A cutting-edge rail carriage prototype, known as Beyond Horizon, has been launched in an innovative collaboration between the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), Sinogen-Pin Petch Joint Venture and King Mongkut Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL). With 25 luxury seats all equipped with touch screens for individual passengers, the demonstration unit on display is also fully accessible for wheelchair users.

 

Somyot Kaitwanidvilai, the dean of KMITL’s School of Engineering and the individual directing the Beyond Horizon project, explained that the initiative is part of the Transport Ministry’s Thai First Policy. This policy seeks to leverage greater inclusion of domestic hardware in the mass-transit system, with an ambitious target of utilising 40% Thai-made material in the production line. The ultimate objective is to ready domestic, high-quality rail coach production for the surge in rail network expansion that Thailand will experience in the coming years.

 

By 2040, the country is expected to require at least 2,425 rail carriages to accommodate the expansion of its rail network. The cost for each carriage is expected to be around 50 million baht, potentially rising to a total outlay of 100 billion baht.

Somyot noted that between 2015 and 2018, the procurement of rail carriages was responsible for 80% of SRT’s import expenditure, presenting a significant opportunity for Thailand to become more self-reliant in rail carriage production and advance its railway system via localised technology.

 

by Mitch Connor

TOP: Beyond Horizon will offer next level luxury for future rail travel (via Bangkok Post)
Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/transport/thailands-beyond-horizon-localised-luxury-carriage-to-boost-rail-self-reliance

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-07-31

 

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3 hours ago, webfact said:

A cutting-edge rail carriage prototype, known as Beyond Horizon, has been launched in an innovative collaboration between the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), Sinogen-Pin Petch Joint Venture and King Mongkut Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL). With 25 luxury seats all equipped with touch screens for individual passengers, the demonstration unit on display is also fully accessible for wheelchair users.

Let me know when it can do 300KPH

8 hours ago, webfact said:

an ambitious target of utilising 40% Thai-made material

So 60% still comes from abroad? What is stopping the majority of materials sourced in Thailand? 

2 hours ago, Purdey said:

So 60% still comes from abroad? What is stopping the majority of materials sourced in Thailand? 

The CCCP.

The demonstration model is 'accessible to wheelchair users'

Except when the aisle is blocked by robots and standing passengers.

But, will operational rolling stock be accessible to wheelchair users or will the disabled be shoved into a goods/cargo section?

 

 

"Sinogen" somehow doesn't sound Thai to me