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 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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Phuket: 80 million baht study for new Sarasin Bridge underway
A feasibility study amounting to 80 million baht is currently in progress for the new Sarasin Bridge project, confirmed Somkid Kittisopit, the new Director of the Phuket Highways Office. Somkid revealed the update during a meeting with Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday. He provided updates on five major transportation projects intended to enhance travel efficiency, reduce…
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Second-hand tsunami: Used car flood drives Thai sellers to despair
A torrent of high-quality used cars flooding the market might sound like a bargain hunter’s dream but it’s turning into a nightmare for sellers. While buyers drive off with the deals, automakers in Thailand are hitting potholes trying to move new stock, and used car dealers are struggling to keep sales engines running. The second-hand car market skidded to a…
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Phuket’s road to relief: Green light at the end of the traffic tunnel
Phuket’s long-awaited new road linking Kathu and Srisoonthorn is finally getting the green light, thanks to generous land donations from three of the island’s most prominent families. Local bigwigs have confirmed the long-stalled project is now full speed ahead. The Ekwanich, Kulwanich, and Saksaktawee families have handed over the land needed for the ambitious 5.6-kilometre road, designed to ease traffic…
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Free rides on Bangkok’s upgraded BRT system for two months
Passengers can now enjoy free rides on Bangkok’s newly upgraded Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system for the next two months, according to a transport official from the operating company. This new service, which started yesterday, September 1, features electric buses that have replaced the old ones running on natural gas for vehicles (NGV) after more than 14 years of use.…
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Bangkok’s Red and Purple Lines to get 20-baht flat fare extension
The Transport Ministry has decided to extend the 20-baht flat fare on the Red and Purple electric railway lines indefinitely, despite the policy originally being set to conclude in November. This decision comes after a 26% increase in passenger flow was observed. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced that the ministry remains committed to maintaining the flat fare, particularly for the…
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Indonesian motorcycle taxi drivers strike for fair pay
Over 1,000 motorcycle taxi drivers initiated a strike in various Indonesian cities today, protesting against inadequate pay and demanding greater protection from what they deem unfair practices by ride-sharing firms. The drivers, clad in their distinctive green jackets, converged outside the Communications Ministry and near the Jakarta offices of Indonesia’s largest tech company GoTo and Southeast Asia’s leading ride-hailing and…
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Bangkok faces 11.75 billion baht Green Line debt crisis
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and its business arm, Krungthep Thanakom (KT), are urgently reviewing a National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) ruling before they settle a colossal 11.75 billion baht debt owed to the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC). This follows a Supreme Administrative Court order on July 26, which gave BMA and KT just 180 days to pay up. The…
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Special vehicle registration numbers up for auction at DLT
The Department of Land Transport (DLT), through its Road Safety Fund, announced an upcoming auction of special vehicle registration numbers for private cars with a seating capacity of no more than seven. The auction, the eighth of its kind, will be held tomorrow, August 31, from 10am at the DLT’s Building 6, Floor 7. The event features the theme Special…
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Thai bus firms under siege as Chinese rivals drive them up the wall
The Thai bus industry is under siege with Chinese bus operators flooding the market with cut-rate prices and dodgy tactics, leaving Thai companies struggling to keep up. The Thai Transportation Operators Association has sounded the alarm on this cut-throat competition. Wasuchet Sophonsathien, the association’s president, laid bare the ongoing crisis. Illegal foreign bus operators are muscling in on the market,…
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Thaksin suggests reacquisition of private transit projects for 20 baht
The Transport Ministry is considering establishing an infrastructure fund aimed at repurchasing mass rapid transit projects from private entities, following a proposal by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Public ownership of these services could potentially allow for a standard fare of 20 baht per ride. Caretaker Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced yesterday, August 24, that the ministry intends to explore the…
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Bangkok airports high-speed rail project hits the brakes
The high-speed rail project set to connect Bangkok’s three major airports has been thrown into limbo, as contract amendments grind to a halt. The delay is blamed on the lack of a new chairman for the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee, a role that must be filled by the incoming Cabinet—still nowhere in sight. The ambitious 276.5-billion-baht project promises…
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Thailand on track to invest 77 billion baht in new light rail systems
Plans are underway for the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) to introduce a light rail system in Phuket, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Phitsanulok, with an overall budget of 77 billion baht. MRTA Deputy Governor Wittaya Phanmongkol revealed that the estimated costs of the projects are 35 billion baht for Phuket, 30 billion baht for Chiang Mai, 7…
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Bangkok to Beijing train: Mekong River railway bridge opens
Travellers are one step closer to an epic train journey from Bangkok to Beijing as a new railway bridge over the Mekong River has opened, linking Thailand and Laos by rail for the first time. This milestone, completed last month, leaves just a few dozen miles of a trackless gap before the route can finally reach China. With the launch…
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Thailand urged to subsidise public transport with vehicle tax funds
The Thailand Consumer Council (TCC) urged the government to subsidise public transport fares using funds sourced from taxes on personal vehicles, land, and windfall profits. This recommendation emerged during the inaugural meeting of the Consumer Council for Public Transportation Users, aimed at developing a safer and fairer public transport system through collaborative guidelines and projects. TCC President Boonyeun Siritham highlighted…
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New train service to link Bangkok and Penang in three months
Thailand will launch a new train service linking Bang Sue in Bangkok to Penang, Malaysia, within the next two to three months. The initial phase will be a six-month trial period, marking a significant step in cross-border transportation. The announcement was made yesterday, August 20, by Ekarat Sriarayapong, head of the Governor’s Office of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).…
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Bangkok taxi driver sparks outrage by refusing to use meter (video)
A social media storm has erupted after a passenger shared a video on TikTok exposing a taxi driver in Bangkok refusing to use the meter and demanding a flat fare. The incident, recorded by user @praewspmi, has drawn widespread criticism and calls for stricter enforcement of regulations. The video shows the passenger attempting to hail a taxi near the Siam…
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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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Japan invited to supercharge Thailand’s Red Line railway network
In a strategic move to bolster Thailand’s railway infrastructure, the Ministry of Transport extended an invitation to Japanese companies to invest in the extension networks of the Red Line electric train system. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit welcomed the newly appointed Japanese ambassador, Otaka Masato, during a media briefing yesterday, August 14, highlighting the potential for enhanced transport cooperation between the…
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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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Thai transport twist: No chinese takeover in the fast lane, says DLT
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) dismissed media reports suggesting Chinese companies are increasingly taking over struggling Thai transport businesses, emphasising that licences issued to one business cannot be transferred in the event of a takeover. “More importantly, only Thai legal entities registered and headquartered in Thailand are eligible to hold the licences.” The DLT clarified that at least 51%…
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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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Bangkok residents urge SRT to allocate Makkasan land for housing
Residents near the railway in Bangkok’s Phaya Thai district are calling on the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to allocate 10% of its 500-rai Makkasan land to them before commencing a high-speed rail project connecting three airports. The high-speed rail will link Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan, and U-Tapao Airport in Rayong. Last March, the…
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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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