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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Cross-border travel: Thailand and Cambodia relaunch bus services
For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the brakes, Thailand and Cambodia are set to resume their cross-border bus services, reconnecting Bangkok with Phnom Penh and Siem Reap this Friday, November 29. After more than three years of halted operations, travellers can once again hop on board for a seamless journey between these iconic destinations. The announcement came…
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Motorcycle taxis causes traffic gridlock during Pattaya concert
A major hip-hop concert at Legend Siam created severe traffic chaos in Pattaya at the weekend, as hundreds of motorcycle taxis caused gridlock by parking illegally in the streets. The venue, located roughly 20 kilometres from central Pattaya, drew large crowds that overwhelmed the city’s already tourist-heavy traffic system on Saturday, November 23. The situation deteriorated when motorcycle taxi drivers…
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Patong’s traffic issues persist due to private road ownership
Patong’s traffic woes continue to frustrate local government agencies as Mayor Chalermsak Maneesri highlights the challenges faced due to private ownership of Soi Saensabai. The notorious Phuket street is known for traffic congestion and safety hazards and has seen several pedestrian injuries, including those involving foreign tourists. The inability of Patong Municipality to impose any regulations or initiate improvements on…
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Michelin shifts gears: Revs up investment amid Thailand’s EV push
Iconic French tyre manufacturer Michelin is turbocharging its investment in Thailand, eager to ride the wave of the government’s electric vehicle (EV) push, even as local car sales take a dip. With the pedal to the metal, Michelin plans to rev up sales by rolling out cutting-edge products and eco-friendly technologies in line with the global shift towards sustainable business…
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Overloaded truck in Phuket sparks road safety concern (video)
A pickup truck in Phuket overloaded with what appeared to be water tanks caught the attention of many when a video showcasing its precarious state was posted online. The clip sparked a discussion about road safety and law enforcement on social media. A Facebook user shared a 33-second video on the เหตุด่วนเหตุร้าย ร่วมด้วยช่วยกัน ภูเก็ต V.2 (Emergency Incidents, Help Together Phuket…
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Revving down: Nissan shifts gears with Thai job cuts
Nissan Motor Corporation is gearing up for a major reshuffle in Thailand, as the automotive giant plans to slash or relocate around 1,000 jobs amidst its sweeping global workforce reduction strategy. This hard-hitting news comes from insider sources who leaked the story to Reuters, albeit under the cloak of anonymity due to their lack of authorisation to go public. The…
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Highway expansion boosts Bangkok-eastern Thailand connection
Highway 3481, a vital route connecting Bangkok to eastern provinces such as Chachoengsao and Prachin Buri, has undergone a significant upgrade. The road has been expanded from two lanes to four, a development aimed at easing transport between the bustling capital and the eastern regions. This expansion, executed by the Department of Highways, is set to enhance travel within the…
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Pattaya’s traffic turmoil: No more rogue bus stops
Pattaya’s reputation as a bustling tourist paradise is under threat—not from a lack of attractions, but from a gridlock of its own making. At a Pattaya City Council meeting yesterday, November 20, council member Surin Yimyai sounded the alarm about the city’s chaotic public transport practices, particularly buses flouting the rules by picking up and dropping off passengers wherever they…
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Pothole pandemonium: Pattaya dark shortcut sparks chaos
Frustrated residents of South Pattaya have had enough of the endless construction chaos on the infamous shortcut road on Thep Prasit Soi 7. After years of delays and mounting complaints, city council members Nikom Saengkaew and Prasatporn Deeden finally stepped in on November 16 to address the issue. The unfinished road, meant to link Thep Prasit Soi 7 to Soi…
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Pumped up: Petrol prices to rise, leaving Thailand drivers fuming
Hold onto your wallets, folks! Come tomorrow, November 21, at 5am, petrol and gasohol prices are set to climb by 30 satang per litre, courtesy of PTT Station’s latest price tweak. In contrast, diesel aficionados can breathe a slight sigh of relief as their prices remain untouched. Once the clock strikes, expect to shell out 44.24 baht per litre for…
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Thailand partners with Turkey to build high-speed rail empire
Thailand is gearing up to transform its rail landscape by partnering with Turkey’s state-owned train manufacturer, Türasaş, in a bold step towards high-speed travel. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit revealed on Monday, November 18, that the collaboration aims to boost Thailand’s transport sector and establish a domestic rail manufacturing industry. During his recent visit to Türasaş’s Sakarya facility in Turkey, Suriya…
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Cheers to safety: Thailand’s plan to tackle alcohol-fuelled crashes
Thailand is ringing in the new year with a determined focus on safety, as Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin reveals a no-nonsense plan to tackle alcohol-fuelled road accidents during the festive celebrations. With the Christmas and new year season notorious for its spike in drink-related mishaps, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee has rolled out four game-changing measures to keep partygoers…
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EV excitement with a shock: Thailand’s green dream hits a snag
Thailand’s electric vehicle (EV) industry may be sparking excitement but beneath the surface, a storm of challenges is threatening to short-circuit the nation’s EV ambitions. Despite a surge in EV usage, the sector is grappling with poor domestic car sales, sluggish economic growth, crippling household debt, and cutthroat pricing wars that could derail its progress. Chinese EV manufacturers, with their…
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Bangkok Motor Expo shifts into high gear to rev up bookings
Buckle up, folks! The 41st Bangkok International Motor Expo is zooming into town tomorrow, and car distributors are hoping for a much-needed boost in bookings, despite the market feeling like it’s stuck in first gear. Last year saw a whopping 53,248 bookings, and this time around, organisers are revved up to beat that record this year. Kwanchai Paphatphong, the man…
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Thailand ensures utmost safety during Loy Krathong travel surge
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Suriya Juangroongruangkit announced robust preparations for the anticipated large crowds during the Loy Krathong festival. Officials are expecting a significant influx of both domestic and international travellers participating in the festivities across Bangkok and other provinces. Suriya has directed various agencies to improve travel accessibility and ensure safety across all modes of transport, including…
