorail line, which promises to significantly boost the coastal city’s economic development. The Red Line, as it will be known, is set to include 10 stations and cover a distance of 17.37 kilometres. A recent feasibility study, presented during yesterday’s public hearing, confirmed the…
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Toyota’s drive for success: Automaker zooms past Volkswagen
Toyota Motor Corp announced today that it sold 5.16 million vehicles globally in the first half of this year, surpassing Volkswagen AG to maintain its position as the world’s top automaker for the fifth consecutive year. Despite retaining the top spot, Toyota’s global sales from January to June, including those from its subsidiaries Daihatsu Motor Co and Hino Motors Ltd,…
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Thailand’s longest train tunnel shut after passenger dust complaints
Thailand’s longest train tunnel has been temporarily closed by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) just after its inauguration due to passenger complaints about thick dust inside. The chief of the SRT governor’s office, Ekarat Sri-arayanpong, reported that passengers on northeast-bound trains experienced discomfort from dust while passing through the Pha Sadet tunnel in Saraburi province. As a result, the…
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Japan urges ASEAN to prioritise hybrids over EVs for sustainability
Japan advocates for hybrid vehicles as an effective path for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to reach sustainable development goals. During the Economic Security and Supply Chains seminar, Yasuyuki Todo from the Faculty of Political Science and Economics at Waseda University cautioned ASEAN about over-relying on the electric vehicle (EV) industry. He pointed out that since Asean mainly…
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