What Do You Think Of The State Of The Rail System In Thailand?

[Bagwan]

Magnetic levitation

Transrapid maglev on monorail track

Magnetic levitation train (maglev) systems by the German Transrapid were built as straddle-type monorails, as they are highly stable and allow rapid deceleration from great speed. When in full-speed operation maglev trains hover over the track and are thus not in physical contact with it. The maglev is the fastest train of any type, the experimental JR-Maglev having recorded a speed of 581 km/h (361 mph). The commercial Shanghai Maglev Train has run at 501 km/h (311 mph).

In addition, Linimo was inaugurated in Japan in 2003.

My guess is that the system does not lend itself easily to the transport of freight. It would be quite something to see a Freightliner with, say, 20 cars each loaded with containers, and augmented by a few tankers, hurtling along at 300 plus mph.

[Datsun240Z]

That is in China, Shanghai. And it is a Maglev (Magnetic Levitation). Monorails do not attain those speeds and are used for innercity LOW capacity lines only (only Kuala Lumpur has a big monorail system). The problem with monorails is that their capacity is lower than a subway/skytrain system (throughput of pax per hour on a line)

Waerth

Yup, I didn't remembered everything! Saw it once on Discovery Channel. Thanks for the correct feedback!

[Datsun240Z]

The commercial Shanghai Maglev Train has run at 501 km/h (311 mph).

Look at the technology they have! The Thai railway trains going mabye 50 nor 60 km/h on small track.

Edited July 1, 2009 by Datsun240Z

[Datsun240Z]

TGV ( French set 570 km/h ), But the Japanese seem to be waiting with their maglev:

Edited July 1, 2009 by Datsun240Z

[SICA]

Has anybody heard of a problem with the train between Hua Lampong and Korat?

My wife is in Surin and wants to get the train back middle of next week. She has heard that there is no train operating so she has to take the bus. If no one has heard anything can any of you point me in the direction of where i can up to date info?

Hope you can help.

Thanks and have a great day.

[phetaroi]

Has anybody heard of a problem with the train between Hua Lampong and Korat?

My wife is in Surin and wants to get the train back middle of next week. She has heard that there is no train operating so she has to take the bus. If no one has heard anything can any of you point me in the direction of where i can up to date info?

Hope you can help.

Thanks and have a great day.

Why not go to Hualamphong and ask. I stopped by there a few days ago (hadn't been there is years), and there were a lot of tourist helpers there eager to assist.

[cobra]

Don't look at the trestles too hard around Kwai, shored up with bamboo and what ever else is handy,

[SICA]

Has anybody heard of a problem with the train between Hua Lampong and Korat?

My wife is in Surin and wants to get the train back middle of next week. She has heard that there is no train operating so she has to take the bus. If no one has heard anything can any of you point me in the direction of where i can up to date info?

Hope you can help.

Thanks and have a great day.

Why not go to Hualamphong and ask. I stopped by there a few days ago (hadn't been there is years), and there were a lot of tourist helpers there eager to assist.

I would if it were an option. I live in Cha-am. The station here is about as helpful as a fart in a wind tunnel! But thanks for the advice...

[Bagwan]

Don't look at the trestles too hard around Kwai, shored up with bamboo and what ever else is handy,

I have heard on more than one occasion that bamboo is stronger and can carry more weight that steel scaffolding, neither does it rust away. I don't know whether this is demonstrably true. I agree that that structure looks far from safe.

[Datsun240Z]

If it wasn't thanks to Khun Thaksin, there was no Suvarnabhumi Airport, but still the old one.

Same goes for the railway, if Abhsit cares for the country, he does something usefull, and invest in infrastructure.

[Bagwan]

If it wasn't thanks to Khun Thaksin, there was no Suvarnabhumi Airport, but still the old one.

Same goes for the railway, if Abhsit cares for the country, he does something usefull, and invest in infrastructure.

I think the first sentence is open to debate. He certainly ordered another 50 feet or so to be built on top of the control tower so that it became the tallest inthe world. Said it would attract tourists!!!!!! Yeah, right on.

The second sentence applies to any Thai politician for the past fifty years. The truth is that nobody gives a toss. Self interest rules.

[Datsun240Z]

If it wasn't thanks to Khun Thaksin, there was no Suvarnabhumi Airport, but still the old one.

Same goes for the railway, if Abhsit cares for the country, he does something usefull, and invest in infrastructure.

I think the first sentence is open to debate. He certainly ordered another 50 feet or so to be built on top of the control tower so that it became the tallest inthe world. Said it would attract tourists!!!!!! Yeah, right on. He ordered to build the airport simple.

The second sentence applies to any Thai politician for the past fifty years. The truth is that nobody gives a toss. Self interest rules. I believe Khun Thaksin as also one of them, but at least he did something in return for the people, until he got punched away by even more bad guys who wanted a share.

