On May 29, 2024, thieves targeted 17 railway crossings in Songkhla province, stealing vital road barrier equipment. The thefts occurred in both Khuan Niang and Hat Yai districts, with the Hat Yai-Padang Besar line hit hardest, where 9 out of 10 crossings were affected.
The stolen equipment included signal panels, warning signs, batteries, wires, cables, and steel beams, causing tens of millions of baht in damage. Many locations have been repeatedly targeted, even after repairs were made.
Mr. Prachaniwat Buasri, head of the Southern Border Provinces Operations Center for the Railway, expressed concern over the thefts' impact on safety. He explained that while internal system failures can be repaired quickly, the theft of essential components leads to significant delays.
Mr. Prachaniwat emphasized that the stolen equipment's scrap value is minimal compared to the potential cost of accidents and loss of life. He urged the public not to blame the railway for malfunctioning barriers, as these incidents are often caused by external factors like theft.
To address the problem, railway authorities have met with local officials, police, and community organizations in the affected areas. They are seeking cooperation to safeguard equipment, identify those responsible, and raise awareness among residents.
The "Patong Model," a successful community-based approach to monitoring and protecting equipment, will be implemented in affected areas. Railway authorities are also working to quickly restore functionality to damaged crossings, prioritizing those with high traffic like Khlong Ya Nuea and Khlong Ya Tai.
Arrest of Illegal Migrant Workers Entering Thailand by Train | Wanmai Thai PBS | June 4, 2024
Thai PBS
June 4, 2024
It is common to see authorities apprehend operations smuggling migrant workers into Thailand by car. However, recently in Uttaradit Province, the police arrested migrant workers who were attempting to enter Thailand while traveling by train to Bangkok. This incident may require further investigation to understand how it was possible.
Scrutiny of 4 SRT Governor Candidates: Qualification Concerns Emerge for Two
Weerawit, Apichai Face Potential Disqualification Due to SRT Contract Conflicts
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has announced four candidates vying for the position of governor:
1. Mekin Petcharaplai, CEO of Voice TV Co., Ltd.
2. Apichai Nimjirawat, Director of Advance Information Technology Public Co., Ltd. (AIT)
3. Awirut Thongnet, Deputy Governor of SRT
4. Weerawit Amrapal, Governor of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT)
The SRT Governor Selection Committee, chaired by Apirat Chaiwongnoi, Director-General of the Department of Rural Roads, will open qualification envelopes on June 5th and review them on June 11th. Finalists will present their visions for railway development on June 28th.
Concerns have arisen regarding the eligibility of two candidates:
* Weerawit Amrapal: Appointed IEAT Governor under Suriya Juangroongruangkit, the IEAT has a land lease agreement with the SRT, potentially violating conflict of interest clauses.
* Apichai Nimjirawat: AIT may have contracts with the SRT, also raising conflict of interest concerns.
These concerns stem from clauses 3.1.11 and 3.1.12 of the qualification requirements, which prohibit candidates from having financial interests in companies with SRT contracts.
A similar case was brought before the Council of State regarding the selection of the President of Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT). In that case, a candidate was disqualified due to a previous contract between the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), where they served as executive director, and AOT.
The selection committee is expected to carefully consider these potential conflicts of interest before making a decision.
