New faster better quality trains to run between Bangkok and the provinces

[webfact]

New faster better quality trains to run between Bangkok and the provinces

Image: Thairath

BANGKOK: -- Thai railway authorities have unveiled new trains that will run between Bangkok and four other provinces namely Chiang Mai, Ubon, Nong Khai and Hat Yai.

They will take delivery of the first 13 carriages as early as this month but services will start in 2017 when all 115 carriages have been delivered and track upgrades have been completed reported Thairath. The trains will shave an average of three hours off journey times with two trains in each direction on each route per day.

The first full train delivered this month from CNR (China CNR Corporation Limited) comprises one first class air con seating and sleeper car, 10 second class air con seating and sleeper cars, one air con buffet car and one "power car". All deliveries are expected to be completed by November of this year ahead of next year's start of operation.

The service is expected to attract many more people to the railways. Much of the rolling stock used now is outdated and in a poor state of repair and the improvements are part of long term plans to improve the Thai railways by offering better services that will attract more customers.

Source: Thairath

-- 2016-06-07

[JAS21]

Wow ... those fast trains will really 'shift' the busses and lorrys at unguarded crossings...

[daveAustin]

About time but three hours off from Bangkok to Hat Yai can still be as much as 12 hours or more. Since the advent of budget air travel, unless you're a backpacker, who wants to waste all that time when you can fly for less? First Class cabin works out to be way more than a flight. Glory days of rail travel here are done... only thing that might change it is if a high speed system is installed nationwide, to include new tracks and cheap fares.

[Ricardo]

Twice-daily on each route ?

This sounds like merely a revival of the old sprinter-trains to me.

Perhaps they might put go-fast stripes down the side, and a funny little bobble on the nose of the train, then pretend it's the new high-speed express !

But the key piece of information ... what will be in the lunch-packs onboard ?

[chainarong]

A more realistic goal to achieve than a H/S, still there are a few things to keep running , just wounder how long before the power car is out of action , being aircon carriages the windows wont open, so that will be a great trip to Chiang Mai.......................

[halloween]

Have just rode the Malaysian EST electric train from Butterworth to Padang Besar. Very nice indeed. Quiet, smooth, buffet car (very limited offerings) and 140km/h cruise speed on metre track. And not one level crossing. I hope these are anywhere near as good.

BTW SRT has a diesel rail car twice daily from Hat Yai to link up. Visa runs completed in 2.5 hrs and B160

[dingdongrb]

With track conditions, especially in the rainy season, having a train going faster than a few km/hr is nothing but a disaster waiting to happen.

[ratcatcher]

Will these 13 car trains be using the "power car" for controlling the train as well as auxiliary power, or do they still plan on using their existing (or new) locomotives for main power?

[nev]

Thailand trying to make the rail system better for the people, and already on here the doom lords are putting it down.

Not all Thais can afford to fly this is a positive and not just about quicker visa runs for falang.

[ratcatcher]

Thailand trying to make the rail system better for the people, and already on here the doom lords are putting it down.

Not all Thais can afford to fly this is a positive and not just about quicker visa runs for falang.

We all understand that.

What is interesting is that they were going on about High Speed Trains (HST) and now they are buying Medium Speed Trains, (still metre gauge) from China.

You must admit it is all rather confusing.

[webfact]

SRT to receive 13 air-conditioned train carriages on June 12



BANGKOK: -- The State Railway of Thailand will receive the first lot of 13 air-conditioned train carriages from China CNR Corporation Limited this coming Sunday, said SRT governor Wutthichart Kalayanamitr on Monday.

The first delivery of 13 carriages is part of a total of 115 carriages purchased from China CNR Corporation Limited to boost the SRT’s train services. The acquisition of new train carriages is part of the SRT’s infrastructure development project estimated to cost 176.8 billion baht in investment from 2010 to 2017.

The 13 new carriages include one first-class air-conditioned seating and sleeper train carriage, ten second-class air-conditioned sleeper carriages and one air-conditioned canteen car and one electric carriage.

The rest of the carriages will be delivered until November with two carriages each month.

The first 13 air-conditioned carriages will be put into service on four express routes namely Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani, Bangkok-Nong Khai and Bangkok-Hat Yai and vice versa.

The SRT will operate two trains of each of the four express routes per day. Each train can travel up to 120 km/hour and the travelling time will shortened by an average of three hours.

The SRT expects 1.073 million passengers to use the express service, generating 1.2 billion baht in revenue.

