Braking System Adjustments Completed for Tourism and Passenger Services This Year
The "Daily News Transportation Innovation Team" reports from the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) that the research team of the "Thai Train Project," which involves producing prototype passenger trains from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), has successfully fine-tuned the braking system of the Thai train "Beyond Horizon." This comes after issues were identified when the SRT coupled the Thai train with its own trains and parked them at Bangkok Station (Hua Lamphong). During the arrival at Hua Lamphong Station, the Thai train's braking system engaged earlier than the other carriages, causing it to brake prematurely and out of sync with the rest of the train, resulting in collisions.
The research team has now adjusted the Thai train's braking system to be compatible with all SRT trains, not just the set of 115 carriages (CNR) previously tested before delivery to the SRT. Moving forward, the SRT plans to test the Thai train on various actual service routes, focusing on long-distance travel. If no issues arise during testing, the train will be put into public service. It is expected that the "Beyond Horizon" train will be operational for both tourism and general services across Thailand by 2024.
The "Beyond Horizon" train has undergone both static tests in the factory and dynamic tests for operation and safety. It was tested on a route from Ban Phlu Ta Luang Station to Ban Khlong Sip Kao Station, coupled with an "Ultraman" locomotive, covering approximately 135 km one way, totaling 270 km round trip, with two days of testing totaling around 540 km. The tests revealed no issues. Additionally, the braking system was tested under various conditions, including normal and emergency braking, as well as safety and passenger comfort according to European standards, indicating that the train is ready for public service.
The SRT plans to provide services throughout all regions by rotating the train throughout the year since there is only one carriage, to ensure equity. This carriage has garnered significant public interest. The routes and initial fare rates are being considered, with a preference for long-distance routes to yield higher and more cost-effective fares compared to shorter routes with lower fares.
The Thai train is the first prototype passenger carriage under the "Thai First" projectmade in Thailand, for Thai use, and prioritizing Thai people. It supports the domestic industry and reduces the need for imported technology. The model code is TMT-PC-BH001. The research team designed the entire carriage, inspired by business class airplane seats and first-class seats on high-speed trains. The carriage is 24 meters long, 2.80 meters wide, and has 25 seats: 8 in Super Luxury class and 17 in Luxury class. Each seat is equipped with a personal screen for entertainment and food ordering, with robotic servers delivering food to the seats. The carriage includes vacuum toilet systems and facilities for disabled passengers. The cost is approximately 32 million baht per carriage, cheaper than the market price of around 50 million baht.
Source: Daily News, June 14, 2024, Afternoon Edition
Revealing 'Sudkhobfah': Thailand's Luxury, Modern Train Rivaling Low-Cost Airlines
3PlusNews
June 14, 2024
The Thai railway industry is set for a major transformation with the debut of 'Sudkhobfah', a luxurious and modern train that promises to compete with low-cost airlines. The long-distance test run to Chiang Mai is scheduled to take place soon.
The train, named Sudkhobfah, is a prototype developed by a research team from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL). Supported by funding from the National Competitiveness Enhancement Fund and private companies, this project incorporates over 44% locally sourced materials and industry. This reduces the cost of importing train cars by at least 30% and decreases reliance on foreign technology.
Sudkhobfah is designed with luxury in mind, featuring a luxury zone with 17 seats and a super luxury zone with 8 seats. It offers amenities comparable to those on an airplane, including a 5G-connected infotainment system that provides passengers with internet access and various content during their journey. This setup positions Sudkhobfah as a strong competitor to low-cost airlines and personal vehicles.
Associate Professor Dr. Rattapoom Parichatprecha, Director of the Rail and Infrastructure Research Group at KMITL, stated that the development of Sudkhobfah aims to support the expansion of the rail transport system and meet the demand for passenger train cars over the next 20 years, estimated at no less than 2,425 cars. Each car is valued at approximately 50 million THB, making the total market value for passenger train cars around 100 billion THB. Importantly, this initiative enables Thailand to possess its own technology and innovation, enhancing its competitive edge. Without such advancements, Thailand could face significant impacts if foreign investments, like those in the textile and automotive industries, decide to relocate.
