Thai railways on flawed tracks
July 12, 2012 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News, Thailand, Transport
BANGKOK, 12 July 2012: The State Railway of Thailand will replace all rail tracks across the country within the next two years following media reports of damaged rail tracks.
The announcement was issued, Tuesday, in response to a news channel report that identified damaged track around Laksi station, a northern Bangkok district.
STR governor Yuthana Thapjaroen said the STR has already repaired tracks identified in the report and had a long-term plan to replace all tracks across Thailand.
Yuthana Thapjaroen
Initially, STR will start with rail tracks from Bang Sue station to Don Mueang station (next to the airport) where a crude oil train derailed earlier this year. Tracks between these two stations are 21 km apart and the replacement will cost Bt5 million.
To replace tracks across the country, Mr Yutthana said that the project required an estimated budget of Bt21 billion. He claimed the project could be finished in two years. Work will be awarded to 21 contractors and so far eight bids have already been opened.
Earlier this week, Ministry of Transport deputy minister, Chatchart Sittipan went on an inspection trip to Laksi station.
He was quoted as saying that he had received many complaints about the quality of the rail track and standard of rail services in general.
timekeeping at the moment is a disgrace. Certainly work is urgently required however If new high speed lines are to be built then will they follow the existing routes so that as soon as the new track is laid then it will need to be torn up for the high speed route?
We wish all the rail tracks would last long and be strong enough to carry all passengers to every destination without cracks like Suwannaphumi Airport.
“He was quoted as saying that he had received many complaints about the quality of the rail track and standard of rail services in general.”
Surprise, surprise. The whole thing is about 70 years out of date, a rolling museum, clackety-clacking along ropey single tracks, with featherbedded staff who are happy just to do the same old thing their grandfathers did.