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51-700: On 20 March 2004, an agreement between the Thai and Lao governments was signed to extend the State Railway of Thailand 's Northeastern Line from a junction just south of Nong Khai to Thanaleng, a town on the Lao side of the Mekong . The Thai government agreed to finance the line through a combination of grants and loans. The estimated cost of the Nong Khai–;Thanaleng line was US$ 6.2 million, of which 70%

102-413: A tonne of freight by rail costs 0.93 baht per kilometre compared with 1.72 baht by road, but 86 percent of Thailand's freight moves by road and only 2 percent by rail. Completed double tracking projects: Phase one of the project includes five sections of double-track railway with remaining two projects under construction: Cabinet approval is expected to allow the signing of contracts for phase two of

153-541: A 722-km route to Lamphun Province in the north of the country, and a 433-km route to Khon Kaen in the northeast. SRT also operates special services aimed at tourists, such as the SRT Royal Blossom train, SRT KiHa 183 Excursions, steam train services and weekend Nam Tok Sai Yok Noi and Suan Son Pradipat province. Most of these special services feature special trains, and are priced at a premium, with added services. Refurbished old KiHa 183 trains debuted on

204-490: A freight-only railway station. Thanaleng station is in a somewhat isolated area southeast of Vientiane , in Dongphosy village. Travellers arriving at the station must arrange their own travel onward into Vientiane, or use tuk-tuks or buses that may be stationed there to await travellers. A transfer counter now operates at the station, where passengers requiring transfer into Vientiane pay a flat rate for transportation into

255-575: A line branches to connect with the Malaysian railway at Padang Besar and the mainline continues to Su-ngai Kolok passing through Yala Province . The Eastern Line begins at Bangkok before heading through Chachoengsao , Prachinburi to terminate at Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaew Province , 255 kilometers from Bangkok. There is a reopened rail link to Cambodia from Aranyaprathet. A branch line also connects Khlong Sip Kao Junction to

306-578: A loss every year since it was turned into a state-owned enterprise under the Transport Ministry in 1951. As the worst financially performing state enterprise, it reported a preliminary loss of 7.58 billion baht in 2010. In the fiscal year ending 30 September 2016, the military government budgeted 7,600 million baht for SRT infrastructure investments to be used for track duplication, an extension of Bangkok's elevated railway, and construction of bridges, fences, and track improvements, however,

357-847: A member of the Politburo and the Executive Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party . He became the Prime Minister of Laos , who was elected by the National Assembly of Laos in March 2021. He retired in December 2022. He was deputy minister in the prime minister's office from 2003 to 2005, then was elected to the eighth Party Central Committee in 2006, and became governor of Houaphanh province . He

408-721: A new main Khamsavath station in Khamsavath village in Vientiane's Xaysetha District , 4 km (2.5 mi) away from That Luang Temple . Khamsavath station was completed in May 2023 and its scheduled to open in the middle of the year. The station was officially opened in October 31, 2023. After reviewing the project, Lao officials decided that Thanaleng station would be converted into a terminal for freight trains crossing over

459-582: A rehabilitation plan that will be presented to the State Enterprise Policy Commission on 30 July 2018. The commission, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is expected to approve the plan. The plan calls for SRT to become the largest railway state enterprise in ASEAN . By 2027, anticipating income growth from asset management and cost management, SRT foresees profits of over 20 billion baht. Hopewell Holdings of Hong Kong

510-641: Is a westerly branch towards Khiri Rat Nikhom while the main line continues south to Thung Song Junction in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province where another branch reaches Kantang in Trang Province . Not far away, another branch separates off the mainline at Khao Chum Thong Junction . The main line from Nakhon Sri Thammarat continues through Phatthalung before reaching Hat Yai Junction in Songkhla Province . From here,

561-683: Is also a branch off the mainline from Ban Dara Junction to Sawankhalok in Sukhothai Province . The Northeastern Line begins on the same route as the Northern Line, splitting at Ban Phachi Junction towards Nakhon Ratchasima . Then at Thanon Chira Junction , the line splits with one route passing Khon Kaen and Udon Thani before terminating at Nong Khai 624 kilometers (388 mi) from Bangkok. The other route passes through Buriram , Surin , Sisaket to reach Ubon Ratchathani , 575 km (357 mi) from Bangkok. There

