Born and raised in Japan, after long serving the Japanese people and JR East Railway Company, it's time for their retirement, as new battery-powered trains are set to replace them.
A total of 20 KiHa40/48 trains have been donated to Thailand (we paid around 48.6 million baht for the transportation costs) and are awaiting their turn to run on Thai tracks.
Currently, all the trains have arrived at their new home and are awaiting refurbishment before being put into service.
In this episode, P' Mee takes you to see all 20 trains at Laem Chabang railway station.
Source - Daily News
Wednesday, June 26, 2024, 05:19
Cleared Customs
Wheel Adjustment Before Transformation
The "Daily News Transport Innovation Team" reports that 20 air-conditioned diesel railcars11 Kiha 40 cars and 9 Kiha 48 carsdonated by JR East (East Japan Railway Company) to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) have cleared customs. After being shipped from Niigata Port, Japan, they arrived at Laem Chabang Port, Chonburi, Thailand, on June 2. The contractor is currently preparing to separate the train bodies from the bogies for transporting the bogies to the Makkasan factory to adjust the wheelbase from 1.067 meters to 1.00 meters.
Once the wheelbase adjustment is complete, the bogies will be reassembled with the train bodies at Laem Chabang Station and then transported back to the Makkasan factory via rail for further refurbishment. The first refurbished train is expected to be ready for public service by the end of 2024. Initially, these trains will be used as air-conditioned third-class passenger trains on short routes such as Ayutthaya, Chachoengsao, and Nakhon Pathom to Bangkok. They may also serve as feeder trains during peak and off-peak hours, supplementing the current passenger train services until new trains are procured.
The Kiha 40 and Kiha 48 diesel railcars were decommissioned by JR East in early 2023. These trains are still in good condition, unlike the Kiha 183 trains that required significant refurbishment. The Kiha 40 and Kiha 48 trains have been in service for about 40 years and can be used for another 10-15 years with proper maintenance. The Kiha 40 has two driving cabs (double cab), while the Kiha 48 has a single driving cab. The Kiha 40 can be operated as a single unit because it has driving cabs at both ends. These trains can reach a maximum speed of approximately 95 kilometers per hour. Both models are air-conditioned with a capacity of 30,000 Kcal or 119,100 BTU, sufficient for use in Thailand.
The Kiha 40 has 68 seats, and the Kiha 48 has 82 seats, excluding standing passengers. The seats are non-reclining straight-back seats, unlike the Kiha 183 trains previously received by SRT. The seating arrangements include both cross seats and long seats. The toilets are closed-system squat toilets, which SRT will need to upgrade according to global standards.
For transporting the 20 air-conditioned diesel railcars from Japan, SRT hired Green Generation Worldwide Co., Ltd., for 48.6 million baht, according to the scope of work (TOT). The contractor must transport the 20 diesel railcars from Laem Chabang Port and deliver them to SRT at Laem Chabang Station within 90 days from the date of shipment from Niigata Port, approximately by the end of August 2024.
Hiring 48 Million Baht to Transport Japanese Trains Only to Leave Them Idle
Source: Daily News
Thursday, August 29, 2024, 05:37 AM
Kiha40/48 Trains Left Exposed to Sun and Rain Without Disassembly for Modification
The "Daily News Transportation Innovation Team" reports that currently, 11 Kiha 40 and 9 Kiha 48 air-conditioned diesel railcars, totaling 20 units donated by JR East (East Japan Railway Company) to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), are still parked at Laem Chabang Railway Station in Chonburi Province. These trains were transported by ship from Niigata Port in Japan to Laem Chabang Port in Thailand on June 2, 2024.
According to the initial Terms of Reference (TOR), Green Generation Worldwide Co., Ltd., the contracted transportation company, was required to dismantle the train bogies from the car bodies while still in Japan. The bogies were then supposed to be transported to the Makkasan Factory to adjust the wheel gauge from 1.067 meters to 1.00 meters. Subsequently, all 20 air-conditioned diesel railcars were to be delivered to the SRT at Laem Chabang Railway Station within 90 days, approximately by the end of August 2024.