The 115 train carriages include nine first-class air-conditioned seating and sleeper carriages, 88 second-class air-conditioned seating and sleeper carriages, nine carriages for the disabled, nine air-conditioned canteen cars, nine electric carriages and 11 carriages as reserves.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/166234


-- Thai PBS 2016-06-07

[worgeordie]

Faster Trains,Chinese made carriages,what could go wrong !

regards Worgeordie

[ratcatcher]

The 115 train carriages include nine (9) first-class air-conditioned seating and sleeper carriages, 88 second-class air-conditioned seating and sleeper carriages, nine (9)carriages for the disabled, nine (9) air-conditioned canteen cars, nine (9)electric carriages and 11 carriages as reserves.

9+88+9+9+9+11 = 135

[baboon]

Thailand trying to make the rail system better for the people, and already on here the doom lords are putting it down.

Not all Thais can afford to fly this is a positive and not just about quicker visa runs for falang.

There is no question at all that this is a positive, but the poster who mentioned fares was right. I admit it was in advance, but I bought a Nok Air ticket from Chumphon to Bangkok for 684 Baht. The price of a sleeper (aircon) is 690. Flight time: 1 hour to 1 hour 10. By rail it is 8 hours but you can usually add another couple of hours onto that...

[taony]

With track conditions, especially in the rainy season, having a train going faster than a few km/hr is nothing but a disaster waiting to happen.

I ride through Yoamarat intersection every day on my bicycle. There are literally layers of rail peeling off the some of the rails. I always assumed a rail was one piece, but apparently not.

[cnx355]

If they want to compete with Low cost airlines they need to upgrade their ticket system and make it similar to low cost airlines .

Buy your ticket online, choose your seat and extra such as food and print it.

Bar code at boarding to acess the platform and on the way by the conductor.

In other word, modernize the train but modernize the ticket system too.

[Mickmouse1]

I am not impressed as I really though FAST TRAINS not a sprinter train.Get your tracks in order first.

[geriatrickid]

Thailand trying to make the rail system better for the people, and already on here the doom lords are putting it down.

Not all Thais can afford to fly this is a positive and not just about quicker visa runs for falang.

There is no question at all that this is a positive, but the poster who mentioned fares was right. I admit it was in advance, but I bought a Nok Air ticket from Chumphon to Bangkok for 684 Baht. The price of a sleeper (aircon) is 690. Flight time: 1 hour to 1 hour 10. By rail it is 8 hours but you can usually add another couple of hours onto that...

All valid points, but sometimes the flight schedules don't work.

Take Chumphon.It departs DMK at 05:45. I don't want to have to get up at 4 am to make the flight. I'd be happy to get on a train and have a nice snooze. Anyway, these trains are intended for long hauls and if I could get a bedbug free private room, I'd use it to go from Ubon to bangkok

I like trains. Unfortunately, much of the SRT rolling stock and its free for all vendors and trash throwing pax make the Bankok HuaHin route unbearable.

If SRT had any brains, it would put on a couple decent trains that served decent meals at the seats for the Bangkok-Hua Hin route on the weekend. It would take alot of traffic off the road and attract more weekend visitors. Leave Bangkok at 8 am and have a nice breakfast and get to Hua Hin for noon. Have a day at the beach or a night stay over and go back on an evening train or mid day train.

[hansnl]

The 115 train carriages include nine (9) first-class air-conditioned seating and sleeper carriages, 88 second-class air-conditioned seating and sleeper carriages, nine (9)carriages for the disabled, nine (9) air-conditioned canteen cars, nine (9)electric carriages and 11 carriages as reserves.

9+88+9+9+9+11 = 135

It is very simple.

Of all the one hundred and fifteen carriages nine will be made suitable for people with physical restrictions and eleven carriages will be kept in reserve.

Which probably means one complete train and a few extra carriages.

For the HSL lovers, the one metre lines are doubled, nearly all those lines are upgraded and the average speed and top speed are climbing, making the real need for high speed lines less urgent, or at least the urgent need for medium speed lines.

The existing, upgraded and doubled one metre rail lines can take away and will take away lots of customers of the bus traffic.

As such a good thing, rail traffic is safer and cleaner as road traffic.

If SRT will also decide to buy multi-engined locomotives instead of the one engined ones, the impact on the enviroment will be very much less and the breakdown of locs will be less.

[Usual Suspect]

IMO buying/using these new trains is a step forward for the SRT, & is a good midway step between the noisy,dirty Flintstone-era trains they're running at the mo. .But how long will they stay 'new'..?

Having an upgrade of rolling stock does indeed make the journey more comfortable, but will the average Thai appreciate this & take care of the new seats etc..? Will the SRT maintain them to the required standard? (standards..here..?)

Using these trains, along with a double-line upgrade would work here...& save a few Billion baht that right now IMO would be wasted on a HST project.

[ratcatcher]

With track conditions, especially in the rainy season, having a train going faster than a few km/hr is nothing but a disaster waiting to happen.

