Buddhist pilgrims take the train

BANGKOK, 17 June 2011— Express International Travel released its departure schedules, Thursday, for Buddhist pilgrimage tours on India’s Mahaparinirvan Express during the 2011/20112 season.

The first departure is scheduled 17 September. Two departures are set in October, December, January and March, while there will be three departures in November and February. The last tour departs 7 April, 2012.

Buddhist tours are part of a growing religious tourism segment that is now making its mark in Southeast Asia, mainly linked to Islam, Buddhism and Christianity. Read more

Magellan bags DB account

BANGKOK, 1 March 2011 – Deutsche Bahn German Railways appointed Magellan Corporation as its DB Agency for Thailand, 1 February, to market one of Europe’s most extensive networks to the travel trade.

Magellan Corporation will market Deutsche Bahn products and services under the banner of “Rail Germany.net”. It will host a press conference Wednesday to officially announce its plans to the local media.

Magellan Corporation is the general sales agent for Asiana Airlines, Icelandair and Carnival Cruise Lines in Thailand and with SabreRail DB, which is interfaced with Abacus, Rail Germany.net can make real-time bookings on the DB network and issue train tickets.

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China fast tracks train project

BANGKOK, 15 December 2010 – China asked Thailand, during a meeting in Beijing, last week, to speed up approval for an Asian railway project that will link Laos, Thailand and Malaysia.

According to deputy prime minister, Suthep Thaugsuban, who returned from the World Congress on High-Speed Trains  held in Beijing, last week, the two countries agreed construction should be completed in no more than four years with a start up date set for December 2011.

However, China urged the Thai government to approve the working details so that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) could be signed in March or April 2011, to ensure the deadline for starting construction could be met later in the year.

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Rail Europe Appoints GHC

HONG KONG, 3 December 2010 – Grebstad Hicks Communications has been appointed the  public relations agency for Rail Europe in Asia, effective this month.

Rail Europe, a joint venture between French National Railways (SNCF) and Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), markets and distributes European train travel products worldwide.

Partners in Europe include GIE Eurail, Eurostar, ACP (Britrail) and the national railways of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. Non-European partners include Amtrack in the USA, Via Rail in Canada, IRCTC Buddhist Train in India, JR in Japan) and Korail in Korea.

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Laos rethinks rail project

BANGKOK, 9 November 2010 – The Lao government will cancel a joint venture project with Thailand to extend the Nong Khai rail track into the capital city Vientiane, Thai officials confirmed Monday.

Lao government officials reason the Thai-Lao rail extension will duplicate a high speed train project between China and Thailand that passes through Laos.

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Cambodia opens rail link

PHNOM PENH, 5 November 2010 – The first section of a railway system that will eventually connect to  neighbouring Mekong region countries and open the way for rail services to  Malaysia and China was opened in Cambodia late last month.

The first section extends from the capital, Phnom Penh, south towards the coastal town of Sihanoukville where the line will end at a deep sea port.

Originally built in the 1930s, under French rule, Cambodia’s rail system covered 612 km, but  fell into disrepair by the early 80s and long distances of the tracks were dilapidated beyond use.

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SRT back in business

BANGKOK, 28 October 2010- State Railway of Thailand’s ordinary services on both the Northern and Northeastern lines are back to normal the railway’s public relations department reported Wednesday.

Earlier in the week, SRT had to reduce services, or provide alternative transport, between some stations on rail lines in the North and Northeast due to flooding of the tracks.

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Floods trouble trains

BANGKOK, 26 October 2010 – Rail services through Lop Buri have been disrupted according to the latest State Railway of Thailand report.

It has suspended some north-bound services, through the historical town some 150 km north of Bangkok. Bus services are being used to connect train passengers between Ayutthaya and Lop Buri.

However, services on both northeastern routes — to Nong Khai and to Ubon Ratchathani are operating normally.

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Floods disrupt northbound trains

BANGKOK, 20 October 2010 – The State Railway of Thailand cancelled most train services to the North and Northeast Tuesday due to heavy flooding.

On the Northern Line, all train services stopped at Nakhon Sawan about 250 km north of the capital, while on the Northeast Line train services terminated at Nakhon Ratchasima. SRT said sections of track were impassable.

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SRT opens call centre

BANGKOK, 15 September, 2010 – State Railway of Thailand officially launched a hotline 1690, Tuesday, to respond to complaints related to rail services and its Airport Rail Link.

SRT governor, Yutthana Thapcharoen, confirmed the hotline 1690 had been activated following a trial run since 4 June this year.

The call centre has been out-sourced to a private company, On- to-One Contacts, that has hired 50 operators on three shifts covering 24 hours.

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