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612-1141: Is also another branch route originating from Kaeng Khoi Junction in Saraburi Province passing through Chai Badan District in Lopburi Province and Chatturat District in Chaiyaphum Province , before joining the mainline heading towards Nong Khai at Bua Yai Junction in Nakhon Ratchasima Province . The Southern Line begins in Bangkok and heads west towards Nakhon Pathom before splitting into three different routes. One route heads west to Kanchanaburi Province (210 km (130 mi)) while another heads north towards Suphan Buri (157 km (98 mi)). The Southern Line itself continues southbound through Ratchaburi , Phetchaburi , Hua Hin , Prachuap Khiri Khan Province , Chumphon , to Surat Thani 678 kilometers (421 mi) distant. From Surat Thani, there

663-536: Is cheaper—only roughly half the cost of road transport —safer, and more environmentally-friendly than road transport, accounted for only 1.4 percent of freight tonnage carried in 2015. SRT aims to boost its share of cargo transport to six percent with its rail duplication by 2022. Expansion of SRT's freight service, which could earn more money than the heavily subsidized passenger service, has been neglected for decades in favour of Thailand's roads. The SRT's poor financial performance and resistance to reform, coupled with

714-416: Is possible for freight trains to travel between Thailand and the neighboring countries (Malaysia and Laos), the amount of international rail freight presently constitutes only a minuscule portion of Thailand's foreign trade. In 2012, merely 95 thousand tons of export cargo left Thailand by rail, as compared to 12 million tons of cargo exported by road, and 114 million tons of cargo exported by ship. For import,

765-741: Is the terminus of all Eastern line services and commuter services from Bangkok on the Northern, Northeastern and Southern lines. Phahonyothin and Ladkrabang Inland Container Depot (ICD) are the main freight terminals. The Northern Line runs alongside the Northeastern Line until the Ban Phachi Junction . There, it splits from the Northeastern Line and proceeds through Lopburi , Nakhon Sawan , Phichit , Phitsanulok , Denchai , Lampang , Lamphun , before finally reaching Chiang Mai , 751 km (467 mi) from Bangkok . There

816-553: The Airport Link . Nearly 91% was single-track railway (3,685 km (2,290 mi)) while 6%, mainly important sections around Bangkok, were double-track railway (251 km or 156 mi) and 3% were triple-track railway (107 km or 66 mi). The network serves 47 provinces and around 35 million passengers annually. The passenger count is expected to double by 2032, when the network grows to 6,463 km (4,016 mi) to serve 61 provinces. The SRT has suffered

867-636: The Asian financial crisis of 1997, resulted in stringent restraints being placed on SRT staffing. In July 1998, the Thai cabinet issued an order that the SRT could only hire five new employees for every 100 retirees. As of 2018 , the order remains in effect. SRT officials estimated in 2017 that the enterprise needed to boost staff by 20 percent to 12,000. In 2018 SRT claims that it needs 18,015 employees to operate efficiently, but only has 10,035 on staff. The train maintenance workforce has dwindled to 500 from 3,000 over

918-621: The Eastern and Oriental Express on their tracks which runs from Singapore to Bangkok and vice versa, although trips in 2024 did not enter Thailand. A link across the First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge to Thanaleng railway station , near Vientiane , opened in March 2009. In December 2010, following Chinese plans to extend their standard-gauge railway network to Xishuangbanna on the China–Laos border and further into Laos,

969-789: The Ministry of Transport in Thailand . The SRT was founded as the Royal State Railways of Siam (RSR) in 1890. King Chulalongkorn ordered the Department of Railways to be set up under the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning. Construction of the Bangkok - Ayutthaya railway (71 km or 44 mi), the first part of the Northern Line, was started in 1890 and inaugurated on 26 March 1897. The Thon Buri - Phetchaburi line (150 km or 93 mi), later

1020-509: The Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge ; freight could then be transported from Bangkok into Laos at a lower cost than would be possible with road transport. The Vientiane–Boten railway and the connecting Yuxi–Mohan railway to Kunming opened in December 2021. Thailand decided to finance its part of the route itself, although only the high-speed route Bangkok – Nakhon Ratchasima is to be built for the time being. After several postponements,

