Transport Ministry
- Business News
Transport Ministry execs visit Phuket to boost economic development
Senior executives from the Ministry of Transport gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, engaging in a two-day study tour aimed at boosting economic development in the region through transportation initiatives. This initiative, part of a broader training programme organised by the Ministry of Transport, targets government officials and employees from state enterprises. Running from May 27 to August 16, the…
- Thailand News
SEC bill to launch 1-trillion-baht Land Bridge project by 2026
The draft of the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) bill is on track to be submitted to the Cabinet by the end of September, aiming to kickstart the 1-trillion-baht Land Bridge megaproject in 2026, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced yesterday. The blueprint for the project is currently being adjusted to align with the expectations of foreign investors and locals. These adjustments…
- Thailand News
Fare cut: Bangkok train rides slashed to just 20 baht
The Transport Ministry announced that commuters on Bangkok’s Blue, Yellow, and Pink electric train lines will pay a maximum fare of 20 baht by June 2025. Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, revealed the progress of the government’s initiative to implement this fare cap on all electric train routes in the capital by September next…
- Thailand News
Weight watching: Minister targets overloaded lorries and bribery
Thailand’s transport ministry pledged stricter enforcement against overloaded lorries and aims to eliminate highway-related bribery in a move to enhance road safety. The minister directed the Department of Highways (DoH) and the Department of Rural Roads (DRR) to utilise new technologies to enhance the detection of overloaded vehicles and to take serious legal action against violators. Overloaded lorries contribute significantly…
- Thailand News
Thai land bridge project faces concerns over land disputes
Private companies, eager to invest in the Thai government’s ambitious land bridge project in the south of the country, voiced concerns over potential legal hurdles that could impede the construction of the mega project. The project aims to establish a crucial link between the Pacific and Indian oceans in the southern region of Thailand. Chumphon and Ranong are to act…
- Thailand News
Thai-Lao friendship bridge to open in November
The fifth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, connecting Thailand’s Bueng Kan province and Laos’ Pakxan town, has been scheduled to open in November. The announcement was made by Deputy Transport Minister, Manaporn Charoensri. The bridge will span from Bueng Kan, Khai Si and Wisit subdistricts in the Mueang Bueng Kan district, situated across the river from Pakxan. The construction project features a…
- Thailand News
Transport minister sets off for China for high-speed rail talks
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit will jet off to China next month for a meeting to discuss Thailand’s ambitious high-speed railway project and ignite the engines on the Land Bridge megaproject, worth a staggering 1 trillion baht. Suriya declared yesterday his forthcoming leadership at the 31st Thailand-China joint ministerial committee meeting scheduled for May 7 to 9. Topics on the agender…
- Thailand News
Bangkok port’s move stalled pending government clarity
Bangkok Port’s transformation into a mixed-use development has been put on hold by the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT), as it awaits further instructions from the Transport Ministry. The decision follows an order to relocate the port to Chon Buri, which was proposed to mitigate pollution and congestion in the city. However, it is presently unclear whether the entire port…
- Thailand News
PM Srettha urges action to ease traffic delays on Rama II highway
In response to mounting social media uproar over the Rama II highway’s perpetual construction nightmares, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin issued a directive to the Transport Ministry to solve traffic congestion before the impending Songkran holiday frenzy. Connecting nearby Hua Hin to the capital, the route is essential for those planning to travel to the seaside resort from Bangkok. The 62…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s state railway to construct three new double-track routes
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is advancing with plans to construct three double-track railroad routes that will span a total of 634 kilometres. The project, which will require a combined investment of 113.14 billion baht, has been approved by the SRT board and is due to be submitted to the Transport Ministry later this month. SRT governor Nirut Maneepan…
- Thailand News
Route reboot: Transport Ministry’s bus number shuffle leaves Bangkok commuters in chaos
The Transport Ministry announced a major overhaul of new bus route numbers, leaving commuters in disarray. Amidst the chaos, the ministry stands firm on its decision, sparking a wave of criticism from disgruntled passengers. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit revealed today that he instructed the Land Transport Department to make modifications to all new route numbers, eliminating the dash between zone and…
- Business News
China’s Lunar New Year tourism surge unlikely to reach pre-pandemic levels
Anticipations are high for an increased number of Chinese tourists venturing abroad during the forthcoming Lunar New Year. However, industry analysts predict the numbers will not reach the pre-pandemic levels due to the prevailing uncertain economic situation and evolving consumer trends. A significant surge in passenger traffic during the 40-day festive travel period, known as Chun Yun, is suggested by…
- Thailand News
Former Transport Minister Saksayam found guilty in shares concealment case
The Constitutional Court has declared former Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob guilty of concealing his shares and ownership in a construction company that scored numerous projects from his own ministry, with the ruling of a 7-1 vote. According to the court, Saksayam’s ownership of Buricharoen Construction Co Ltd was confirmed, as alleged by 54 opposition MPs. One judge, Wiroon Saengthian, was notably…
- Northern Thailand News
Deputy Transport Minister strategises to enhance Chiang Mai’s transport systems
Surapong Piyachote, the Deputy Transport Minister, made a strategic visit to Chiang Mai yesterday to deliberate on the ministry’s endeavour to enhance the efficiency of the province’s transport systems. The meeting included Nirat Pongsitthaworn, the Chiang Mai Governor, along with representatives from corresponding sectors. Surapong emphasised the importance of optimising the province’s transportation system for the city’s economy, particularly in…
- Thailand News
New Bangkok bus terminal set for Bang Sue area
The Transport Ministry is working on a project to construct a new Bangkok Bus Terminal in the Bang Sue vicinity, close to the Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal. This decision came to light during a House debate over the 2024 fiscal budget, where Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit addressed concerns raised by Suphanat Minchaiynunt, the Move Forward Party MP for the Chatuchak,…
