Rail freight transport is recognized for its efficiency, low cost, energy saving, and high value. Businesses can use rail freight services to transport large quantities of goods at once.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has therefore initiated a policy to engage the private sector in management and operations, aiming to upgrade the service, generate revenue, and drive Thailand's logistics towards becoming an ASEAN logistics hub, thereby enhancing the country's competitive edge. In the past, SRT has supported a group of commercial partner companies, initiating a pilot run of freight trains to various distribution centers via several railway routes. The operation is continuously carried out, transporting goods like salt, durians, rubber, and particle boards, among others. This is a significant step towards shifting freight transport from roads to rails.
Moreover, SRT has run a special experimental freight train transporting hot-rolled steel coils from Sahaviriya Steel Industries PLC. The transport starts from Napha Khwang station in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, ending at Sri Samran station in Suphan Buri province, covering a distance of 356 kilometers within 10-12 hours on average. Each coil transported weighs between 6 and 23 tons, with a diameter of no more than 2,050 millimeters. The results of this trial will be summarized in a report, and the transport plan and operations' summary for the upcoming year will be compiled. Initially, Sahaviriya Steel Industries PLC plans to start commercial transportation from the year 2024 onwards.
SRT is also preparing for the growth of rail freight transport by allocating a budget of 2,400 million baht to procure 946 freight car bogies to accommodate the increasing volume of rail freight transport in the future. This especially pertains to the development of railway routes, including double track railways, the construction of container yard (CY), the promotion of energy saving, and the reduction of air pollution.
The development of the rail transport system will benefit local communities directly, as they can transport local goods and products by train, linking the economy and travel. This will also enhance the country's transport system's capability to compete with other countries and progress towards becoming the ASEAN logistics hub.
For businesses interested in using agricultural or industrial goods transport services, they can inquire further at the Customer Relations Center, telephone number 1690, available 24 hours a day.
Source: The State Railway of Thailand
Tel. +66 2220 4272
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