I ride through Yoamarat intersection every day on my bicycle. There are literally layers of rail peeling off the some of the rails. I always assumed a rail was one piece, but apparently not.

it is one piece but the condition you see, I believe is loosely referred to as "shelling", that comes with wear in certain areas.

[baboon]

Thailand trying to make the rail system better for the people, and already on here the doom lords are putting it down.

Not all Thais can afford to fly this is a positive and not just about quicker visa runs for falang.

There is no question at all that this is a positive, but the poster who mentioned fares was right. I admit it was in advance, but I bought a Nok Air ticket from Chumphon to Bangkok for 684 Baht. The price of a sleeper (aircon) is 690. Flight time: 1 hour to 1 hour 10. By rail it is 8 hours but you can usually add another couple of hours onto that...

All valid points, but sometimes the flight schedules don't work.

Take Chumphon.It departs DMK at 05:45. I don't want to have to get up at 4 am to make the flight. I'd be happy to get on a train and have a nice snooze. Anyway, these trains are intended for long hauls and if I could get a bedbug free private room, I'd use it to go from Ubon to bangkok

I like trains. Unfortunately, much of the SRT rolling stock and its free for all vendors and trash throwing pax make the Bankok HuaHin route unbearable.

If SRT had any brains, it would put on a couple decent trains that served decent meals at the seats for the Bangkok-Hua Hin route on the weekend. It would take alot of traffic off the road and attract more weekend visitors. Leave Bangkok at 8 am and have a nice breakfast and get to Hua Hin for noon. Have a day at the beach or a night stay over and go back on an evening train or mid day train.

There is one at 17:40 too which works great for me - After flying in from the UK the thought that in terms of travel hours I am only half way there (if I complete the journey by rail) is not a cheery one - but I think we all can agree that the more viable options for travel there are available, the better...

[hansnl]

Thailand trying to make the rail system better for the people, and already on here the doom lords are putting it down.

Not all Thais can afford to fly this is a positive and not just about quicker visa runs for falang.

There is no question at all that this is a positive, but the poster who mentioned fares was right. I admit it was in advance, but I bought a Nok Air ticket from Chumphon to Bangkok for 684 Baht. The price of a sleeper (aircon) is 690. Flight time: 1 hour to 1 hour 10. By rail it is 8 hours but you can usually add another couple of hours onto that...

Yes, interesting the price of the tickets for plane and train are so near.

The couple of hours extra?

Well, that is why the track upgrading and track doubling is so urgently attacked.

If you read the article, the reduction in travel time is not only dependent on the new rolling stock, the new locomotives, but also on the upgrade of tracks.

I understand SRT is upgrading very fast indeed.

[KMartinHandyman]

Maybe the faster trains will outrun the crossing jumpers and reduce intersection collisions. A very sneaky plan to fulfill the national crackdown at crossings.

[rosst]

Thailand trying to make the rail system better for the people, and already on here the doom lords are putting it down.

Not all Thais can afford to fly this is a positive and not just about quicker visa runs for falang.

Well said, I personally like the trains, bit pissed off about the no beer rule but other than that, very little complaint.

[swissbie]

Thailand trying to make the rail system better for the people, and already on here the doom lords are putting it down.

Not all Thais can afford to fly this is a positive and not just about quicker visa runs for falang.

We all understand that.

What is interesting is that they were going on about High Speed Trains (HST) and now they are buying Medium Speed Trains, (still metre gauge) from China.

You must admit it is all rather confusing.

Why confusing? It's an upgrade on existing services, it will take at least another 10 years until high speed trains will be operating.

[dingdongrb]

I would personally like to see Thailand implement a freight rail system where it would then remove one of the biggest hazards on the roads, the trucks.

Just think of the highway maintenance $$$ they would save..... Yeah I know, they rarely do the maintenance that is needed. That can be identified by seeing many ruts in the roads so large they would swallow my Mazda 3........

[skildpadden]

Sounds great but how about first of all making sure the rails are maintained and the railway crossings are safe?

[Kiwisailor]

My observation of southbound trains is that 2nd class fan sleepers and sitting carriages are often booked out - bus prices seem to slot between these 2 options. Having all A/C carriages is going to substantially increase the price of train travel for Thais and is unlikely to take any buses off the road.. If all the double tracking is not complete then the trains will still take a similasr time and as others have said when the rains arrive the whole rail system slows to a snails pace.

[WhizBang]

All I can say is that it is about time they started replacing some of that rolling stock. Good grief, how old are some of those locomotives and carriages?

But this brings up an interesting question: how much will the tickets be on the new trains? Same as before (unlikely), or higher (likely)?