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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Thailand car production hits brakes amid finance woes
Thailand’s car production has skidded to a 20.11% drop in June compared to last year, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). This decline accelerates from May’s 16.19% downturn, driven by stricter financing rules and soaring consumer debt levels. In the first half of this year, car production tumbled by 17.39%, totalling 761,240 units. The FTI attributes this slump…
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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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Shocking slump: Thailand’s premium EV sales plunge 35%
Thailand has experienced a significant decline in the sales of premium electric vehicles (EVs), dropping 35% year-on-year in the first half of the year. Despite this downturn, BMW remains optimistic about its EV sales, banking on the appeal of its newly launched models in the Mini family in Bangkok. Sales of premium EVs fell to 3,844 units between January and…
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Patong tuk tuk driver fined after aggressive road confrontation
Patong tuk tuk drivers are again under scrutiny after an alarming confrontation between a driver and a resident in traffic. The incident, captured in a 51-second video, ignited a wave of criticism and concern among Phuket residents. A resident, who has been living in Phuket for eight years, documented the encounter and posted the video on the Facebook page Driving…
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Charged up: GAC Aion plugs into Thailand’s booming EV market
GAC Aion New Energy Automobile, an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer under Guangzhou Automobile Corporation (GAC), anticipates substantial benefits from the ongoing expansion of Thailand’s EV market. This comes after the recent inauguration of a 2.3-billion-baht EV assembly plant in Rayong. The company aims to produce up to 70,000 EVs annually for both domestic sales and export, according to Ma Haiyang,…
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Bangkok urged to create app for safer, fair motorcycle taxi fares
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has been urged by a city council member to develop a new application for motorcycle taxis to ensure passenger safety and fair pricing. Viput Srivaurai, representing Bang Rak district, advocated for leveraging technology and innovation to enhance motorcycle taxi services. Viput emphasised that the BMA should implement a data management system to organise services and…
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EXAT announces toll exemptions for three public holidays in July
Thailand’s Expressway Authority (EXAT) announced toll exemptions for three major expressways in Bangkok on three specific days in July, while two public holidays will not see toll exemptions. The EXAT, under the Ministry of Transport, stated that tolls on three expressways will be waived on July 20, July 21, and July 28. These dates coincide with public holidays as declared…
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Thai Airways ranks eighth among world’s top ten airlines
Thai Airways secured a spot among the top ten international airlines in the world, as ranked by Travel & Leisure for 2024. The award, announced today, July 18, places Thai Airways at No.8 on the prestigious list. Travel & Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2024 surveyed opinions from travellers, tourists, and business people worldwide. This comprehensive survey evaluated excellence in various…
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BEM wins 140 billion baht Orange Line western route project
Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc (BEM) received Cabinet approval to kick off the Orange Line’s western route project, government spokesman Chai Wacharonke announced yesterday. The Orange Line transit system will link the Bang Khun Non-district with the Min Buri district via a 35.9-kilometre network of underground and elevated rail sections. This includes a 13.4-kilometre western route from Bang Khun Non…
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Controversial sea bridge to Koh Samui stirs debate
The hotly-debated sea bridge connecting the Thai mainland to the paradise island of Koh Samui is one step closer to reality. The second phase of public hearings for this ambitious project kicked off in Surat Thani province yesterday, July 15, setting the stage for a project that promises to revolutionise travel to one of Thailand’s most beloved holiday spots. Set…
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New Bangkok-Vientiane rail service starts Friday with tickets from 281 baht
A test run for the new cross-border rail link between Bangkok and Vientiane took place yesterday, paving the way for the official passenger service set to start this Friday. Nong Khai governor Sompob Samitasiri, alongside staff from various government agencies, private organisations, and tour businesses, participated in the trial. The journey began at Nong Khai Railway Station and concluded at…
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Thai bus driver fined 2,000 baht for threatening motorist with stick
A bus driver wielded a long stick to threaten a fellow motorist, resulting in a 2,000 baht fine and a mandatory three-hour training session to improve his awareness and conduct. The incident, which took place on July 6 on Phetkasem Road near Lotus Bang Khae in Bangkok, was captured in a viral online video. The Department of Land Transport (DLT) summoned…
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New Bangkok to Vientiane train service launches tomorrow
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is set to launch a new passenger train service between Bangkok and Vientiane, Laos. The service, starting tomorrow, July 13, will facilitate travel between the two countries, with tickets available for advance purchase up to 180 days. The new route will operate two round-trip journeys daily, featuring three classes of service, third-class fan-cooled seats…
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Thai auto parts makers pivot to medical devices amid EV shift
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) plans to present a proposal to the government this month aimed at bolstering the local medical device business. This initiative seeks to assist auto parts manufacturers in diversifying their operations amid the vehicle industry’s transition to electric vehicle (EV) technology. The shift in the industry provides an opportunity for auto parts makers, particularly those…
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Rail ale rally: Bangkok victims group derails alcohol repeal bid
Over 50 members of the Bangkok Drunk Driving Victims Network, led by President Jessada Yamsabai, submitted a petition opposing the repeal of the ban on alcohol sales and consumption on trains and at train stations to the acting Governor of the State Railway of Thailand, Jarae Rungthanee. This petition, submitted yesterday, July 11, follows a tragic 2014 incident where a…
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New Bangkok tollgate sparks controversy
Bangkok’s new tollgate on the Chalerm Maha Nakhon Expressway in Pathum Wan district has officially opened, promising to improve the city’s traffic flow—but not without sparking a heated debate. The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) announced that the new Lumpini entrance will provide a crucial link from the Chalerm Maha Nakhon Expressway to Wireless Road. This strategic shortcut is set…
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Thailand’s EV 3.0 policy faces major oversupply challenges
The Thai Electric Vehicle Association (EVAT) issued a cautionary note to electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers in Thailand, alerting them to the potential for a significant oversupply of EVs in the coming years. This warning arises from the production requirements stipulated under the EV 3.0 policy. This policy, which has been previously lauded for encouraging domestic EV production, offers import tax…
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Thailand plans 50 billion baht tunnel expressway in Bangkok
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) announced plans to construct a 50 billion baht tunnel expressway connecting Kaset and Ngamwongwan. Public opinion on the project will be gathered and considered on July 13. EXAT Governor Surachet Laophulsuk revealed that the third public hearing will finalise the feasibility study for the northern section of the Third Stage Expressway System, specifically the…
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Pattaya crackdown on illegal motorcycle parking: Positive response
Pattaya City’s new campaign against the chaos of illegally parked motorcycles, launched yesterday, July 9, was met with a positive response. Targeting the bustling area outside Terminal 21 shopping mall on North Pattaya Road, the initiative aims to reclaim the sidewalks from rogue drivers, urging the public to cooperate. “This campaign is excellent! It would be even better if enforced…
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Honda to cease productions in Ayutthaya by 2025, EV competition
Honda Motor will cease vehicle production at its Ayutthaya factory by 2025, redirecting its efforts to consolidate operations at the Prachin Buri plant, the company announced today, July 9. This strategic shift underscores the increasing challenges Japan’s second-largest automaker faces in Southeast Asia, as Chinese brands aggressively vie for market share in Thailand amidst rising consumer interest in electric vehicles…
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