As of now, the bogies have not been transported for wheel gauge adjustment, and the deadline for delivering all 20 air-conditioned diesel railcars to the SRT is approaching. This raises questions about whether the transportation process of the Kiha 40 and Kiha 48 trains from Japan to Thailand has adhered to the TOR from the beginning. The TOR detailed that the contractor must disassemble the bogies from the car bodies in Japan before shipping them to Laem Chabang Port. Upon arrival in Thailand, the bogies were to be loaded onto freight trains for wheel gauge adjustment and then returned to Laem Chabang Railway Station.
An initial investigation revealed that the contract was amended on January 15, 2024. The supplementary agreement stated that modifications were necessary to align with the contractor's detailed proposal, altering both the scope and specifics of the work. As a result, the contractor was no longer required to disassemble the bogies from the car bodies in Japan. Currently, all 20 Kiha trains remain exposed to the elements, awaiting certified JR East engineers to supervise the disassembly of the bogies from the car bodies. Once disassembled, the bogies will be loaded onto freight trains for wheel gauge adjustment.
This contract modification has sparked considerable scrutiny and criticism. Observers question whether changing the contract terms after awarding the bid benefits the contractor unfairly. Additionally, with the SRT's payment of 48.6 million baht covering transportation costs from Japan to Thailand and labor costs for disassembling the bogies in Japan, concerns arise over whether labor costs in Thailand are lower and whether savings are being appropriately accounted for following the contractual changes.
The wheel gauge adjustment from 1.067 meters to 1.00 meters at the Makkasan Factory is expected to take approximately 25 days. After completion, the bogies will be reassembled with the train bodies at Laem Chabang Railway Station before being transported back to the Makkasan Factory via rail for further refurbishment. The process will be carried out incrementally. Initially, the plan was to have the first train ready for public service by the end of 2024. However, due to delays in wheel gauge adjustments, it is now likely that service commencement will be postponed to 2025.
Source: Daily News Newspaper, August 30, 2024 Edition (Afternoon Issue)
Trouble brews over the transport of secondhand trains from Japan. Contract amendments appear to favor private companies, while trains sit idle under the scorching sun at Laem Chabang, past the delivery deadline.
ล่าสุดบริษัท กรีน เจเนอเรชั่น เวิลด์ไวด์ จำกัด ในฐานะผู้รับจ้างขนย้ายขบวนรถฯ ให้สัมภาษณ์ชี้แจง "ทีมข่าวนวัตกรรมขนส่งเดลินิวส์" ว่า ยืนยันว่าบริษัทฯ ไม่ใช่ต้นเหตุที่ทำให้ขบวนรถยังคงจอดตากแดดตากฝนอยู่ที่สถานีรถไฟแหลมฉบัง จ.ชลบุรี และขอย้ำว่าการแก้ไข TOR ไม่ได้เอื้อประโยชน์ให้บริษัทฯ แต่มีความจำเป็นต้องขอให้ รฟท. ช่วยแก้ไข TOR จริง ๆ เนื่องจากช่วงขนย้าย ขบวนรถที่ญี่ปุ่นเกิดเหตุแผ่นดินไหว และญี่ปุ่นเริ่มโครงการก่อสร้างโรงไฟฟ้าพลังงานริมชายฝั่ง และใช้พื้นที่ท่าเรือนีงาตะ จัดเก็บใบพัดของกังหันลมจำนวนมาก ทำให้ไม่ได้รับความสะดวก และพื้นที่ไม่เพียงพอถอดแยกตัวรถ และโบกี้ออกจากกัน ก่อนขนส่งมาท่าเรือแหลมฉบัง รฟท. จึงแก้ไข TOR ให้บริษัทฯ มาถอดแยกตัวรถ และโบกี้ออกจากกันที่ประเทศไทยได้ แต่บริษัทฯ ไม่คาดคิดว่า รฟท. จะเพิ่มข้อกำหนดว่าต้องมีผู้ควบคุมงานที่เป็นวิศวกรที่ได้รับรองจาก JR EAST มาควบคุมการถอดโบกี้จากตัวรถที่ไทยด้วย ทั้งที่ TOR เดิม ไม่กำหนด จึงเป็นการเพิ่มภาระให้ รฟท. เอง ที่ต้องทำหน้าที่ประสาน JR EAST มาควบคุมงาน และไม่ใช่หน้าที่ของบริษัทฯ ที่ต้องไปประสาน และไม่ใช่ความผิดของบริษัทฯ ด้วย
