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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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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Pattaya eyes one-way system traffic shake-up to Soi Buakhao
Local government officials in Pattaya are considering extending their new one-way traffic system, currently operating on Soi 11 (Soi Honey) and Soi 13 (Soi Diana Inn), to Soi Buakhao. The move follows a successful trial and positive feedback from residents. Led by Anupong Phutthanavarat, the Pattaya City Council’s Committee on Administration and Public Safety recently visited these streets to evaluate…
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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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Transport bill vetoed in House amid conflict of interest concerns
The House of Representatives vetoed a transport bill proposed by the People’s Party (PP), which aimed to grant local administrators the authority to operate transport services independently and approve other transport operations. The bill, introduced by PP list-MP Surachet Pravinvongvuth, was up for consideration during a meeting chaired by Deputy House Speaker Pichet Chuamuangpan. Initially discussed on Monday, the vote…
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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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EV battery boom: Can AI help Thailand drive to the top?
Thailand is revving up for a major geopolitical boost by focusing on electric vehicle (EV) batteries and auto components, including integrated circuit packaging and testing. According to Taiwan’s Profet AI, the key to speeding up product delivery, slashing costs, and raising standards lies in adopting cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) amid ongoing economic headwinds. Jerry Huang, co-founder and CEO of Profet…
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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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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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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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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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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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