1071-545: The Bangkok ( Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal ) to Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed rail project (Phase 1) was officially launched by the Thai government in October 2020. However, the Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai section (Phase 2) and the Nong Khai to Vientiane section (Phase 3) has not yet been confirmed. Following the opening of Khamsavath railway station , Thanaleng was closed to passenger service and became

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1122-642: The Lao National Railway. The rail link to Cambodia via Poipet from the railhead at Aranyaprathet was constructed in 1941, but was closed in 1961 due to strained Thai-Cambodian relations during the Cold War. The rail connection was repaired and reopened in April 2019. Cross-border services briefly ran until it was suspended by the outbreak of COVID-19 . Currently, no cross-border services operate. Railway connections to Myanmar (Burma), notably

1173-588: The Mekong by ferry. The remains of the former Nong Khai terminus are still present and are visible on Google Earth. On 22 February 2006, after the conclusion of a trilateral agreement between Thailand, Laos, and France, the French Development Agency announced that it had approved funding for a second phase of the Thanaleng railway—an extension to Vientiane. The cost of this second phase

1224-540: The Northeastern Line at Kaeng Khoi Junction . At Chachoengsao Junction , there is another branch to Sattahip . Along the route to Sattahip, at Si Racha Junction , there is yet another branch towards Laem Chabang Deep Sea Port and further at Khao Chi Chan Junction for Map Ta Phut Port, in Rayong . As of January 2023, all services terminate at Bangkok (Hua Lamphong) station. No services run to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal. The Maeklong Railway , also operated by

1275-404: The Northern Line was regauged over the next ten years. On 1 July 1951, RSR changed its name to the present State Railway of Thailand, which has the status of a state enterprise agency. On 7 April 2020, the Thai cabinet named Nirut Maneephan as the new chief of the SRT, the 29th governor in its history. As of 2020 SRT had 4,044 km (2,513 mi) of track, all of it meter gauge except

1326-521: The SRT Board approved the addition of 1,330 new workers to bring the workforce to 15,550, still fewer than needed to address staff shortages. As of 2020 , SRT employed 9,204 employees and 3,721 yearly staffs totaling 12,925 while employment quotas respectively was 18,015 and 4,056 totaling 22,071. To address a long list of complaints accusing SRT of a lack of transparency in bids for projects and procurement deals, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha fired

1377-652: The SRT Light Red Line. The Red Line project is a new commuter rail system also owned by the SRT and will replace portions of rail lines running through Bangkok, eliminating at-grade crossings. Currently, two lines operate: the Dark Red Line and the Light Red Line . Thai railways transported around 11 million tons of freight per year in 2007–2012, which was around 2% of the total amount of freight moved by all modes of transportation. While it

1428-468: The SRT had managed to disburse only 53 percent of its allotted investment budget of 60 billion baht, compared with an average disbursement rate of 80 percent by Thailand's other 55 state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Disbursement rate is seen as an indicator of efficient management. SRT's budget from government for FY2020 was 13,574.9 million baht, increased from 9,087 million baht in FY2019. "If you look at

1479-499: The SRT has debts amounting to nearly 190 billion baht. The SRT consistently operates at a loss despite being endowed with large amounts of property—the SRT is one of Thailand's largest land holders, owning an estimated 39,840 hectares — and receiving large government subsidies. SRT's latest property development scheme is the Chao Phraya Gateway project. It capitalises on SRT's 277 rai , 1.16 kilometre stretch of land on

1530-548: The SRT network, gifted by the JR Hokkaido Railway Company , are now some of the most popular excursion train services, providing day and overnight tours to different provinces such as Ayutthaya, Hua Hin, Chacheongsao, Nakhon Nayok and Nam Tok Sai Yok Noi. Use Caterpillar C175-16 ACERT engines Used for special services only. (only 953 in use) (only 824 and 850 in use) (only 713 and 715 in use) In 2018, 91% of Thailand's 4,044 km rail network

