Southern Thailand train services to resume after severe flooding
Train services in southern Thailand are set to return to full operation on December 12 following severe flooding that disrupted the rail network and caused significant damage to the tracks. The floods had forced all trains to terminate at Hat Yai station, impacting travel and logistics in the region.
The State Railway of Thailand‘s Governor, Veeris Ammarapala, confirmed that services would resume their full routes, reaching Sungai Kolok station in Narathiwat province by December 12. This includes the restoration of all night express and rapid trains departing from Bangkok to Yala and Sungai Kolok, with services recommencing tomorrow.
Efforts are currently underway by workers to repair damaged tracks in the provinces of Pattani and Yala. These areas, along with Songkhla and Narathiwat, experienced significant flooding, which had a detrimental impact on the railway infrastructure, reported Bangkok Post.
The disruption had necessitated a halt in train operations at Hat Yai for safety reasons.
In related news, more than 13,000 passengers have utilised the cross-border service of the Bangkok-Vientiane rail route since its inauguration on July 19, leading the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to add another passenger carriage to meet the increased demand.
SRT Governor Veeris Ammarapala announced on October 20, that he had recently met with Daochinda Siharat, Lao National Railway State Enterprise chief. This meeting followed the signing of a technical implementation memorandum for freight transport, aiming to expand cross-border transport capacity and accommodate more passengers.
Veeris highlighted that both parties have successfully managed international freight trains to achieve the goal of 14 round trips per day and are now considering increasing that number.
To address the rising passenger demand for the Bangkok-Vientiane rail, an additional air-conditioned carriage with sleeping beds will be added to the service. Since its launch in July, the service has seen over 13,000 travellers.
Latest Thailand News
