A fire engulfed a prototype light rail tram at a well-known vehicle yard in Khon Kaen, Thailand, causing extensive damage to two carriages. The incident occurred around midnight today, July 1, and despite relentless efforts by firefighters, the blaze could not be extinguished due to the installed batteries feeding the flames.

 

Firefighters from the Mueang Khon Kaen Municipality, along with volunteers from the Sawang Khon Kaen Samakkhi Foundation and Highway Rescue Khon Kaen, responded to the fire at approximately 12.10am. The fire was burning the Tram Noi, a light rail tram developed by professors at Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Khon Kaen Campus.

 

Due to the nature of battery fires, putting out the flames proved to be a strenuous task. The fire was eventually brought under control and extinguished around 1.45am, but not before the entire tram was significantly damaged.

 

 

Initial investigations revealed that the Tram Noi sustained damage to two carriages. This light rail tram was developed as part of a study on the Tram 907, received from Japan. The university had been allocated funds to develop this prototype and intended to present its findings to the Prime Minister during his visit to Nakhon Ratchasima for a mobile Cabinet meeting, reported KhaoSod.

 

The incident is a setback for the university and the Smart City project. The prototype tram, part of a broader effort to improve public transport and urban living in Khon Kaen, was a significant investment in the city’s future. Khon Kaen’s vision as a Smart City involves leveraging modern technology and innovation to enhance service efficiency and city management.

 

By Ryan Turner

Image courtesy of Khon Kaen Link

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-06-29

 

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20 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The university had been allocated funds to develop this prototype and intended to present its findings to the Prime Minister during his visit to Nakhon Ratchasima for a mobile Cabinet meeting, reported KhaoSod.

Oops.

 

21 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The incident is a setback for the university and the Smart City project.

Yes, I would class self-combusting transport as a setback.

 

22 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Khon Kaen’s vision as a Smart City involves leveraging modern technology and innovation to enhance service efficiency and city management.

Ah, the old buzzword salad, the preferred way to get one’s hands on budget disbursements.

Focus on getting your basics right first - education, rule of law, corruption etc. 

There were attempts to try to stop the press after the incident from taking pictures of the scene, but a few leaked out, from the time of the fire.

 

 

1 hour ago, realfunster said:

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

The incident is a setback for the university and the Smart City project.

Yes, I would class self-combusting transport as a setback.

Or arson by competitors?

Both carriages burning down at the same time?

1 hour ago, Tropicalevo said:

Or arson by competitors?

Both carriages burning down at the same time?

From the Thai media it was reported that “the Initial reports from security personnel indicated that smoke was seen emanating from the first carriage around midnight, followed by flames that spread quickly.”

 

if it was arson, with more than one seat of fire, the forensic investigators should have no problems identifying that, from the depth and intensity of burning in those areas where any fires started and some indication will also be gained from burns patterns and the presents of possible accelerants in the carriages, which should not have been there. You would also hope that the area was covered by some CCTV.

 

My concern would be if this is public transport, what are the fittings, linings, seats, etc. made of, if a fire can develop and spread so quickly.
 

It is possible that the carriage was fully closed up and the smoke was only spotted as the fire got to flash over stage or the fire had been smouldering for ages, and something, such as glass panel failing, lead to a backdraft, or even a smoke explosion. Pure speculation.as csn only be determined from full investigation.

It looks like this project has come off the rails.😉

So, it is better to design a new tram but without batteries.
If I may give a tip, there is no need to reinvent the wheel, mind you. There are many companies in the world that have been manufacturing perfect trams since ages.

21 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

A fire engulfed a prototype light rail tram at a well-known vehicle yard in Khon Kaen, Thailand, causing extensive damage to two carriages. The incident occurred around midnight today, July 1, and despite relentless efforts by firefighters, the blaze could not be extinguished due to the installed batteries feeding the flames.

 

Firefighters from the Mueang Khon Kaen Municipality, along with volunteers from the Sawang Khon Kaen Samakkhi Foundation and Highway Rescue Khon Kaen, responded to the fire at approximately 12.10am. The fire was burning the Tram Noi, a light rail tram developed by professors at Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Khon Kaen Campus.

 

Due to the nature of battery fires, putting out the flames proved to be a strenuous task. The fire was eventually brought under control and extinguished around 1.45am, but not before the entire tram was significantly damaged.

 

 

 

Initial investigations revealed that the Tram Noi sustained damage to two carriages. This light rail tram was developed as part of a study on the Tram 907, received from Japan. The university had been allocated funds to develop this prototype and intended to present its findings to the Prime Minister during his visit to Nakhon Ratchasima for a mobile Cabinet meeting, reported KhaoSod.

 

The incident is a setback for the university and the Smart City project. The prototype tram, part of a broader effort to improve public transport and urban living in Khon Kaen, was a significant investment in the city’s future. Khon Kaen’s vision as a Smart City involves leveraging modern technology and innovation to enhance service efficiency and city management.

 

By Ryan Turner

Image courtesy of Khon Kaen Link

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-06-29

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

The taxi mafia confirmed already being involved???😵‍💫

16 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

So, it is better to design a new tram but without batteries.
If I may give a tip, there is no need to reinvent the wheel, mind you. There are many companies in the world that have been manufacturing perfect trams since ages.

But that sort of tram would normally require an external power source.

 

Perhaps the university was redesigning and rebuilding it as an EV tram, hence the problem putting the battery fires out.

 

From the OP report it does not say what kind of batteries they were, nor does it say if it the power supply was internal or external.

 

 

23 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

he blaze could not be extinguished due to the installed batteries feeding the flames.

 

Lithium by any chance, as used in vehicles? EV owners be aware!

It appears the tram came to the end of the line in more than one way  

12 minutes ago, Grumpy one said:

It appears the tram came to the end of the line in more than one way  

It didn't even reach the start line