SRT Governor Inspects Locomotive and Carriage Readiness, Stresses Strict Safety Measures, and Ensures No Passengers are Left Behind
Source - Manager Online
Saturday, December 28, 2024 09:26
Mr. Veeris Ammarapala, Governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), visited the Makkasan Workshop to inspect the readiness of locomotives and carriages before providing service to the public. He also urged officials to strictly comply with safety measures to prevent accidents, especially at railway crossings.
The SRT Governor then visited the Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal and ordered officials to be prepared to facilitate passengers at stations across the country to ensure that no passengers are left behind. This is in line with the policy of Mr. Suriya Jungrungreangkit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, who emphasized that agencies under the Ministry of Transport should deploy officials to fully facilitate people traveling during the 2025 New Year festival so that all Thais can travel back to celebrate the New Year safely.
For the statistics on the number of passengers traveling during the 2025 New Year festival, the SRT estimates that there were more than 105,000 train users across the country yesterday (December 27, 2024), as it was the last day of work before the long holiday for the 2025 New Year festival. The SRT has arranged 219 trains (including 5 special extra trains) from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to the northern, southern, northeastern lines, and Bangkok Station (Hua Lamphong) on the eastern line. The routes expected to have the highest passenger density are the southern line, followed by the northeastern, northern, eastern, and Mae Klong lines.
In addition, the SRT has distributed 5,000 2.8-liter "Happiness" water bottles and 100,000 bottles of shower gel to passengers at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to create smiles and happiness throughout their journey.
## Nong Khai Residents Pack Trains to Return Home for New Year Celebrations
**Nong Khai, Thailand** - The Nong Khai railway station was bustling today (December 29, 2024) as residents returned home to celebrate the New Year with their families. Trains were packed with passengers, creating a lively atmosphere as people carried their luggage and gifts after the long holiday break.
Many Nong Khai residents work in other provinces and chose to travel by train for their holiday journey. The State Railway of Thailand had offered advance ticket booking services at regular prices, but tickets for both outbound and return journeys were fully booked since the beginning of the month.
Railway officials were on hand to assist passengers and ensure their safety and security throughout their journey. They are committed to providing a smooth and safe travel experience for everyone returning home for the New Year.
Veeris Tackles SRT's Hot-Button Issues, Forms Task Forces to Find Solutions for Red Line VO, KIHA Trains, Khao Krathing, High-Speed Rail, and 33 Million Baht Sign
Source - MGR Online
Monday, December 30, 2024 07:30
Veeris Ammarapala establishes three task forces to address 10 urgent issues within the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), focusing on legal and procurement regulations. The most pressing issues include the Red Line VO case, where the Supreme Administrative Court ruled in favor of the contractor, requiring an additional payment of 4 billion baht, and the KIHA train procurement case, which involves contract breaches. Other issues include Khao Krathing land, the high-speed rail project, Lat Krabang ICD, and the 33 million baht station sign.
Veeris, Governor of the SRT, revealed that since assuming his position on September 19, 2024, he has encountered numerous urgent issues requiring immediate solutions. These issues involve legal and procurement regulations. To address them, he has appointed three task forces:
1. Task force to study and monitor SRT project issues
2. Task force to study SRT legal matters
3. Task force to study SRT procurement processes and asset management
These task forces will serve as advisors and assist in reviewing information and details related to these issues. They comprise external experts in law and procurement regulations, including public prosecutors and officials from the Office of the Auditor General.
Currently, almost 10 issues requiring resolution have been identified, with 6-7 considered urgent. These include:
* Red Line Project (Bang Sue-Rangsit and Bang Sue-Taling Chan sections): The Variation Order (VO) case involves over 4.204 billion baht. The Supreme Administrative Court recently upheld the lower court's ruling, requiring SRT to pay the contractor an additional 4 billion baht plus interest, as per the arbitration panel's decision. This issue requires immediate attention due to accruing interest. The SRT also needs to submit a request to the Cabinet for approval to increase the project budget.
* KIHA Train Procurement: The delivery of 20 KIHA air-conditioned diesel trains from Japan has not adhered to the contract. The private company reportedly wishes to proceed by sending engineers to Japan for training on bogie and wheel removal to obtain certification. The SRT needs to analyze each aspect of the problem, including procedures, observations, and questions, to determine how to proceed within procurement regulations. This includes assessing the feasibility of further payments, potential fines, and identifying responsible parties. Contract amendments are not yet being considered.
Veeris stated, "The principle is, if the trains are to be put into operation as intended, how can the SRT achieve this without violating any regulations? This requires thorough investigation as there are many questions surrounding this issue. The private company must also provide a timeline for train delivery."
Other issues include:
* Khao Kradong land
* Lat Krabang Inland Container Depot (ICD) private sector partnership project
* High-Speed Rail Linking Three Airports (Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, U-Tapao) contract amendments
* 33 million baht sign for the Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal
Veeris emphasized the urgency of these issues and the need for swift resolution. He has gathered extensive information for each issue for the task forces to study. He expects their findings and recommendations soon, which will be reviewed in line with SRT regulations. If any deficiencies or errors are found, an investigative committee will be formed. Issues without regulatory or legal implications will be addressed to ensure proper closure and prevent further delays. He aims to proceed with operations based on sound principles and transparency.
The objective is to ensure clarity and fairness for all parties involved, including stakeholders and the public. Veeris's principle is to uphold fairness and maintain employee morale.
