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 Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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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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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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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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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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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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Thai gear shift: BOI revs up JV incentives for global auto partners
Thailand announced incentives to encourage joint ventures (JV) between Thai and foreign companies to produce automotive parts for various propulsion systems, the Board of Investment (BOI) revealed yesterday. Recognised as Southeast Asia’s leading automotive production hub, Thailand also serves as a significant export base for prominent global car manufacturers. The government is keenly promoting investments in electric vehicles (EVs), offering…
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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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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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Phuket motorists disrupted by Heroines Underpass pole relocation
Motorists in Phuket should prepare for further disruptions at the Heroines Monument as Thalang Traffic Police continue the relocation of power poles along Thepkrasattri Road. This work is part of the preparations for constructing the Heroines Underpass. The initial phase of this relocation project, which started last Wednesday, July 31, has been completed. Yesterday, August 4, Thalang Traffic Police announced…
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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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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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Bangkok requests extension to settle BTS Skytrain debt
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt announced yesterday that the city will require additional time to address its substantial debt owed to Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC), the operator of the BTS Skytrain. The debt, amounting to billions of baht, was accumulated through hiring BTSC to manage the electric train service on two extended sections of the BTS, known as the…
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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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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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Pickup truck loan defaults surge 39% in May, NCB reports
The National Credit Bureau (NCB) reported a significant 39% increase in bad debt for pickup truck loans in May, highlighting an alarming trend in the auto finance sector. Banks have also seen a contraction in car loans during the first half of this year, corresponding with a nationwide decline in car sales. By May 2024, non-performing loans (NPLs) for pickup…
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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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Bangkok ordered to pay over 12 billion baht to BTS within 180 days
The Supreme Administrative Court upheld a ruling requiring Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Krungthep Thanakom Company to pay BTS Group Holdings over 12 billion baht in outstanding debts related to the Green Line extension project within 180 days. The Supreme Administrative Court delivered its final verdict at 9am today, July 26, affirming the Central Administrative Court’s decision. The BMA and…
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Olympics sabotage: French trains targeted in coordinated attack
Hours before the much-anticipated opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, French rail company SNCF revealed that its high-speed network has been deliberately targeted by malicious acts intended to cripple the system. Several high-speed TGV lines to the west, north, and east of Paris have been hit, leading to significant queues at Montparnasse station, which serves destinations to the west of…
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Sudden bus route changes spark chaos for Bangkok commuters
Chaos ensued for bus commuters in Greater Bangkok, as route changes implemented this morning left many passengers bewildered and stranded. The unannounced alterations disrupted the usual morning commute, resulting in longer wait times and confusion over the new routes. Passengers overwhelmed the Facebook pages of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), the Transport Ministry, and Bangkokbusclub.com with complaints. The sudden…
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Highways Department’s tree-mendous tribute for king’s birthday
The Department of Highways, District 16, recently launched a tree-planting initiative in honour of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s 72nd birthday. The event took place at Highway 44, between the kilometre markers 132+700, in Kanchanadit district, Surat Thani. The event saw the participation of over 700 individuals, including executives, highway department officials, employees, and contractors. Led by Paijit Saengthong, Director…
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Public transport complaints in Thailand exceed 100,000 in 9 months
The Department of Land Transport has revealed that complaints about public transport in the past nine months have exceeded 100,000 cases, with the most common issue being rude behaviour. Over 40,000 public transport drivers have had points deducted, and 404 drivers have had their licenses suspended. Today, July 24, Seksom Akkharaphan, Deputy Director-General and spokesperson of the Department of Land…
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Democrats drive opposition to Don Mueang Toll extension
The Democrat Party has strongly opposed Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit’s proposal to extend the concession of the Don Mueang Tollway operator by 30 years in exchange for lowering the fare to 50 baht. This 21-kilometre expressway connects Bangkok’s Din Daeng area to the National Memorial in Lam Luk Ka district, Pathum Thani. The proposal emerged following the concessionaire’s plan to…
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