Ekrach Sriarayunphong, Director of the Public Relations Center of the State Railway of Thailand, revealed that the State Railway of Thailand has received the Sudkhobfah train cars from the research team. They will soon conduct a long-distance performance test on the Bangkok-Chiang Mai route. If successful, these cars are planned to be used for promoting tourism and commercial services.
SRT Improves Saphli Station to Boost Durian Rail Transport to China
Daily News, June 15, 2024, 5:14 PM
Transportation Innovation
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is upgrading the container storage yard at Saphli Chumphon Station to enhance durian rail transport from Thailand to China. The Saphli-Nong Khai train schedule will be expedited to two days, and restrictions on transporting goods from the south to other regions will be lifted. A new route connecting Nong Pla Duk Junction with Ban Phachi Junction is also under development to increase transport efficiency.
On June 15, Deputy Minister of Transport Suraphong Piyachote inspected the progress of the Prachuap Khiri Khan-Chumphon double-track railway and the container yard at Saphli Station. Two private companies are already utilizing the service to transport rubber in containers. During the durian season from June to August, Chumphon province is a major source of durians transported by rail to Kunming and Guangzhou in China.
In 2023, around 150 containers of durian were transported by rail. This year, approximately 300 refrigerated containers have already been transported from the eastern region to China via the Saphli-Map Ta Phut route. However, the opening of the Nakhon Pathom-Chumphon double-track section and the Jira-Khon Kaen Junction section has reduced transport time. Saphli Station, with its 9,000 square meter container storage yard, can be developed into a distribution hub for the Southern Railway.
Global Multimodal Logistics Company Limited (GML) plans to transport durian in refrigerated containers by rail on the Saphli-Nong Khai route through Laos to Kunming and four other provinces in China. The Ministry of Transport, SRT, and GML will further improve the container yard at Saphli Station by installing electrical lighting with plug-in sockets, a closed-circuit television system, and additional container lift trucks. The durian transport train schedule will also be adjusted to reduce transport time on the Saphli-Nong Khai route from four days to two days.
However, transporting goods from the southern region to the northern, northeastern, and eastern regions still faces restrictions due to the Rama VI Bridge, where trains cannot pass in opposite directions. Transporting goods in Bangkok is also limited to between 10:00 PM and 4:00 AM.
To address this, the SRT is studying the feasibility of a new route connecting Nong Pla Duk Junction with Ban Phachi Junction, utilizing the existing bypass railway (chord line). This new route, once completed, will improve the efficiency of goods transport.
Mr. Suraphong also took the SRT ROYAL BLOSSOM special tourist train to Thung Ma Mao Station in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. He encouraged discussions between the Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Transport Office, SRT, and Prachuap Khiri Khan Tourism Authority to arrange public transportation connecting train stations with tourist attractions. He emphasized the Ministry of Transport's regulations decentralizing power to local administrative organizations to provide public transport services. The SRT will prepare areas around important train stations as public transport stops, ensuring seamless transportation between cars and trains to promote tourism and boost the local and national economy.
Lopburi Tourist Police Patrol Area to Prevent Student Fights | Daily News
Source - Daily News Website
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 20:15
Lopburi Tourist Police, in collaboration with Tha Hin Police Station, school administrators, and railway security guards, conducted a patrol at the S.T.C. area of Lopburi Railway Station following a fight between students from a well-known institution in Lopburi. The patrol aimed to build public confidence.
On June 19th, Police Lieutenant Colonel Pattanapong Sircharoennum, Superintendent of Tourist Police Station 2, led the operation in collaboration with Tha Hin Police Station, school administrators, and railway security guards. The patrol focused on the S.T.C. area of Lopburi Railway Station, a busy area for locals and tourists, to build confidence and prevent future incidents. Police conducted searches for weapons and recorded information of suspicious individuals. They also adjusted patrol plans to address the situation and identify high-risk areas for student fights.
The patrol followed an incident on June 17th where students from a well-known institution in Lopburi engaged in a fight at the railway station. CCTV footage showed students from multiple institutions using knives and baseball bats to attack a student from another institution who was waiting for a train. One student from Techno Lawo was injured and taken to the hospital.
The police have implemented preventative measures, including joint patrols with local police and S.T.C. volunteers, and have publicized the emergency hotline 1155. The situation is currently under control.
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