Thailand Adds 18 Special Trains for New Year Travel
State Railway of Thailand prepares for passenger surge during 5-day holiday.
On November 30th, Mr. Veeris Ammarapala, Governor of the State Railway of Thailand, announced that following the directive from Mr. Suriya Jungrungreangkit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, the SRT will increase train services and staff to accommodate the expected surge in passengers during the 2025 New Year holidays. This initiative aims to ensure sufficient transportation options and prevent passenger delays, offering a convenient travel experience as a New Year's gift.
The SRT has implemented four key measures:
1. Increased Train Services: 18 special roundtrip trains will be added to Northern, Northeastern, and Southern lines, accommodating an additional 12,000 passengers. Tickets can be booked online via the D-Ticket system or at any train station nationwide starting from December 1st, 2024, at 8:30 AM.
2. Enhanced Passenger Capacity: Additional carriages will be added to existing trains to maximize capacity, ensuring that at least 100,000 passengers can be transported daily.
3. Safety Measures: Security personnel will intensify passenger safety measures both on trains and at stations. A nationwide safety center will be established to monitor passenger safety and respond to incidents 24/7.
4. Special Promotions: The Ministry of Transport and the SRT will distribute 5,000 insulated water bottles (2.8 liters) and 100,000 shower gel bottles to passengers at Bangkok (Hua Lamphong) Station, Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, and other major stations across the country starting from December 27th, 2024.
Mr. Veeris emphasized the SRT's commitment to providing a safe and comfortable journey for passengers traveling to their hometowns or tourist destinations during the New Year period.
Used Condoms Litter Pattaya Railway Sleepers
11 Dec 2024 | 16.50
7HD Online News
Locals are alarmed after finding used condoms scattered around railway sleepers in Pattaya, revealing the area as a popular spot for teenagers to engage in sexual activity.
On December 11, 2024, reporters were alerted by residents about a large number of used condoms littering the ground near a pile of railway sleepers at the Pattaya Railway Station multipurpose yard in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi province. This discovery has caused significant concern among residents in the area, who fear the site could become a breeding ground for serious infectious diseases and tarnish the image of the tourist city. The location is along a transportation route used by tourists traveling to and from the railway station.
Upon investigation, reporters found tissues, condom wrappers, and used condoms scattered across the ground and on the concrete railway sleepers, which are stacked in rows of over a thousand, creating hidden areas. Condoms were even found on the railway tracks, emitting a foul odor and attracting flies, creating a highly unpleasant sight.
Locals reported that the area is frequently used by people for exercise in the evenings and early mornings. However, they were shocked to find used condoms strewn behind the railway sleepers and to witness groups of teenagers gathering there, raising concerns about safety. Residents of the nearby community are urging relevant authorities to investigate and address the issue for the benefit of the local population.
This incident is detrimental to the environment and the image of the tourist city. The site's proximity to educational institutions and transportation hubs makes it a matter of urgency for relevant authorities to strictly monitor, investigate, and rectify the situation, including apprehending and prosecuting those responsible. This action is crucial to restoring the city's image after its reopening to tourists.
Manager Daily 360 - A source from the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) revealed that at the 16th/2024 meeting of the SRT Board of Directors chaired by Mr. Jirutm Wisanjit on December 19, 2024, a resolution was passed to review the Cabinet resolution of July 28, 1998, which limited employee recruitment to no more than 5% of the number of retiring employees. The board also approved a plan to adjust staffing levels to align with SRT's business operations, requesting permission to recruit 3,038 new employees between 2025-2029 (a 5-year period). The plan calls for 1,200 employees to be recruited in the first year and no less than 400 employees per year thereafter. The proposal will now be submitted to the Ministry of Transport and the Cabinet.
The Cabinet resolution of July 28, 1998, approved measures to address SRT's problems based on the opinions of the Ministry of Finance and the State Enterprise Policy Commission. These measures included reducing personnel expenses by limiting the number of employees from 20,031 on October 1, 1998, to no more than 18,015, and the number of employees to no more than 4,056 by October 1, 2002. The resolution also prohibited new hires except for positions related to train operations and positions requiring special qualifications. As a result of the resolution, the SRT has been limited to recruiting no more than 5% of the number of retiring employees, leading to a current workforce of 9,000 employees and approximately 3,000 workers, a number lower than the limit and one that has impacted operations.
**SRT Labor Uni0n Petitions Board to Lift Cabinet Resolution Before Critical Employee Shortage**
Mr. Sarawut Saranwong, President of the State Railway of Thailand Labor Uni0n (SRTLU), revealed that on December 19, 2024, a letter was submitted to Mr. Jirutm Wisanjit, Chairman of the SRT Board, to follow up on the issue of staff shortages and to improve operational efficiency. The letter requested that the board consider proposing to the Ministry of Transport that the SRT be allowed to increase its workforce in line with the findings of a consultant's study on appropriate staffing levels. This would accommodate the increasing needs and demands of various departments, with a proposed workforce of approximately 4,000 employees. The letter also requested the cancellation of the condition imposed by the Cabinet resolution of July 28, 1998, which limits recruitment to no more than 5% of retiring employees.
As an urgent measure to ensure sufficient manpower to replace retiring employees and accommodate the incoming graduates from the Railway Engineering School in 2023 (Worf. Class 63) who currently lack designated positions (97 individuals), the SRTLU proposed that contract workers who have been with the SRT for 5 years or more be appointed to operational positions requiring skills and expertise through an assessment of their abilities and work performance.
"The number of employees is insufficient compared to the workload, and with the completion of double-track railways, more trains and locomotives will be added in the future. Therefore, we need to increase the workforce accordingly. Currently, employees and workers are overworked, affecting their health and quality of life. We want the government to understand this."
As of September 30, 2024, 291 employees retired, most of whom (76.64%) were in operational roles. This leaves only 8,662 employees as of October 1, 2024, representing 48.08% of the maximum workforce allowed by the Cabinet resolution (18,015 employees). If the SRT were to recruit new employees under the current conditions, it would be limited to hiring no more than 15 people. However, the SRT's core responsibilities currently involve operating 250 passenger trains and 211 freight trains, totaling 461 trains. This requires a significant number of operational staff in train operations, maintenance, and civil engineering, including train drivers, engineers, station masters, track maintenance personnel, and signaling system maintenance personnel, exceeding 4,000 individuals. These roles are critical for ensuring safe train operations and maintaining infrastructure.
Over the next 10 years, 3,067 employees are expected to retire, with 84.51% of them being operational staff. However, under the current Cabinet resolution, the SRT would only be able to recruit 153 new employees, severely impacting its ability to carry out its mandated tasks.
Source: Manager Daily 360 degrees, December 24, 2027
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