Institutes join up to boost Thailand's railway technology

[webfact]

Institutes join up to boost nation's railway technology
WANWISA PUTNAK
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE THAILAND Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (THAIST) has joined forces with 19 institutes and universities to help develop the country's manpower and rail-transportation technology.

Once the government's Bt2.2-trillion infrastructure overhaul is implemented, there will be a demand for 17,220 engineers and technicians, THAIST chief, Prof Wanlop Surakampontorn, said, citing a study conducted by the Science Technology and Innovation Association of Thailand (STIA).

On Tuesday, Science and Technology Minister Peeraphan Palusuk presided over the signing of a memorandum of understanding for collaboration between the THAIST, STIA and others.

Wanlop said the infrastructure overhaul included the development of rail transport, such as extending the airport rail-link from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Chon Buri, starting three high-speed lines between Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima and Hua Hin as well as 10 electric train routes in Greater Bangkok. About Bt1.66 trillion has been earmarked for these projects, which should be completed within four years.

Pointing out that one of the key factors that dampened the country's success in railway technology was the shortage of manpower, Wanlop cited an STIA study showing that only about 2,000 engineers and technicians would be needed in 2015 should the infrastructure overhaul not be implemented. However, if it is implemented the demand for engineers and technicians will rise to 17,220.

Measures put in place

In order to meet this need, manpower development projects have been put in place as follows:

Firstly, the STIA joined the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) to train engineers on rail-transport engineering and has so far produced 30 graduates in the first batch, 34 in the second batch and 34 more are being trained in the third batch.

Secondly, STIA and five universities - Chulalongkorn, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi and Mahidol - have been formulating a curriculum on rail-transport engineering.

Thirdly, STIA and KMUTT have created a curriculum for a high vocational certificate on rail systems, and are also mentoring the Nakhon Pathom Technical College, Samut Songkhram Technical College and Siam Technology College to provide such courses.

THAIST has also joined with KMITL to develop a curriculum of technology in high-speed train and electrical vehicles, with the first bachelor's degree course being launched this year with 49 students. KMITL lecturer Nattawut Lewpiriyawong said the 49 rail-transport engineering students would learn how to use a vibration checker, how to check for railway cracks by using Phased Array Ultrasonic devices, as well as learn about the direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) motors. The students would be required to complete an internship at rail-transport companies every year, he said.

This programme would focus on analysis and problem solving, while the high vocational certificate programme would focus on techniques and hardware.

As for rail-transport management subjects to be introduced at Mahidol University in November, Waressara Weerawat, director of the university's Logistics Innovation Centre, said they would focus on basics of railway system, project management and apply the knowledge in case studies.


-- The Nation 2013-08-09

[Thai at Heart]

Good to see they have planned ahead.

[NongKhaiKid]

Forget all the forward planning for recruitment and training as it's easier to use the usual Thai procedure, just drop the qualification level.

[bigbamboo]

So the brains behind this project Prof. Wanlop believes the reason Thailand's railways are lacking is due to a shortage of manpower?

Difficult to take anything else he said seriously after that.

Edited August 9, 2013 by bigbamboo

[nong38]

THey should visit other countries and get some real imformation on costs and time lines. Today on the News Yingluck was quoted that Thailand would have the first high speed line in Asean ( I was under the impression that Vietnam had one running from Hanoi to Ho Chi Min already). The high speed line will carry freight, dont a high speed line for freight just a stable one well built. The high speed lines are to go to Pattaya, Pitsanoluk and one other, which is contradictarory to the this article, perhaps they should all talk to each other and understand what they want and get it all up and running by 2020 is scary the track must be laid on banana leaves!

[dru2]

THey should visit other countries and get some real imformation on costs and time lines. Today on the News Yingluck was quoted that Thailand would have the first high speed line in Asean ( I was under the impression that Vietnam had one running from Hanoi to Ho Chi Min already). The high speed line will carry freight, dont a high speed line for freight just a stable one well built. The high speed lines are to go to Pattaya, Pitsanoluk and one other, which is contradictarory to the this article, perhaps they should all talk to each other and understand what they want and get it all up and running by 2020 is scary the track must be laid on banana leaves!

