Thai rail system lampooned in Facebook "bullet train" picture

[webfact]

Thai rail system lampooned in Facebook "bullet train" picture

 

Image: Manager Online

 

BANGKOK: -- A picture of a Thai train next to one from Malaysia at the border has caused a lot of laughs and comment online

 

The picture shows an antiquated Thai diesel locomotive next to what is claimed to be a high speed Malaysia alternative that looks like the bullet train, reported Manager Online.

 

The trains are side by side at Padang Besar on the Malaysian side of the border.

 

But a Thai railway enthusiasts group said it was not really helpful to post pictures like that and they were a bit deceptive. The railway geeks said that the Malay train, an ETS from China that plies the route down to Johor Bahru via Kuala Lumpur, is just a long distance train that travels at 140 kilometers per hour. It is not a high speed train, they said.

 

Many posters commented that would still outstrip the performance of Thai trains.

 

The picture was posted on the "Jaroensook Pone Limbanchongkit"

 

Facebook page that took it from @iamruj on Twitter.

 

Source: Manager Online

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2016-08-15

 

[NongKhaiKid]

Oops,   forget the bombs the BIB Compute Crimes Division will be all over this,    must be akin to treason to mock a state institution.

 

Did the railway geeks stick their tongues out when they said  '  Yah boo sucks to you it's not really a bullet train  '   ?

[halloween]

The differences are as stark as the picture suggests. OTOH SRT now runs a diesel rail car from HatYai to PB twice daily to link up with the ETS services. Return trip of 2.5 hrs makes for easy border runs. Can't find that service on their web site, but the return leg is train 948. Cost B80 each way.

[jaltsc]

"But a Thai railway enthusiasts group said it was not really helpful to post pictures like that and they were a bit deceptive. "

 

Then....Post a photo of the most up to date Thai train,  in order to accurately compare the railway system in Thailand  with that of Malaysia.

[mtls2005]

But a Thai railway enthusiasts group said it was not really helpful to post pictures like that and they were a bit deceptive.

 

Unless it's photo-shopped how can it be deceptive?

 

Maybe it's time to invoke Article 44 and put an end to posting "unhelpful" pictures.

 

On the plus side, the SRT train appears to still be on the tracks.

[halloween]

14 minutes ago, jaltsc said:

"But a Thai railway enthusiasts group said it was not really helpful to post pictures like that and they were a bit deceptive. "

 

Then....Post a photo of the most up to date Thai train,  in order to accurately compare the railway system in Thailand  with that of Malaysia.

 

New Thai trains are due to begin service this year. But the difference extends far beyond the train. The Malay train is electric and runs on a new dual track with NO level crossings, legal or otherwise. The stations have raised platforms that allow a level entry into the carriage, suitable for wheelchair access.

[Caveat Emptor]

25 minutes ago, jaltsc said:

"But a Thai railway enthusiasts group said it was not really helpful to post pictures like that and they were a bit deceptive. "

 

Then....Post a photo of the most up to date Thai train,  in order to accurately compare the railway system in Thailand  with that of Malaysia.

They would but,   but    oh forget it

[tbthailand]

and justifiably so, ... 

[Brer Fox]

The Thai train looks like it is in desperate need of a soapy bubble bath and clean up.

[Mook23]

aha! thais being confronted with the outerworld! always fun to read their reactions when they find out something more advanced exists in the vastness of the universe. 

 

"but but our train more safe. him duhrive suhlow... suhpeed train antalaai maakmaak..."

[aussieinthailand]

The Malay train is just a long haul train and by no means a bullet train,   The Japanese trains are the best I've been on, especially the Shinkansen bullet train,  Osaka too Kyoto in 15 mins, 43 klms.   just enough time for a half a smoke in the smoking cabin.

[Sphere]

That Thai train may not be a bullet train, but it's definitely more lethal.

[toybits]

Don't criticize too harshly lest you tempt them with a defamation case against you.

[Artisi]

"is just a long distance train that travels at 140 kilometers per hour. It is not a high speed train"

 

No its not, but compared to a Thai train it's  an absolute rocket.  

[chainarong]

To be truthful Thailand can get the same for their narrow gage network and still do 120/140 ,  standard gage you can do up around 180 , there will be no high speed network in Thailand , that is according to the Times July article "Just don't mention High speed trains" Thailand has settled for standard gage covering passenger and freight traffic   and canceled H/S with China , they are not a loner,  the extension for Indonesia H/S on Java is being financed from China just to get contracts, H/S is costly,  at China prices it is 17 Million USD per Km or 55 Million USD at USA price per KM , the planned H/S from Perth to Bunbury West OZ is in 40 years time , no  B/S, not enough population yet. 

[chowny77]

To be honest the whole rail system from tracks to trains is outdated here in the LOS. I am sure 50 years ago it was something to be proud of but it has hardly been updated since then. I am sure someone made a lot of money from not improving the system but putting in the requests for funds to do work on the lines.

[AlQaholic]

The train geeks obviously missed the point when they where focusing on the speed of the trains. The point is, Here is a train from Malaysia, another SEA country, that is modern, comfortable and obviously quiet new, while beside it stands a Thai relic from WWII which is still in use.

