After the trial run, the prime-minister told reporters he had enjoyed the comfort afforded by the new carriages. The carriages attached to the train were the first of a total order of 115 from China and part of a THB176 billion upgrade to the State Railway of Thailand’s (SRT) rolling stock.
Engineers and rail workers have been fitting out and testing the carriages before they go into public service. An SRT spokesperson announced recently that the provisional date when members of the public will be able to enjoy the state-of-the-art carriages themselves will be some time in October.
The carriages will enable trains to run faster than normal and have been designed to run at average speeds of 120kph. 12GO ASIA notes that enhancements for passengers include media entertainment, wireless internet connectivity and aircraft-style WCs.
The new carriages will at first be utilised on Trains 13 and 14 between Bangkok and the northern city of Chiang Mai. SRT governor Wuthichart Kanyarnmit noted that journey times between the two locations will be reduced by up to three hours and timetables will have to be amended.
Thailand PM lauds new trains and says they are the way to travel
News in Asia
After enjoying a test run on one of Thailand’s new trains, the country’s prime-minister said they would be a credit and suitable for contemporary rail travellers. Prayut Chan-O-Cha was onboard the special express as it made its way between Bangkok and Nakorn Pathom on Monday.