Thai Academic Calls for New Railway Regulatory System

[webfact]

Thai Academic Calls for New Railway Regulatory System
BY JACOB MASLOW


Bangkok, Thailand - March 26, 2016: Steam train at Foundation Day of train operation 119 years anniversary of the State Railway of Thailand.

BANGKOK: -- Sumeth Ongkittikul, research director of transport and logistics at the Thailand Development Research Institute, is calling on the government to implement a new railway regulatory system. The Bt1.8 trillion mega-project includes several new railways, which means more trains will be operational in the next six years.

Mr. Sumeth says Thailand should have a “railway regulatory body” that oversees licensing and monitors service quality. He also believes that the private sector should play a role in services to “actively change the environment.”

Currently, operators of the railway, BTS, SRT and MRT, also have licensing power. Drivers in other sectors of public transportation are required to hold a specific license related to their function. Train drivers, however, are not required to hold a special license. With no central body, the quality of service is neglected.

Full story: https://ethailand.com/business-news/thai-academic-calls-for-new-railway-regulatory-system/2293/

-- eThailand 2016-04-19

[Reigntax]

"Train drivers, however, are not required to hold a special license."

So that why they drive like tuk tuks. I wondered why they carry a gun, knife and club.

[Chao Lao Beach]

Train drivers, however, are not required to hold a special license. With no central body, the quality of service is neglected.

Yeah I agree, amazing isn't it. Motorcars, motorboats, motorplanes and motortrains

You need a license for a Fino or Honda Click but not a train, funny.

[chainarong]

Firstly the mega projects that has been talked about actually have to get up to track speed, however if the Railway regulations are anything like the Mines Act then it is about 100 years out of date................................... .

[NongKhaiKid]

From every discussion about existing or proposed laws one issue is missing from both the debate and then in actual practice and that is ENFORCEMENT.

Traffic laws being a major case in point but in LoS talking is more than enough on any subject.

[leeneeds]

I used to play with a hornby train set when i was a kid,

i guess i am qualified more than most train drivers currently

on the Choo Choo trains,

[tuanku]

Train drivers, however, are not required to hold a special license. With no central body, the quality of service is neglected.

Yeah I agree, amazing isn't it. Motorcars, motorboats, motorplanes and motortrains

You need a license for a Fino or Honda Click but not a train, funny.

Well they don't need to steer, only speed up and slow down..any idiot could do it! Oh and some idiots no doubt do.

[tuanku]

Firstly the mega projects that has been talked about actually have to get up to track speed, however if the Railway regulations are anything like the Mines Act then it is about 100 years out of date................................... .

If the state of the railways are anything to go by they pre-dates trains and were originally written to regulate carts pulled by buffaloes.

[chainarong]

Train drivers, however, are not required to hold a special license. With no central body, the quality of service is neglected.

Yeah I agree, amazing isn't it. Motorcars, motorboats, motorplanes and motortrains

You need a license for a Fino or Honda Click but not a train, funny.

Well they don't need to steer, only speed up and slow down..any idiot could do it! Oh and some idiots no doubt do.

I don't classify myself as an idiot but sometime back I drove them, and it takes a little more skill than you'd be able to handle.

[tuanku]

Train drivers, however, are not required to hold a special license. With no central body, the quality of service is neglected.

Yeah I agree, amazing isn't it. Motorcars, motorboats, motorplanes and motortrains

You need a license for a Fino or Honda Click but not a train, funny.

Well they don't need to steer, only speed up and slow down..any idiot could do it! Oh and some idiots no doubt do.

I don't classify myself as an idiot but sometime back I drove them, and it takes a little more skill than you'd be able to handle.

Maybe, but back in the first world there are quite a few driverless trains now.