Thailand Begins Operation of New Double-Track Railway, Boosting Transport and Logistics

[snoop1130]

 

Thailand's new double-track railway on the State Railway of Thailand's south line, stretching from Nakhon Pathom to Chumphon, is now fully operational. The southern line's upgrade was officially announced on August 12 by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).

 

Ekarat Sri-arayanpong, head of the SRT Governor's office, shared that this new track will improve logistics along the 421-kilometer route. The enhanced railway system will trim down travel times by about 90 minutes, making train journeys more appealing to tourists. As trains will no longer have to wait for each other to cross, overall safety will be significantly improved.

 

The railway route, mostly at ground level but elevated in urban areas to mitigate traffic congestion, starts in Nakhon Pathom and passes through Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, and Prachuap Khiri Khan, ending in Chumphon. It includes two major landmarks - the bridge over the Mae Klong River in Ratchaburi, targeted for development as a tourist attraction, and the Hua Hin Railway Station, which retains the architectural style of the old station.

 

Further plans are in process for more double-track route expansions. Among these are routes from Khon-Kaen to Nong Khai and Nakhon Ratchasima to Ubon Ratchathani in the Northeast; Pak Nam Pho to Den Chai and Den Chai to Chiang Mai in the North; and Hat Yai to Padang Besar, Surat Thani to Songkhla, and Chumphon to Surat Thani in the South.

 

Once all upgrades are completed by 2029, Thailand will have a total of 2,370 kilometers of double-track railways. Ekarat believes this vast network will greatly enhance the country's logistics efficiency and attract more tourists.

 

The country’s longest rail tunnel, the Pha Sadet tunnel, will reopen in a month. The tunnel was temporarily closed the day after its grand opening on July 28 due to dust complaints. Testing conducted on August 8 proved that excessive exhaust gases remained post train passage, resulting in the closure decision.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-08-13

 

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[hotchilli]

I live in Muang Nakhon Pathom, which had a dual track for years, one for Westbound and one for Eastbound.

I guess the "dual track" means that areas where it was reduced to one has now been upgraded to a fully dual track the entire length.

At the moment they still use the old train station, the new one is still under construction, a concrete shell as it stands.

[ChrisY1]

Just can't see transport companies abandoning their rotten highway trucks to use rail transport.

Maybe they will when the rail grid nationally is completed.....in what..20 years?

[JoePai]

Double-track

 

Wow, welcome to the 21st century !

[brianthainess]

Meanwhile the East of Thailand has NO trains at all, my nearest Train is in Frigging Cambodia.

[SAFETY FIRST]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I live in Muang Nakhon Pathom, which had a dual track for years, one for Westbound and one for Eastbound.

I guess the "dual track" means that areas where it was reduced to one has now been upgraded to a fully dual track the entire length.

At the moment they still use the old train station, the new one is still under construction, a concrete shell as it stands.

Malaysia has a rail from KL (Rawang) to the Thai boarder. 

 

The project recently completed, was called double track which included electrification. 

 

Maybe the new double-track railway from Nakhon Pathom to Chumphon is electrified? I would assume that they electrify. 

 

 

 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Malaysia has a rail from KL (Rawang) to the Thai boarder. 

 

The project recently completed, was called double track which included electrification. 

 

Maybe the new double-track railway from Nakhon Pathom to Chumphon is electrified? I would assume that they electrify. 

 

 

 

The trains I see passing daily through here are diesel operated.

[PETERTHEEATER]

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

........- the bridge over the Mae Klong River in Ratchaburi, targeted for development as a tourist attraction.......

Difficult to see how this could be a tourist attraction unlike the upstream Bridge over the River Kwai.

[Maitdjai]

6 hours ago, JoePai said:

Double-track

 

Wow, welcome to the 21st century !

60 % is still in the 20th century.

40 % is "boost, boost, hub, hub"

[Purdey]

Interesting. I remember being a writer and editor of a government publication called "Thailand into the 90s" on the cusp of the new decade. The proud whispers about a dual track system were echoed back and forth across the editorial board table with some excitement. Then someone said that the same story had been discussed a decade before and nothing happened.

Now, it's here!

Snore....

 

 

[BusyB]

11 hours ago, JoePai said:

Double-track

 

Wow, welcome to the 21st century !

 

20th 😉