[hansnl]

3 hours ago, halloween said:

 

New Thai trains are due to begin service this year. But the difference extends far beyond the train. The Malay train is electric and runs on a new dual track with NO level crossings, legal or otherwise. The stations have raised platforms that allow a level entry into the carriage, suitable for wheelchair access.

You are quite right.

However, for years no money has ever been spent on the existing Thai railway system.

Not by any government.

Now money is invested, and yes, double track is coming, the tracks are renewed and made suitable for higher speeds, new trains and locomotives are being delivered and no doubt more will follow.

Overhead electrics is fine, but modern diesel locos and Dmu's are just as well if the max speed stays below 160 km/h on metre gauge.

The idea to build standard gauge rail lines along several routes also served by metre gauge is not a good idea for the time being.

Concentrate on building up the existing routes for higher speed, double track and new trains, and forget the lines wished for by the Chinese, will not bring anything for Thailand.

 

[halloween]

1 hour ago, AlQaholic said:

The train geeks obviously missed the point when they where focusing on the speed of the trains. The point is, Here is a train from Malaysia, another SEA country, that is modern, comfortable and obviously quiet new, while beside it stands a Thai relic from WWII which is still in use.

The locomotive pictured is an Alsthom AD24C one of more than 100 purchased somewhere between 1974 and 1985.

[halloween]

3 minutes ago, hansnl said:

You are quite right.

However, for years no money has ever been spent on the existing Thai railway system.

Not by any government.

Now money is invested, and yes, double track is coming, the tracks are renewed and made suitable for higher speeds, new trains and locomotives are being delivered and no doubt more will follow.

Overhead electrics is fine, but modern diesel locos and Dmu's are just as well if the max speed stays below 160 km/h on metre gauge.

The idea to build standard gauge rail lines along several routes also served by metre gauge is not a good idea for the time being.

Concentrate on building up the existing routes for higher speed, double track and new trains, and forget the lines wished for by the Chinese, will not bring anything for Thailand.

 

Sleeper replacement and double tracking has been going on for years, so some money has been allocated, but nowhere near what Malaysia has been spending. Only a few years ago, there were only a very few trains running Pedang Besar - Butterworth - now about a dozen/day even if most are ageing diesel Kommuters . OK if you don't mind standing, because they are VERY popular.

[tifino]

 

 

but Thai's could boast the Malaysian train wouldn't be able chukka ckukka chup phfttt slow

- slow enough to Noah it's way through to Mae Klong Station    

-without running into vendors too slow to crawl out of it's way.

https://youtu.be/q9-kkbBW99U

 

Maybe the standard of the old thai trains, is set to the lowest denominator??

Edited August 15, 2016 by tifino

[SupermarineS6B]

I've been using the train to Penang for over twenty five years now and i can honestly say that the Malay trains and set up is light years ahead of Thailands. I was just on the Malay train last week and we reached a smooth noise free speed of 160 kmh-100 mph, and i must say i didn't get any scary feeling that we we're going to end up in a paddy field...... When you reach Padang Besar you have to buy an onward ticket from the border due to the fact that the Malay system doesn't co-ordinate ticket sales any more with Thailand.  Then the old rickety rattling journey begins, complete with an alcohol ban just so that you can savour one of the roughest train journeys that you're liable to experience........  But i still love the Thai trains, the only country with an authentic classic railway system.........

[ratcatcher]

2 hours ago, AlQaholic said:

The train geeks obviously missed the point when they where focusing on the speed of the trains. The point is, Here is a train from Malaysia, another SEA country, that is modern, comfortable and obviously quiet new, while beside it stands a Thai relic from WWII which is still in use.

As Halloween pointed out, the Thai power is 30-40 years old, but runs on the same tracks as the Malaysian trains.

This is where the problem lies. That actual Malaysian electric train could make it all the way to Bangkok or Chiang Mai, Nong Kai were there overhead catenary in place and a suitable modernized right of way to run on. The Chinese have standard gauge track in China. Thailand has standard gauge track on the BTS, MRT and Airport Rail-link, the rest is metre gauge.

 If Thailand were to actually get started on serious railway improvements,, a fast  train, like the nice shiny one in the picture, could theoretically run from Singapore to Chiang Mai, much as does the Eastern Oriental Express tourist train.

http://www.seat61.com/Malaysia.htm#.V7GoTVt97cc

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keretapi_Tanah_Melayu#Motive_power

[metisdead]

Off topic posts about submarines have been removed. 

[lungbing]

But if the authorities spent money on the railways it would benefit people outside Bangkok, and that would never do.

[Ricardo]

Such a pity the SRT don't use their modern steam-engines, on this route, the tourists would surely be chuffed ! 

[canuckamuck]

Sir Topham Hatt will surely be displeased.

If these engines can't learn to get along one of them will be stuck making runs to the coal yards. 

[ratcatcher]

[lust]

I prefer the Thai train. Stuff like that is part of the reason I moved here.

[Shawn0000]

29 minutes ago, lust said:

I prefer the Thai train. Stuff like that is part of the reason I moved here.

 

You moved here for the quaintness of corruption?