1581-426: The SRT they are a bit like a patient in [intensive care] and everyone is saying to him 'you are the future' and trying to kick him out of bed when he is still moaning and groaning," said Ruth Banomyong, a logistics and transport expert at Thammasat University . The SRT annual operating losses are estimated at a minimum of 10 billion baht. In 2018 and 2019, the SRT lost 12 and 17 billion baht respectively. As of 2021

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1632-768: The SRT, is independent of the national rail network and is split into two sections. The line begins at Wongwian Yai in Bangkok before terminating at the Mahachai station in Samut Sakhon , where a ferry is used by passengers to cross the Tha Chin River . The line starts again across the river at Ban Laem and continues until the Mae Klong station of Samut Songkhram . SRT operates different types of rail services, each with different service patterns as outlined below: SRT operates long-distance passenger services on

1683-583: The Southern Line, was opened on 19 June 1903. The first railway commander of the RSR was Prince Purachatra Jayakara , Prince of Kamphaengphet. The Northern Line was originally built as 1,435 mm ( 4 ft  8 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ) standard gauge , but in September 1919 it was decided to standardize on 1,000 mm ( 3 ft  3 + 3 ⁄ 8  in ) meter gauge and

1734-478: The Thai government agreed to start negotiations on building a standard-gauge network. This would initially involve two lines: from Bangkok to the Lao border, and a longer line from Bangkok along the peninsula to the Malay border. In 2024, long distance overnight train services between Bangkok and Vientiane Khamsavath railway station were started. Shuttle trains to Udon Thani are also being operated in conjunction with

1785-473: The city, by tuk-tuk or minivan . Lao tourist visas are available on arrival at Thanaleng. Entry and exit fees are collected at the station upon embarking or disembarking. As of September 2010, an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 passengers were using the Nong Khai –Thanaleng shuttle train daily. Trains consist of two coaches, each carrying up to 80 passengers. Tickets onward to Bangkok may be purchased at

1836-444: The day of travel at the station. Since May 2024, a waiting list function has been added, allowing registered users to wait for available tickets if they have been sold out. The SRT operates all of Thailand's national rail lines. As of 2023, Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal is the main terminus of all long-distance services from Bangkok on the Northern, Northeastern and Southern lines, while Bangkok (Hua Lamphong) railway station

1887-560: The following lines: Until 2016, SRT operated international services to Butterworth in Penang , Malaysia , in conjunction with Malaysian state operator KTM . Direct trains from Bangkok now only run as far as Padang Besar , due to the opening of KTM ETS . Since 2021, there 3 return trains operate from Hat Yai Junction and terminate at Padang Besar across the Malaysia–Thailand border . SRT has also historically allowed operation of

1938-627: The governor and board of the State Railway of Thailand in February 2017, using his special powers under Section 44 of the interim constitution. Since 1 February 2017, Tickets can be purchased online , in person, as well was on the phone by dialling 1690. Since 1 February 2024, all long distance special express and express train tickets open up 90 days in advance. Most other tickets can only be bought up to 30 days in advance. For local ordinary and commuter trains, they only can be bought on

1989-419: The infamous Death Railway , are defunct. The SRT operates commuter rail services from Bangkok along the Northern and Northeastern Lines up to Ayutthaya, Ban Phachi Junction, Lopburi and Kaeng Khoi Junction. Ten trains run along the route on a daily basis. A new service serving between Thon Buri and Salaya was launched on 22 October 2010, extending to Nakhon Pathom on 1 June 2022 to act as a feeder service for

2040-400: The nation's freight transportation market, in 2016 the SRT, in a joint project with Japan, started experimenting with small, 12-foot containers. It is thought that, being smaller than the standard 20-foot containers, these containers can be more easily transported by truck between a rail station and the end customer. These containers are being tried on two routes from Bangkok's Bang Sue station:

2091-584: The past 30 years. To make up the shortfall, the SRT hires around 4,000 "yearly staffs", usually on daily wages of 300 baht. It has also caused the SRT to pay massive amounts of overtime pay to current employees. For example, one station master in Pattani was paid 61,210 baht in monthly salary, but also an additional 102,271 baht in overtime pay. As of 2020 , the staff employment quota was 4,056 but SRT hired 3,721 staffs. As of July 2019 , SRT employed 10,292 employees and 3,928 yearly staffs, totaling 14,220 while