Veeris admitted that his initial focus was on railway development and operations to establish rail as the primary mode of passenger and freight transport. However, he discovered that the SRT has a wider range of responsibilities, including land management, community relations, and various other issues requiring urgent solutions to prevent further damage. Some issues predate his tenure, while others have lingered for over 10 years without resolution.
"Over the past two months, I have observed these problems, some of which require immediate solutions. As I am not a legal expert, and many of these are specialized, long-standing issues, I have sought assistance from specialists to provide legal insights and ensure the most appropriate solutions," Veeris concluded.
Trains Remain Popular! Over 90,000 Passengers Traveled on December 29th
Manager Online, December 30th, 2024, 2:59 PM
Mr. Veeris Ammarapala, Governor of the State Railway of Thailand, revealed that the overall travel picture on December 29th, 2024 saw a bustling crowd of people and tourists utilizing train services. The atmosphere within the Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal and Bangkok Station (Hua Lamphong) was orderly.
The total number of passengers traveling by train nationwide was 93,744, with 93,039 passengers on regular trains and 705 on special supplementary trains. This comprised 42,930 inbound passengers and 50,814 outbound passengers. The Southern Line was the most popular route with 30,499 passengers, followed by the Northeastern Line with 23,715 passengers, the Northern Line with 18,143 passengers, the Eastern Line with 11,636 passengers, the Mahachai Line with 7,779 passengers, and the Mae Klong Line with 1,972 passengers.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) prioritizes the safety of its passengers and requests cooperation in observing the following 4 rules when at train stations:
1. Verify ticket details before traveling.
2. Do not accept or hold items from strangers.
3. Refrain from drinking alcohol and smoking. Violators are subject to legal penalties.
4. Report any suspicious activity or individuals to train staff or station personnel immediately.
The SRT is committed to providing safe and convenient travel as a gift to the public during the 2025 New Year festival.
Passengers who wish to travel can inquire for further details at the Customer Service Center, phone number 1690, or the Facebook fan page "PR Team, State Railway of Thailand" 24 hours a day.
Veeris Inspects Train Travel During New Year, Surveys High-Speed Rail Construction Progress at Chiang Rak Noi
31 December 2024 16:31 Siam Rath Online, Economics
Mr. Veeris Ammarapala, Governor of the State Railway of Thailand, revealed that on December 30, 2024, he traveled to observe people using train services to return home and travel during the New Year festival. He boarded the Rapid Train 71, Bangkok Apiwat - Ubon Ratchathani, to Ayutthaya station. During the journey, he found that there were many passengers using the service, and not only people returning home, but also a large number of foreign tourists traveling to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya by train.
"I took this opportunity to inspect the progress of the high-speed railway construction at Chiang Rak Noi and the construction area of Ayutthaya High-Speed Railway Station. I also visited and encouraged the staff and employees who are working hard to facilitate the public during the New Year festival. I was informed of the problems and obstacles in managing the area around the station, which I will use this information to improve our work further."
Ayutthaya Station has approximately 2,000-2,800 passengers per day during the New Year festival, generating no less than 100,000 baht per day for the State Railway of Thailand. If air-conditioned trains are introduced to provide additional services on this route, it is expected to be very popular, which will increase the State Railway of Thailand's revenue accordingly. This is because Ayutthaya Station is one of the main destinations for train travel.
State Railway of Thailand Ready to Facilitate Passengers Returning to Bangkok After New Year 2025
Thansettakij
01 Jan 2025 | 09:32 AM
Latest Update : 01 Jan 2025 | 09:49 AM
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is fully prepared to accommodate passengers returning to Bangkok after the New Year 2025 holidays, ensuring a smooth journey with special train services on 5 main routes and no stranded passengers.
Mr. Veeris Ammarapala, Governor of the State Railway of Thailand, revealed that the SRT is fully prepared to accommodate passengers returning to Bangkok after the New Year 2025 holidays. He confirmed that there will be no passengers stranded at any stations.
Currently, terminal stations in the northern, southern, and northeastern lines are seeing passengers gradually returning to Bangkok to prepare for work after the long holiday. The passenger volume is expected to increase from the evening of January 1, 2025 onwards, as some people will resume work on January 2, 2025.
To accommodate the increased number of passengers, the SRT has arranged 5 special train services in addition to the regular trains, as follows:
* Southern Line: Train No. 984 Hat Yai Junction Bangkok Central Station (departing at 7:10 PM)
* Northeastern Line: Train No. 936 Udon Thani Bangkok Central Station (departing at 9:45 PM) and Train No. 934 Ubon Ratchathani Bangkok Central Station (departing at 7:30 PM)
* Northern Line: Train No. 962 Sila At Bangkok Central Station (departing at 7:50 PM) and Train No. 6 Chiang Mai Bangkok Central Station (departing at 7:35 PM)
In addition, the SRT has deployed staff to facilitate and provide information to passengers arriving at Bangkok Central Station. Passengers can conveniently connect to other public transportation systems such as the BTS Skytrain, taxis, and buses. Bus stops are located at Gates 4, 5, and 10, while taxi services are available at Gates 7 and 8.
The SRT is also providing an additional travel option for the public by setting up a drop-off point for inbound passengers traveling by BKS buses (excluding joint service buses and vans) at Gate 3 of Bangkok Central Station to connect to public transportation quickly and efficiently.
For further inquiries, the public can contact the Customer Service Center at 1690, 24 hours a day, or through the Facebook fan page "PR Team of the State Railway of Thailand" for comprehensive travel information and advice.
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