ที่ผ่านมาบริษัทฯ กับ รฟท. หารือเรื่องนี้กันตลอด และประสาน JR EAST แล้ว ได้รับแจ้งว่าอาจต้องใช้เวลารอนาน จึงมีแนวทางกันว่าอาจใช้วิธีให้ผู้ควบคุมงานจาก JR EAST เปิดวิดีโอคอลดูถ่ายทอดการทำงานทั้งหมด แต่สุดท้ายมีกรรมการ TOR บางรายไม่เห็นด้วย ทำให้งานเดินต่อไม่ได้มีแนวโน้มว่าจะกลับไปแก้ไข TOR อีกครั้ง โดยไม่ต้องมีผู้ควบคุมงานที่ได้รับรองจาก JR EAST เพื่อให้การทำงานเดินหน้า ทุกวันนี้บริษัทฯ มีบุคลากร และอุปกรณ์พร้อมมากในการถอดแยกตัวรถ และโบกี้ออกจากกันจะได้ขนย้ายโบกี้ลงขบวนรถไฟบรรทุกสินค้า (บขน.) นำไปปรับขนาดล้อที่โรงงานมักกะสัน และเมื่อปรับแล้วเสร็จ จะได้ขนส่งกลับมาสถานีรถไฟแหลมฉบังให้แล้วเสร็จแต่ไม่สามารถทำได้ เพราะติดปัญหาต้องมีผู้ควบคุมงานจาก JR EAST หากไม่มีข้อกำหนดนี้บริษัทฯ สามารถใช้เวลา 4 วันถอดแยกตัวรถ และโบกี้ให้แล้วเสร็จเพื่อส่งไปปรับขนาดล้อได้ให้วิศวกร รฟท. มาควบคุมการทำงานก็เพียงพอแล้ว
Japanese Trains Left Exposed to the Elements in Thailand
Source - Daily News
Thursday, October 31, 2024 05:09
Contractor Highlights Issues with Amended Terms for Thai Railway Project
The "Daily News Transportation Innovation News Team" reports that following a previous news story about the donation of 20 Kiha 40 and Kiha 48 diesel multiple unit trains from JR East (East Japan Railway Company) to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), the trains remain exposed to the elements at Laem Chabang Port in Chonburi Province.
The trains arrived from Niigata Port, Japan, on June 2, 2024, but have yet to be modified for Thai rail lines. This involves adjusting the bogie (wheelset) gauge from 1.067 meters to 1 meter. It has also come to light that the project's Terms of Reference (TOR) were amended to allow the contractor to avoid separating the train bodies and bogies in Japan.
Green Generation Worldwide Co., Ltd., the contractor responsible for transporting the trains, clarified to the "Daily News Transportation Innovation News Team" that they are not responsible for the trains being left outdoors. They explained that the TOR amendment was necessary due to unforeseen circumstances in Japan, including an earthquake and construction projects at Niigata Port that limited space for disassembly.
The SRT agreed to allow the disassembly to take place in Thailand, but added a requirement for a JR East certified engineer to supervise the process. This was not part of the original TOR and has created an unexpected burden for the SRT, who must now coordinate with JR East.
Green Generation Worldwide insists they are ready to proceed with the disassembly and transport the bogies to Makkasan Factory for gauge adjustment. However, the requirement for JR East supervision has stalled the project. They suggest video call supervision as a potential solution, but this has been rejected by some members of the TOR committee.
The company emphasizes that they have the personnel and equipment ready and could complete the disassembly in four days if the JR East supervision requirement were removed. They believe SRT engineers are sufficient for overseeing the work.
Regarding concerns about the 48.6 million baht contract, which included labor costs for disassembly in Japan, the company acknowledges that labor costs in Thailand may be lower. However, they emphasize that potential savings are insignificant compared to the 100,000 baht per day penalty for delays. They are willing to renegotiate the contract with the SRT, but have yet to receive the first two payments despite already paying 40 million baht for transportation.
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