[Datsun240Z]

Don't look at the trestles too hard around Kwai, shored up with bamboo and what ever else is handy,

I have heard on more than one occasion that bamboo is stronger and can carry more weight that steel scaffolding, neither does it rust away. I don't know whether this is demonstrably true. I agree that that structure looks far from safe.

A yeah, that's why they didn't build the Rama IV bridge of Bamboo !

[Bagwan]

Don't look at the trestles too hard around Kwai, shored up with bamboo and what ever else is handy,

I have heard on more than one occasion that bamboo is stronger and can carry more weight that steel scaffolding, neither does it rust away. I don't know whether this is demonstrably true. I agree that that structure looks far from safe.

A yeah, that's why they didn't build the Rama IV bridge of Bamboo !

Your sarcasm is misplaced. I made no assertion that the statement was true. You wouldn't be an ex US fighter pilot would you? They have a well founded reputation for attacking targets before clearly identifying them as hostile.

Perhaps they decided to build the bridge out of materials that insects and other life forms couldn't eat or inhabit. One would suppose that steel, concrete and asphalt has a longer useful life. Using those materials would certainly lead to a more aesthetically visual sight and provide the bridge with supports of greater cross section to spread the considerable load.

About a month ago I saw a programme on TV about building skyscrapers in Hong Kong. The scaffolding was of bamboo - and the workers at those great heights were ladies.

Edited July 8, 2009 by Bagwan

[Spee]

O boy this thread has got me panic stricken. I have just booked an overnight for us and 3 kids to Surat Thani - thought it would be a nice way to meet some locals! What do I do - go armed with Insect Spray and leave my watch at home, or cancel?

Great way to immerse the children. Just as you will want to try out your basic Thai vocab, so too will some Thais want to try out their English. Make sure you have the travel essentials (diaper wipes, toilet tissue, bottled water, Immodium just in case). Keep your valuables on your person and don't flash expensive things about. Take plenty of pictures or video. Your friends back home will be amazed. Should have lots of good food coming 'round now and then. I prefer the plane but I don't mind the train ... just wish it was on time more often.

[Datsun240Z]

Don't look at the trestles too hard around Kwai, shored up with bamboo and what ever else is handy,

I have heard on more than one occasion that bamboo is stronger and can carry more weight that steel scaffolding, neither does it rust away. I don't know whether this is demonstrably true. I agree that that structure looks far from safe.

A yeah, that's why they didn't build the Rama IV bridge of Bamboo !

Your sarcasm is misplaced. I made no assertion that the statement was true. You wouldn't be an ex US fighter pilot would you? They have a well founded reputation for attacking targets before clearly identifying them as hostile.

Perhaps they decided to build the bridge out of materials that insects and other life forms couldn't eat or inhabit. One would suppose that steel, concrete and asphalt has a longer useful life. Using those materials would certainly lead to a more aesthetically visual sight and provide the bridge with supports of greater cross section to spread the considerable load.

About a month ago I saw a programme on TV about building skyscrapers in Hong Kong. The scaffolding was of bamboo - and the workers at those great heights were ladies.

I think you are feeling stamped on your tail there. I'm sorry to disturb you, now go back to walking street.

[Kan Win]

Don't look at the trestles too hard around Kwai, shored up with bamboo and what ever else is handy,

Steel from 'Middlesbourgh' England I belive and wooden you know it 'Woodwork of Wampo Viaduct' not bamboo btw

On a lighter note, but still in Kan - Kinky Rail Line

Eeeeee-long-gated Train Carriage.

Yours truly

Win from Kan

[stanoly]

I try to use it over the bus. It is fun which the buses are not. However, it is increasingly unsanitary and poorly maintained but still quaint,if you go 2nd class sleeper.

[RickBradford]

The Shanghai maglev is wonderful (you think it's virtually stationary and then you look at the display and find you're going at 350kph). We topped out at 431kph, and were in central Shanghai in no time at all.

But, these are hugely expensive systems to build and run, and even with tickets at 100 yuan (US$14.50) each, the thing makes a huge loss. You have to keep the superconducting magnets extremely cold (-180C) for the technology to work at all, and I think it's fair to say that Thailand won't have one of these for 50 years, if ever.

I've ridden from Hua Lumphong to Hua Hin a few times, at 4 hours++ it's quite a pleasant morning jaunt. I am always baffled why the train repeatedly stops in the middle of nowhere for several minutes, and equally, why there is always somebody emerging from the bushes at the side of the track when we stop. Perhaps it's a kind of impromptu small freight service.

The return journey at 4pm is not quite so nice, as the train is a little two-car sprinter, and the only tip I have is to get off at Bang Sue and change to the MRT, or you'll have a very dull 45-minute trundle into Hua Lumphong from there.

It's not a great run for socialising; for that I recommend the hour-long trip up to Ayutthaya, which only costs 15Bt and has a fairly open-plan carriage design, plus ladies wandering up and down the train selling fresh fruit.

Investment in infrastucture of this kind is very expensive, and given Abhisit's statement that Thailand has 3 years of economic stress ahead of it, I can't see any major initiatives in that direction.