Transport
- Bangkok News
MRT breakdown leaves commuters stranded during rush hour
Commuters were left fuming during this morning’s rush hour as the MRT malfunctioned between Chatuchak Park Station and Phahon Yothin Station, stranding passengers and causing significant delays. The breakdown occurred at approximately 7.50am today, February 26, leaving hundreds of commuters stuck on platforms and inside trains. The MRT management quickly issued a statement at 8.30am. “The MRT is malfunctioning at…
- Bangkok News
Charged up: Bangkok set to roll out 1,520 electric buses by August
The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) is preparing to lease 1,520 electric buses with the first batch set to be operational by August. This initiative aims to replace over 30-year-old non-air-conditioned buses and reduce maintenance costs. According to a report from the Ministry of Transport today, the BMTA will propose the leasing project to the board during their meeting tomorrow,…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok plans new central bus terminal for better city connectivity
The Transport Ministry is considering relocating Bangkok’s inter-provincial bus terminals to the Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal to enhance connectivity with the city’s mass transit system. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit discussed this proposal with the Policy Monitoring Committee, instructing the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy Planning (OTP) to explore the feasibility of consolidating all state-operated bus terminals within this new…
- Bangkok News
Transport firm staff confesses to selling data to gang in Bangkok
A sophisticated operation involving the sale of personal data by a transport company employee to a criminal gang has been uncovered. The employee confessed to offering daily, weekly, and monthly data packages. At the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, Police Lieutenant General Trirong Phewan announced the results of an investigation into the Oreo gang yesterday, February 7 at 12.30pm. This followed…
- Thailand News
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…
- Bangkok News
Thailand’s ‘one ticket’ travel plan moves forward
Thailand is one step closer to a game-changing transport upgrade, with the House of Representatives approving the Pheu Thai Party’s draft bill for an integrated ticketing system. The move, passed with 226 votes in favour and 142 against, promises a seamless travel experience for commuters across urban trains and buses. But not everyone is on board. The House ditched a competing proposal from the People’s Party, opting instead…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok traffic speeds up 25% thanks to smart solutions
Bangkok’s notorious traffic jams are easing, with efforts by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and traffic police delivering a 25% increase in traffic flow speeds over the past two years. The achievement was announced by BMA spokesperson Aekvarunyoo Amrapala, citing a report from the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP). The report identified 127 congestion hotspots in…
- Bangkok News
Orange Line construction closes Bangkok flyover for two years
The flyover on Bangkok’s Charan Sanit Wong Road has been closed to facilitate the construction of the Orange Line electric railway. Motorists are advised to seek alternative routes to alleviate traffic congestion. Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) Deputy Governor Kittikorn Tanpao announced the closure to accommodate the development of the Orange Line, specifically the Bang Khun Non-underground station. This station…
- Thailand News
Thai motorists enjoy free expressway during new year holidays
The Government of Thailand has announced that motorists will enjoy free access to two expressways and two motorways during the new year holidays. The initiative aims to ease travel and encourage economic activity during the festive period. According to deputy government spokesperson Anukul Prueksanusak, the fee waiver applies to the Burapha Withi Expressway, the Kanchanaphisek (Bang Phli-Suk Sawat) Expressway, the…
- Phuket News
Phuket’s expressway project moves forward: EXAT
Phuket’s ambitious infrastructure plans took a significant step forward after Governor Sophon Suwannarat held a crucial meeting with representatives from the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) at the Phuket Provincial Hall. The discussions centred on the progress of the highly anticipated Phuket Expressway Project, commonly referred to by locals as the Patong Tunnel and Mueang Mai-Koh Kaew-Kathu Expressway projects. In…
- Phuket News
Phuket cabaret boosts economy with 200 million baht annually
Phuket’s vibrant cabaret scene is being hailed as a significant contributor to the province’s economy, with the potential to generate over 200 million baht annually. Phuket Governor Sophon Suwanrat highlighted the substantial impact of the Simon Cabaret Phuket Show during its reopening in the Kathu district yesterday. This year has marked a resurgence for tourism in Phuket, and the numbers…
- Thailand News
Phuket rolls out electric buses in bold push for greener island
Phuket has just taken a major leap towards modernising its public transport with the launch of electric buses, marking the beginning of a cleaner, more sustainable future for the island. The historic moment occurred yesterday, December 2 at the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), where a ceremony was held to unveil the first trial buses. Governor Sophon Suwannarat and PPAO…
- Thailand News
Pumped up: Petrol prices to rise, leaving Thailand drivers fuming
