Thailand to modernise railway with 184 new diesel railcars by 2030
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans to replace its ageing fleet by procuring 184 air-conditioned diesel railcars, along with spare parts, at a cost of 24.1 billion baht. These new railcars aim to modernise the current fleet, which has been in service for three decades.
SRT chief Veeris Ammarapala stated that the new railcars will replace 10 existing long-distance trains and facilitate the expansion of double-track rail services. The SRT aims to enhance its competitiveness with other transport modes to attract more passengers, highlighting benefits such as reduced fuel consumption, decreased traffic congestion, and a lower environmental impact.
Last year, approximately 30.3 million passengers travelled with SRT, an increase from 27.8 million in 2023.
Half of the budget will be allocated to procuring 92 air-conditioned diesel railcars with a driver’s cabin, while the remaining budget will be spent on 92 cars without a cabin. Veeris mentioned that these new railcars will utilise both diesel engines and electric power from batteries.
The railcars will feature amenities such as designated spaces for disabled passengers, onboard WiFi, reclining seats, hygienic closed-system toilets, and LED screens. The average cost per railcar is 131.25 million baht. The first shipment of 60 railcars is expected to arrive in Thailand by 2027.
Veeris also revealed that a report would be submitted to the Ministry of Transport for approval before being presented to the Cabinet. Should the Cabinet approve, the SRT will open a bidding process for interested parties, with selection results anticipated by July 2026. The SRT aims to have all new railcars operational by April 2030.
In related developments, the SRT is expediting design work on a four-track Mekong River Railway Bridge to accommodate trains and high-speed trains between Thailand and Laos.
According to a source from the SRT, the bridge is part of the Nong Khai-Vientiane railway link project and is currently in the project research phase, which includes design specifics and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report.
The study is expected to conclude by September. Plans include constructing two new bridges and renovating the current one for car use only.
One new railway bridge will be built approximately 30 metres south of the existing structure and will feature four tracks, with two for 1-metre gauge trains and two for 1.435m standard high-speed trains. Construction is scheduled to begin next year and is expected to take around 36 months, with an opening in 2029.
The project’s second phase involves building a new car bridge on the north side of the current bridge, adding two more lanes to the existing Mekong River crossing. Construction for this phase is set to start around 2041, with completion and opening expected in 2044, reported Bangkok Post.
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