นอกจากนี้ ยังมีภาคเอกชนเสนอผ่านการรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทยเกี่ยวกับโครงการทะเลบก โดยพัฒนาสถานีรถไฟวังเย็น ตำวังเย็น อำเภอเมืองกาญจนบุรี เป็นศูนย์กองเก็บและขนถ่ายสินค้าทางราง (CY) แบบ one stop service เพื่อส่งสินค้าไปยังท่าเรือแหลมฉบัง ซึ่งจะใช้ระยะเวลาประมาณ 1 สัปดาห์ คาดว่าสามารถลดระยะเวลาและความแออัดการขนส่งสินค้าบริเวณท่าเรือแหลมฉบังจากเดิมได้
Plan to Elevate Kanchanaburi as a Tourist City and Stimulate Sustainable Local Economy
Naewna, Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 12:01 PM
Kanchanaburi Plans to Drive Tourism and Sustainable Local Economic Growth
Today (June 5, 2024), Mr. Wutthiphong Supakwanich, Deputy Governor of Kanchanaburi, stated that Kanchanaburi Province, along with Mr. Anan Siripruek, the provincial civil engineer and urban planner, Ms. Sommart Kamthanom, the provincial culture officer, Mr. Wichian Jantarakulroj, President of the Kanchanaburi Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Sahaphan Rungrojnaipanit, Secretary-General of the Kanchanaburi Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Theerachai Chutiman, Honorary President of the Kanchanaburi Chamber of Commerce, representatives from related government agencies, the President of the Provincial Administrative Organization of Kanchanaburi, and representatives from Kanchanaburi and Pak Phraek municipalities, convened to discuss plans for advancing the city and sustainably stimulating the local economy. They aimed to outline proposals to elevate the secondary city to a primary city and sustainably boost the local economy of Kanchanaburi, to be presented to the Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce on Friday, June 14, 2024. Kanchanaburi's proposed projects fall into three main categories:
1. Tourism Promotion and Development: Six projects include:
- Renovation of Kanchana Buri (Don Rak) railway station
- Renovation of the River Kwai Bridge and expansion of railway routes for rail tourism
- Landscape improvements and construction of an exhibition hall for historical tourism at the River Kwai Bridge
- Renovation of the Kracha-Cave prisoner site
- The Si Sawat model for promoting Western regional tourism
- Development of a master plan and detailed survey for sustainable tourism in the Thua-Ngok Cape and connecting areas of Kanchanaburi
2. Infrastructure (Roads/Bridges): Seven projects
3. Promotion of Agricultural Products Unique to Kanchanaburi
Mr. Wutthiphong Supakwanich emphasized that Kanchanaburi is a major tourism city and one of the top ten potential secondary cities for economic growth, encompassing trade, investment, and tourism, which can be developed into a primary city. The meeting proposed significant projects such as:
- New urban planning in the Sam Prasob area, where the Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai rivers converge to form the Mae Klong River
- The construction of an observation tower
- Expansion of the city to the west (Ban Linchang area) to encourage tourists to spend more time and stay overnight in the city, considering the potential shift in tourist behavior to one-day trips due to improved and faster travel facilitated by the complete opening of the motorway
Additionally, plans include constructing large buildings or convention halls in the northeastern part of Kanchanaburi to support its role as a MICE City (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) in the future, developing special economic zones and labor hubs, and diverting water to support the local economy sustainably. This includes enhancing the production and quality management of durian and other agricultural products like rambutan, pomelo, dates, coffee, tamarind, and bananas, which are high-quality but not widely recognized.
Moreover, the private sector has proposed to the State Railway of Thailand the "Inland Sea" project, developing Wang Yen railway station in Wang Yen subdistrict, Mueang Kanchanaburi district, into a one-stop service center for loading and unloading rail freight to Laem Chabang port. This project is expected to reduce congestion and transportation time at Laem Chabang port from the current duration.
Held annually in Thailand, Asia Pacific Rail 2024 is an exhibition of railway technology in the Asia-Pacific region.
This event showcases a wide range of technologies and advancements in the railway industry, especially new technologies such as Digital Rail and various signaling systems.
There are many interesting discussion topics as well.
Join P'Mee as he takes us through the atmosphere of the event.
Srettha Discusses Travel Measures to Boost Secondary City Tourism During Low Season
Source: Thairath Online
Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 16:48
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin held discussions with the Ministry of Transport, Airports of Thailand (AOT), Thai Airways, VietJet Air, and the State Railway of Thailand to prepare for the upcoming Low Season tourism push. Measures to promote travel to secondary cities were a key focus, with directives issued to expand rail routes.
On June 5, 2024, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin posted a photo on Facebook of his meeting with Mr. Suriya Jungrungreangkit, Minister of Transport, and other relevant agencies. He stated that following the introduction of tax incentives to stimulate tourism, the government is now focusing on travel preparations.
"This afternoon, we had several discussions," he wrote. "Firstly, we talked with the Ministry of Transport, AOT, Thai Airways, VietJet Air, and the State Railway of Thailand to gear up for tourism, especially in the fourth quarter, which is the Low Season. We emphasized the need for all parties to manage the number of planes and flights adequately and for AOT to be ready to accommodate airlines and the increasing number of travelers."
Additionally, Prime Minister Srettha directed the State Railway to introduce new train routes and special services. These include cultural heritage routes and nature-based tourism to cater to niche tourist groups. He expressed confidence that the charm of train travel would significantly attract more tourists.
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