No high speed tracks in Vietnam - just slow, narrow gauge.

[asupeartea]

UPGRADE: Thailand buys unused/faulty Chinese high-speed trains to replace 60-year old Korean/Japanese trains!! <just kidding since that actually might be an improvement>

Edited August 9, 2013 by asupeartea

[nong38]

THey should visit other countries and get some real imformation on costs and time lines. Today on the News Yingluck was quoted that Thailand would have the first high speed line in Asean ( I was under the impression that Vietnam had one running from Hanoi to Ho Chi Min already). The high speed line will carry freight, dont a high speed line for freight just a stable one well built. The high speed lines are to go to Pattaya, Pitsanoluk and one other, which is contradictarory to the this article, perhaps they should all talk to each other and understand what they want and get it all up and running by 2020 is scary the track must be laid on banana leaves!

No high speed tracks in Vietnam - just slow, narrow gauge.

Perhaps what I read missed out a few words then like "proposed". So really then the region needs to get to grips with railway technology of the recent past before zooming off into the future and all this talk of institutes and professors is just talk, they need to buy in the expertise at the right price and go from there but somehow I think it will not happen no one seems to have the will to provide the funds, planning and bring it altogether but talk is cheap and it sounds good, we like THais live in hope.

[FarangTalk]

how to check for railway cracks by using Phased Array Ultrasonic devices

International standards and reputable companies require several years experience and prior qualifications in ultrasonic testing of plate and pipe as a bare minimum before allowing technicians to undertake more advanced methods like phased array.

[jackinthebox]

>....as well as learn about the direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) motors.

Isn't that something you learn in Matajom 4 or Matajom 5?!

[Thai at Heart]

Aren't the Chinese going to build these? Where do Thai engineers fit into that structure? The chinese have built thousands of kms of high speed rail in the last few years. Are they talking about needing these guys to maintain it afterwards?

[CIHUAHUA]

"THAIST has also joined with KMITL to develop a curriculum of technology in high-speed train and electrical vehicles, with the first bachelor's degree course being launched this year with 49 students."

That makes me laugh and sick at the same time. Here we go again with the degree $**t. Get off your arse and do the maintenance, safety checks, etc. Run it like a well oiled business. All the degrees and more tech will never fix this problem or future rail problems as long there is a good-ol'- boy system running the show. Do the work, not just the math.

Edited August 9, 2013 by CIHUAHUA

[Bagwan]

Wanlop said the infrastructure overhaul included the development of rail transport, such as extending the airport rail-link from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Chon Buri, starting three high-speed lines between Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima and Hua Hin as well as 10 electric train routes in Greater Bangkok. About Bt1.66 trillion has been earmarked for these projects, which should be completed within four years.

Dream on sunshine. How long did it take to improve the road between Pattaya Tai and Jomtien? Get a certain ex deputy PM in charge and the timescale will come down to 90 days.

[Zolt]

A 19th century steam engine could boost up Thailand's railway technology.

[nong38]

In a nutshell what we have here is this, a lot of old blokes who think they know everything, a lot of young blokes who have experience of nothing and both of them know BA , or thereabouts or their knowledge and ideas would have been utilized before now ) about how to build and run railways. Gentlemen this is a non story to fill the page, thank you and goodnight ( its lunch in the 4th test, England 54-1 ).

[PaullyW]

Boost? Implies 'boost FROM something'. I think they mean BUILD, not BOOST.

[h90]

A 19th century steam engine could boost up Thailand's railway technology.

"as well as learn about the direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) motors."

Well they are trying to get into the 1930s technology now.

But before I make jokes the Austrian railways were FASTER and on time with steam engines under the monarchy (ended 1918) than now.

Most probably they also made profit and were customer friendly.

Also they had a higher maximum speed.