Peerapol Thawornsuphacharoen said the recommendation to electrify the stretch of the route between Hat Yai and Padang Besar had been made by the Office of Transport Policy. The secretary explained that if the SRT gave the project the thumbs up it would be submitted to the government for final authorisation next month.
The estimated cost of the electric connection is almost THB8 billion. This section of the southern Thailand line is part of a greater project also under consideration. Secretary Thawornsuphacharoen says the SRT is collaborating on plans to launch high speed trains connecting the Thai capital of Bangkok with Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
Hat Yai Junction is the main interchange station in the far south of Thailand and Padang Besar Station is on the country’s border with Malaysia. 12GO ASIA provides ticket reservations services for trains on this route to stations including Suratthani, Hat Yai, Padang Besar, Alor Setar, Butterworth (for Penang) and Kuala Lumpur.
Thai rail operator considers electrification of southern link
News in Asia
Thailand’s Transport Ministry has asked the national rail operator to assess the feasibility of electrifying a train route in the far south. A secretary with the ministry says the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) will evaluate whether electrification of the 50km link is viable.