Hold onto your wallets, folks! Come tomorrow, November 21, at 5am, petrol and gasohol prices are set to climb by 30 satang per litre, courtesy of PTT Station’s latest price tweak. In contrast, diesel aficionados can breathe a slight sigh of relief as their prices remain untouched. Once the clock strikes, expect to shell out 44.24 baht per litre for…
- Bangkok News
Pilotless ‘air taxis’ takes first flights above Bangkok (video)
Chinese aviation tech company EHang made history by launching its EH216-S pilotless electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in Thailand. The debut passenger flights, held at the Thailand Drone Exhibition & Symposium 2024, mark a major milestone as Thailand becomes the 18th country to host EHang’s futuristic eVTOL flights. With the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) leading the…
- Phuket News
Taxi tensions in Phuket: Drivers demand ride-hailing rights
Tensions are boiling over in Phuket as local green plate taxi drivers, reliant on app-based bookings to stay afloat, face hefty 2,000-baht fines for doing just that. Drivers rallied at Saphan Hin’s central stage last Tuesday, November 5, calling on officials to overhaul outdated regulations that penalise them for using ride-hailing apps – a vital income stream since the pandemic…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok plans cycling lanes to ease congestion in key districts
The capital’s bustling streets may soon see a transformation as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Thailand Walking and Cycling Institute Foundation (TWCIF) are set to introduce a walking and cycling lane project in four heavily congested areas. A feasibility study for this initiative is scheduled to conclude next month, setting the stage for a city-wide shift in transportation…
- Phuket News
Phuket launches 50-baht electric bus service from town to Patong
Phuket Smart Bus (PKSB) yesterday launched a new electric bus service connecting Phuket Town and Patong. The service is priced at just 50 baht per passenger. The launch yesterday, October 9, saw Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat officiating, alongside Atcha Buachan, Chief of the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO). Also in attendance were Waithat Upatising, Executive Director of Phuket City Development…
- Thailand News
Roadworks on Suphan Buri highway to cause weekend delays
The Department of Highways has announced a three-year road improvement project on Highway 340 from Ban Sali to Suphan Buri, with traffic expected to be congested during weekends. Travellers are advised to plan their journeys in advance. The Department of Highways is committed to enhancing the transportation network of the country and is expediting the construction of Highway 340 from…
- Thailand News
Thailand welfare card benefits updated for October
Thailand’s Comptroller General’s Department has updated the welfare card benefits for October. Eligible individuals will receive various allowances and benefits starting this month, including purchasing allowances, transport subsidies, and additional disability payments. The welfare card benefits for October began on Tuesday, October 1. Teeraporn Phasuk, Deputy Director-General of the Comptroller General’s Department and spokesperson for the department, stated that those…
- Transport News
Thailand unveils transport development policy to boost infrastructure
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit unveiled an extensive policy for the country’s transport infrastructure development, aiming for improvements across short, medium, and long-term phases. During a meeting with transport organisations under the Paetongtarn Shinawatra administration, Suriya, along with his two deputies, presented a strategic policy guideline encompassing nine key points to be executed in three distinct phases. Suriya emphasised the need…
- Transport News
Thailand’s new transport centre boosts regional logistics hub status
Airports of Thailand Ground Aviation Services (AOTGA) anticipates that its newly inaugurated Multimodal Transportation Centre at Suvarnabhumi Airport will bolster Thailand’s position as a regional logistics hub, enhancing goods transportation among Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam (CLMV). The new centre is designed to integrate various transportation modes, including land, rail, sea, and air, with the added benefit of consolidating customs…
- Thailand News
Suspect vanishes into thin air: Bang Sri Mueang cops under fire
A suspect in a criminal case disappears from Bang Sri Mueang Police Station, raising concerns over potential police misconduct. The incident, which occurred yesterday August 29, has prompted the plaintiff to file a complaint against the officers involved. Yesterday at 6pm, the plaintiff, Sanit Champak, through his lawyer Montri Prasatkaew, reported the disappearance of the suspect from Bang Sri Muang…
- Thailand News
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…
- Thailand News
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…
- Bangkok News
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…
- Thailand News
Thailand to revise EEC high-speed rail contract by next month
Government officials anticipate finalising the revised contract for the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) high-speed rail system by next month, paving the way for the project’s next phase. This high-speed rail system, a cornerstone project for the EEC, aims to connect Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and Asia Era One, a consortium led by…
- Pattaya News
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…
- Thailand News
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…
- Business News
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…
- Thailand News
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…
