‘Train Kept a Rollin’ Thailand’s Rail System: Plans & Reality
Nikhom Jensiriratanakorn, Director, Horwath HTL Rail Transport and Tourism Rail Transport and Tourism Top 10 Tourism Destinations Top 10 Tourism Destinations Rail Network Density Thailand – Not in the top 10 Asian ranking – #3 in Southeast Asia (after Singapore & Vietnam)
Top Tourism Destinations (both arrivals & receipts) Top Tourism Destinations (either arrivals or receipts) Rail Transport and Tourism
• Decentralize, diversify and manage tourist flows • Tourist trains and scenic routes become attractions • More environmentally friendly • Lower transportation costs for passengers and freight • Reduce road traffic congestion Thailand Rail Profile
• Meter-gauge railways, except Airport Link. • 90% single-track, except important sections in Bangkok, double or triple- tracked. • Connected to Malaysia and Laos. • All intercity railways under SRT (State Railway of Thailand). • Bangkok’s 3 mass rapid transit systems under 3 different ownership structures. • Least popular choices for commuters and freight compared to road and air transports. Thailand Rail Profile
5 Main Intercity Lines • NORTH: Bangkok-Chiang Mai 661km (14%) • UPPER NORTHEAST: Bangkok Nong Khai 621km (13%) • LOWER NORTHEAST: Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani 575km (12%) • EAST: Bangkok-Aranyaprathet 255km (5%) • SOUTH: Bangkok-Sungai Kolok 1,144km (24%) Thailand Rail Profile Thailand Rail Profile Bangkok Mass Transit Lines (Current, 111km) • Airport Rail Link • BTS Sukhumvit Line (Light Green) • BTS Silom Line (Dark Green) • MRT Blue Line • MRT Purple Line Thailand Rail Future Thailand Rail Future BangkokBangkokMass Mass Transit Transit Expansion Expansion (Under (Under Construction, Construction, 171km) 171 km)
2010 2015 2020 2025
•C SRT Dark Red Line •C SRT Light Red Line
•R BTS Light Green Extension Primary •R MRT Blue Line Extension •R MRT Orange Line •M MRT Pink Line
Feeder •M MRT Yellow Line •A MRT Gold Line
C Commuter Rail R Rapid Transit M Monorail A Automated Guideway Transit Thailand Rail Future Thailand Rail Future Bangkok Mass Transit Master Plan (Approved 98km, Planned 182km)
Primary Lines Feeder Lines • SRT Dark Red Line Extension (partial) • MRT Brown Line • SRT Light Red Line Extension (partial) • MRT Grey Line • Airport Rail Link Extension • MRT Light Blue Line • BTS Light Green Extension • BTS Dark Green Extension • MRT Blue Line Extension • MRT Purple Line Extension • MRT Orange Line Extension Thailand Rail Future Thailand Rail Future
562 km Thailand Rail Future
Intercity High-Speed Trains High-Speed Length Open Route Status Corridor (km) -ing Northern Bangkok–Phitsanulok 384 TBC Planned Phase 1 Northern Phitsanulok–Chiang Mai 285 TBC Planned Phase 2 Northeastern Bangkok– 2023/ 250 Underway Phase 1 Nakhon Ratchasima 2024 Northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima– 380 TBC Planned Phase 2 Nong Khai Southern Bangkok–Hua Hin 211 TBC Planned Phase 1 Eastern Suvarnabhumi Airport– 2023/ 160 Approved Phase 1 Utapao Airport, Rayong 2024 Thailand Rail Future • Intercity railway double tracking (blue) Phase 1 – 1,000km, 7 routes (2016-2023) Phase 2 – 1,500km, 7 routes (TBC) • Potential future railways (green) Northern – To Chiang Rai Northeastern – To Nakhon Panom Southern – Phang Nga to Surat Thani Thailand Rail Future Chiang Mai Light Rail Transit – approved (2021-2027) • Red route: 13km north-south and a stop at Chiang Mai Airport, and Exhibition & Convention Centre • Blue route: 12km east-west through Chiang Mai Old City • Green route: 11km northeast- south and a stop at Chiang Mai Airport Thailand Rail Future Phuket Light Rail Transit – approved • Phase 1: Phuket Airport-Chalong (40km, 2020-2023) • Phase 2: Phuket Airport-Tha Nun, Phang Nga, connected with intercity train to Surat Thani (20km, TBC) Thailand Rail Future
Phuket Light Rail Transit Thailand Rail Future Nakhon Ratchasima Light Rail Transit – approved • Phase 1: Green route 11km and Orange route 10km (2020-2023) • Phase 2: Purple route 12km (2023- 2025) • Phase 3: Extension of 3 routes (22km, TBC) Thailand Rail Future
• Indochina rail hub • Improve linkages of major economic centers • Increase logistics efficiency • Support mass tourism • New neighborhoods, satellite cities and destinations • Tourist trains and scenic routes become attractions • More environmentally friendly • Enhance economic growth
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” - Henry Miller
The Death Railway, Kanchanaburi
“I LOVE TO TRAVEL BUT I HATE TO ARRIVE” - ALBERT EINSTEIN