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2142-420: The public as inefficient and resistant to change. Trains are usually late, and most of its equipment is old and poorly maintained. Although SRT's operational costs amount to two baht per kilometre traveled, SRT fares defray only a fraction of that cost. SRT has not been permitted to hike fares since 1985 which is significantly below market rate. Under the auspices of the Transport Ministry, the SRT has submitted

2193-479: The rail transport's share was even smaller. Thai railways transport both bulk freight (primarily oil products and construction materials) and containerized freight. Most of the freight movement is between Bangkok and sea ports (in particular, between the deepwater port of Laem Chabang and the container terminal in Lad Krabang , in Bangkok's eastern suburbs). In an attempt to increase the railway's share of

2244-688: The river in the Khlong Toei District . The SRT hopes the project will help clear its 100 billion baht debt. The project is projected to break even within eight years and deliver profits of 140 billion baht. As of April 2019 , SRT's plans are being submitted to the Transport Ministry for approval. SRT's failings are reflected in passenger numbers, which, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit have dropped from 88 million in 1994 to 44 million in 2014, and 26 million in 2020. The SRT has long been popularly perceived by

2295-700: The station; passengers travelling through must alight the train at Nong Khai to pass through Thai customs and immigration. On 4 December 2021, a day after opening the China–Laos railway, the Vientiane Logistics Park, one of a total of nine logistics centers in Laos, was officially opened by Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh at Thanaleng. In July 2022, the transhipment yard between the Laos-Thai meter gauge railway and Laos-China standard gauge railway

2346-414: The track duplication project by March 2018. The second phase will add a second track to 2,217 km of single track over nine rail links at a cost of 398 billion baht. Government plans call for an overall investment of 600 billion baht to create 2,588 km of double-track railway. Phankham Viphavanh Phankham Viphavanh ( Lao : ພັນຄຳ ວິພາວັນ ; born 14 April 1951 ) is a Laotian politician ,

2397-437: Was a single-track railway . A government initiative to move air and road transport to rail passed a major milestone on 28 December 2017 when the SRT signed nine contracts costing 69.5 billion baht with private contractors to complete track duplication on 702 km of the SRT network. The government's aim is to reduce the nation's logistical overhead, some 1.75 trillion baht, by moving air and road freight to rail because moving

2448-495: Was estimated at US$ 13.2 million, including the cost of feasibility studies, infrastructure, and equipment. A US$ 50 million loan was also reportedly received from the Thai government for the extension. Construction was originally slated to begin in December 2010, and Lao railway officials had confirmed as late as September 2010 that plans would go ahead. The extension, which would have taken an estimated three years to complete, would have stretched 9 km (5.6 mi) from Thanaleng to

2499-508: Was financed by Thai loans. Construction formally began on 19 January 2007, and test trains began running on 4 July 2008. Formal inauguration occurred on 5 March 2009. Thanaleng Station is the only station of the Bangkok –Thanaleng rail route on the Lao side of the border. The former terminus at Nong Khai and the spur to it was abandoned. Before the construction of the railway across the Friendship Bridge, passengers had to cross

2550-412: Was officially inaugurated at Thanaleng / Vientiane South. 17°54′11″N 102°42′35″E  /  17.90306°N 102.70972°E  / 17.90306; 102.70972 State Railway of Thailand The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) ( Thai : การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย , abbrev. รฟท., RTGS :  kan rot fai haeng prathet thai ) is the state-owned rail operator under the jurisdiction of

2601-777: Was the lead contractor for SRT's ill-fated Bangkok Elevated Road and Train System . The project commenced in 1990 and was terminated by the Thai government in 1998, only 13% complete. Hopewell and the SRT each blamed the other for the failure of the 80 billion baht project. Both parties sued, and the case has been in litigation since its cancellation. On 23 April 2019, Thailand's Supreme Administrative Court upheld an arbitration committee's ruling in favour of Hopewell. The court ordered SRT to pay Hopewell compensation of 11.88 billion baht, plus 7.5% interest per year. The interest, totaling 13 billion baht, brings SRT's total liability to nearly 25 billion baht, payable within 180 days. Rail freight, which

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