- Transport News
Thai transport minister considers tougher DUI penalties
The Thai Ministry of Transport, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, recently made public his contemplation to escalate the penalties for fatal accidents due to driving under the influence (DUI). The proposed amendment in the law, announced on December 27, would see the current imprisonment duration of three to ten years potentially increase to a substantial 12 to 15 years. This initiative was purportedly…
- Covid-19 News
Anutin instructs 3 ministries to prepare to transition Covid-19 to endemic
Deputy PM and Thai health minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, has ordered his ministry to work with the Tourism & Sports Ministry and the Transport Ministry as Thailand prepares to declare Covid-19 endemic. According to a Nation Thailand report, government spokesperson Traisulee Traisaranakul says the move is a result of the country’s falling infection rate. “The Deputy PM said the number of…
- Central Thailand News
Investigation launched in central Thailand after 2 oil tanker explosions in a month
An investigation is being launched into why there have been 2 oil tankers explosions in Bangkok in the space of a month. The Transport Ministry has instructed the Marine Department to launch a probe into the explosions, the latest of which occurred on Sunday. The Ampar 8 was carrying over 3 million litres of crude oil from the island of…
- South Thailand News
Tourism officials in South encouraged by opening of Yala’s Betong Airport
The newly opened Betong Airport, in the southern province of Yala, has inspired hope of a tourism revival in the town. The Bangkok Post reports that the airport received its operating licence from the Aviation Authority of Thailand on January 28. The 920-rai facility can handle up to 300 passengers an hour, or 80,000 a year. The airport is seen…
- Bangkok News
Transport minister says Suvarnabhumi Airport expansion will begin in July
Plans to expand Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport will kick off in July, according to Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob. The so-called East Expansion project is expected to take around 2 and a half years to complete, at a cost of 7.8 billion baht. The project will begin in July with a bidding process to appoint a contractor. The plans have already been…
- Transport News
Transport Ministry says Thai land bridge will become transit port to rival Hong Kong
The transport minister is feeling optimistic about a new land bridge development which will connect the southern provinces of Ranong and Chumphon. The Bangkok Post reports that the project will link Chumphon, on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand, to Ranong, on the Andaman Sea. Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob says the result will be a transit port with…
- Transport News
Minister confirms all train services at Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong station will end
Rail services to Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong station will soon be no more, according to Thailand’s Transport Minister. Saksayam Chidchob says services to the station will initially be decreased from 118 a day to 22, before being phased out completely. No date has been confirmed for the termination of all services, but an earlier proposal has it pencilled in for December…
- Transport News
Department of Airports to lose 3 facilities to Airports of Thailand
Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob has confirmed that 3 airports under Department of Airports management are to be transferred to Airports of Thailand in a bid to boost tourism. Udon Thani, Krabi, and Buriram airports will all be managed by AoT in the hope that they can be transformed into hubs that can handle higher tourist numbers. According to a Bangkok…
- Thailand News
Over 7,000 travellers fly following easing of restrictions
The Transport Ministry says thousands of travellers took to the nation’s airports to fly since the government eased lockdown measures. The ministry says that more than 7,000 flyers travelled using 14 reopened airports across 130 flights throughout the nation following the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s easing of the national lockdown that took place last week. The ministry went on…
- Transport News
Bangkok Red Line launches August 2 free rides for 3 months
If you’ve ever spent time in Bangkok, you know it’s easy to be taken for a ride. But for once, this is a good thing, as the Thailand Transport Ministry announced today they are giving free rides to many commuters to launch their new service line. Bangkok’s Red Line rail route is ready for its soft launch next month and…
- Covid-19 News
Walk-in vaccination centre to open at Bangkok’s Bang Sue railway station
Thailand’s Transport Minister, Saksayam Chidchob, has confirmed that a walk-in vaccination centre will open at Bang Sue railway station in Bangkok, from next month. The centre will serve the capital’s residents and those in the surrounding provinces. The Bangkok Post reports that 13,500 square metres of space is being transformed into a Covid-19 vaccination centre, with the goal of administering…
- Covid-19 News
303 staff under Thailand’s Transport Ministry contract Covid-19 in recent wave
Over the past 2 months, 303 staff under the Transport Ministry, including minister Saksayam Chidchob, have contracted Covid-19. While infected staff just make up around 0.27% of the total staff under the ministry, more than 1,600 staff had to quarantine after coming in contact with an infected person. The agency under the Transport Ministry with the most Covid-19 infections is…
- Covid-19 News
Transport Ministry: refunds to cancel travel for Covid-19
The Transport Ministry is launching plans to deal with forced cancellations of travel plans due to the most recent Covid-19 outbreak. With recent restrictions on entertainment venues, Songkran festivities, and some areas implementing quarantines for domestic travel, many holiday travellers will likely have no choice but to cancel their plans. The Transport Ministry has declared that all passengers by bus…
- Thailand News
BTS Skytrain’s Green Line maximum fare to rise, Rail Transport Department disagrees with the move
After the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration agreed to raise the maximum fare on the BTS Skytrain’s Green Line from 59 baht to 158 baht, the Rail Transport Department is calling on city officials to suspend the maximum fare ceiling, saying it would put an unfair burden on passengers. Bangkok Governor Aswin announced earlier that the maximum fare of 158 baht is…
- Economy News
BTS skytrain maximum fare rate increasing to 158 baht despite backlash
Bangkok’s BTS skytrain maximum fare rate is being raised to 158 baht despite receiving backlash over the hike. The Transport Ministry is behind the calls for City Hall to stop the increase as it says it is too expensive for the average commuter who takes the BTS 2 times a day. Saksayam Chidchob, the Transport Minister, says other routes should…