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Bangkok set for traffic chaos as flyovers close for Orange Line
Heavy traffic congestion looms over Bangkok as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) prepares to close and demolish three key flyovers for the construction of the Orange Line electric train route. This significant infrastructure project is set to begin tomorrow, November 15, causing major traffic disruptions in some of the city’s busiest areas. The BMA announced yesterday its plan to dismantle…
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Bangkok to beat the gridlock with new congestion charge
Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit revealed that Bangkok could soon join cities like London and Singapore with a congestion charge aimed at unclogging the city’s crowded streets and reducing pollution. Suriya announced a six-month timeline for the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) to finalise a study identifying the best model for implementing the charge. “We’re looking at…
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Taxi tensions in Phuket: Drivers demand ride-hailing rights
Tensions are boiling over in Phuket as local green plate taxi drivers, reliant on app-based bookings to stay afloat, face hefty 2,000-baht fines for doing just that. Drivers rallied at Saphan Hin’s central stage last Tuesday, November 5, calling on officials to overhaul outdated regulations that penalise them for using ride-hailing apps – a vital income stream since the pandemic…
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Bangkok plans cycling lanes to ease congestion in key districts
The capital’s bustling streets may soon see a transformation as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Thailand Walking and Cycling Institute Foundation (TWCIF) are set to introduce a walking and cycling lane project in four heavily congested areas. A feasibility study for this initiative is scheduled to conclude next month, setting the stage for a city-wide shift in transportation…
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Tunnel expressway project shelved due to projected lack of returns
Transport Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit announced the cancellation of a major expressway infrastructure project’s underground component. The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) will not proceed with the tunnel section of the Phase 3 Northern Expressway project (N1 section), which was designed to connect the Si Rat Expressway to both Ngamwongwan and Prasert Manukit roads. The decision comes…
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Airport initiative boosts culture and economy in northern Thailand
Phitsanulok and Nan airports have introduced an innovative Live Airport concept aimed at highlighting the cultural identities of these provinces while generating sustainable economic benefits for local communities. The initiative was inaugurated on November 1 and seeks to position airports as not only transit points but also as cultural gateways into the region. Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri, accompanied by…
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Thai man harasses female student on Bangkok songthaew
A concerning incident involving a man allegedly harassing a female student on a public songthaew sparked warnings on social media. The incident, which occurred yesterday, November 6 at around 5pm, prompted calls for increased vigilance among commuters using this popular mode of transport. The incident unfolded on a songthaew travelling to the National Stadium, which was fully occupied at the…
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Patong slams brakes on taxi conflicts to boost tourism image
Efforts are underway in Patong to reorganise the city’s unscrupulous motorcycle taxi services following a recent conflict among drivers over passenger pickups. Local police in the bustling tourist destination are taking steps to address the situation, which has negatively impacted the area’s reputation. Chalermpong Saengdee, a member of the People’s Party representing Phuket, revealed that a meeting took place yesterday…
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High-speed airport rail link contract still pending review
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced today that the amended contract for the high-speed airport rail link connecting three major airports cannot yet be presented to the Cabinet this week, as it awaits thorough review from the State Enterprise Committee. Suriya today, November 4, said he plans to discuss the timeline with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, who…
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Bangkok MRT Orange Line construction to disrupt traffic this month
Construction on the western segment of Bangkok’s MRT Orange Line is set to bring some disruptions, as announced by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). The project, which aims to enhance the city’s transit network, will necessitate the closure of a traffic lane along the initial five stops of the light rail line, stretching from Bang Khun Non…
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Thailand shifts gears to keep diesel costs cruising under control
In a bold move to soothe the sting at the forecourts, the Oil Fuel Fund Office (OFFO) unveiled its plan to keep Thailand’s diesel prices under a breezy 33 baht per litre, even though the current subsidy scheme is revving to a halt. This decision steers from an unexpected upturn in OFFO’s finances, courtesy of plummeting global oil prices. Fiscal…
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Karon police ‘taxi’ the bull by the horns: No more illegal rides
Karon police have hit back at online accusations claiming they’ve been lax in tackling illegal taxi operations. In a bold announcement, they revealed that a whopping 208 illegal taxis have been stopped and seized since the start of July. In a statement released earlier yesterday, October 31, Karon Police reassured the public that their officers have been conducting checkpoints at…
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Bangkok’s Orange Line expansion advances with overpass removals
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) is accelerating discussions with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to dismantle overpasses in anticipation of the Orange Line’s expansion. This strategic move is set to facilitate the construction of the western segment of the Bang Khun Non-Min Buri rail system, aiming for completion by 2030. Vithaya Punmongkol, acting governor for the MRTA,…
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EXAT digs deep but hits financial roadblock on N1 Expressway
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) seems set to abandon its plans for an underground route in the controversial N1 Expressway development, citing financial concerns. EXAT Governor Surachet Laophulsuk revealed that the board has decided to delay the project after a study raised serious doubts about its financial viability. Despite a promising equity internal rate of return (EIRR) projected at…
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Second phase of Khon Kaen to Nong Khai railway starts this year
Construction for the second phase of the double-track railway from Khon Kaen to Nong Khai will commence at the end of this year, with an estimated budget of 28.6 billion baht. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Governor, Veeris Ammarapala, confirmed that the project is expected to take approximately three years to complete. The SRT board, in a meeting yesterday,…
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