SRT confirms high-speed rail steel meets safety standards
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has confirmed that the steel used in the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project complies with all engineering and quality standards.
This assurance follows detailed inspections initiated due to public concerns after an earthquake in Myanmar on Friday, March 28, which sent tremors to Bangkok, resulting in the collapse of the State Audit Office building in Chatuchak district.
SRT chief Veeris Ammarapala reported that the SRT expedited inspections, particularly focusing on Contract 3-1, which encompasses the Kaeng Koi-Klang Dong and Phang Asoke-Bandai Ma sections.
The construction is being carried out by Italian-Thai Development and China Railway No.10 Engineering Group Co Joint Venture, the same firms responsible for the State Audit Office building in Chatuchak district that collapsed.
Expert engineers were deployed to the site to examine its structural integrity, and they confirmed the absence of any cracks or damage. The structure has been designed to endure seismic vibrations and adheres to necessary standards.
Furthermore, the SRT collaborated with the Railway Transport Department, the Industrial Standards Institute, and the Iron and Steel Institute to gather steel samples from the Muak Lek and Thap Kwang depots.
These samples underwent laboratory testing to evaluate properties such as yield strength, tensile strength, elongation, bending capacity, and chemical composition.
The results confirmed that all samples met the required standards, validating the steel’s suitability for railway construction. The SRT governor emphasised strict quality control measures in place, with inspections at every stage from factory production to on-site installation.
The Kaeng Koi-Klang Dong and Phang Asoke-Bandai Ma section is integral to the 252.3-kilometre high-speed train route linking Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima. The Italian-Thai Development and China Railway No.10 Engineering Group Co. Joint Venture secured Contract 3-1, one of ten contracts awarded after bidding.
The work is anticipated to be completed in approximately three years, reported Bangkok Post.
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