Transport News
Thailand transport news, infrastructure updates, public transit, and traffic reports—stay informed on groundbreaking developments and real-time travel updates. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for transport news in Thailand.
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Bear loose on Iraqi passenger flight at Dubai Airport
Where’s Samuel L Jackson when you need him? An Iraqi Airways passenger flight met unexpected panda-monium when a bear wandered free from its transportation cage. Wildlife experts were called to manage the situation before it got grizzly as the plane prepared for departure at Dubai International Airport. They tranquilised the bear, returning it to its cage and removing it from…
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Double trouble: Dozy guy dozes off on bus not once, but twice
A peculiar incident involving a young man who woke up trapped on a bus at 1am not once, but twice, has shocked people online. The youth, who had fallen asleep due to the potent effects of his sleeping pills, claims bus staff failed to wake him, leaving him to grope about in the deserted vehicle. In a video posted on the…
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Police deny involvement with taxi mafia in viral video scuffle
Confusion swirled around an incident captured on a viral video with speculation of whether certain Bangkok taxis were registered or not, and whether Thong Lor Police were involved with an illegal taxi mafia. Phansa Amraphitak, Police Chief of Thong Lor Police, today stated that the group of seven accused taxi drivers appeared for interrogation based on the summon notice. They…
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Beyond Horizon: Thailand’s domestic-made luxury rail carriage
A cutting-edge rail carriage prototype, known as Beyond Horizon, has been launched in an innovative collaboration between the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), Sinogen-Pin Petch Joint Venture and King Mongkut Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL). With 25 luxury seats all equipped with touch screens for individual passengers, the demonstration unit on display is also fully accessible for wheelchair users. Somyot…
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Bangchak Corporation pivots to sustainable aviation fuel
A forward-looking strategy is being implemented by energy conglomerate Bangchak Corporation as it navigates the uncertain future of the oil refinery business, deeply impacted by the global push for electric vehicles. In an endeavour to address this dilemma, the corporation has steered its focus towards the development of biofuel, known as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), for aircraft, potentially a major…
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Toll-free travel treats: Thailand’s EXAT suspends expressway fees to ease the burden on residents
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) today announced that toll fees for three major expressways will be suspended on select dates this year, to ease travel and lessen the financial strain on residents. To make commuting smoother and friendlier to the pocket during the upcoming holiday season, EXAT has provided toll-free access to the following expressways: Chaloem Maha Nakhon Expressway…
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Orange Line rail project prevails in court over BTSC dispute
Bangkok’s Orange Line rail project has seen a court decision emerge in its favour. The Central Administrative Court announced its backing for the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). The decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC). In the legal dispute, BTSC accused the MRTA of unjustly altering the terms of…
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Phuket launches free bus rides for tourists flying in from Bangkok
A new initiative aimed at promoting local transportation in Phuket got into gear yesterday, offering 1,500 free passes to qualifying travellers who choose to take the Phuket Smart Bus, on the airport to Rawai route. The campaign, granted by the Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), is set to run until the end of this month. The…
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Chalong Underpass closed Saturday for pump system review amid heavy rainfall in Phuket (video)
A scheduled review of the pump system in the Chalong Underpass in Phuket has led to a day-long closure of the passage this Saturday. The routine check-up is a necessity to ensure the pump system’s continued functionality, particularly amidst the heavy rainfalls during Phuket’s soggy season. The Phuket Highways Office (PHO) has confirmed the closure. The inspection draws its significance…
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Porsche powerplay: Drivers blaze jaw-dropping trail from Bangkok to Singapore
In a revved-up feat of automotive prowess, a dynamic team of Porsche drivers left car enthusiasts awe-struck as they blazed a trail from Bangkok, Thailand to the heart of Singapore in a jaw-dropping sub-30-hour dash. The trio, hailing from Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, took the wheel of a cutting-edge Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo in the small hours of June…
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Delta Airlines passengers endure 44°C heat for 4 hours on Las Vegas runway
On a Delta Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Atlanta, passengers were forced to wait for four hours on the tarmac in searing temperatures of up to 44°C, further exacerbated by non-functioning air conditioning. This resulted in several passengers, including air hostesses, fainting and needing immediate medical attention. A foreign media outlet reports that this extreme situation was due to…
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Derailment of cement-laden train near Bangkok causes transport chaos
A train derailment caused havoc with a train crashing into a signal tower, and blocking essential transport routes in the eastern province of Chachoengsao, east of Bangkok. The incident unfolded at approximately 2.40am today. The enquiry was led by Kritsata Soamorm, a patrol officer from Mueang Chachoengsao Police Station. The scene was a picture of chaos: A blue-branded diesel train,…
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Wave of relief: RTN rides to the rescue, ferrying stranded passengers to safety near Koh Chang
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) successfully rescued a ferry and its 30 passengers after it became stranded for over six hours near Koh Chang, an island situated in the eastern province of Trat. According to ThaiRath, the boat in question belongs to the Trat Ferry company. The incident occurred during the company’s first trip of the day, at 7.15am yesterday,…
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Thai railway eviction saga: Low-income residents face displacement for high-speed project
The ongoing tale of the imminent relocation of the Bun Romsai community, along with over 100 other residents residing alongside a railway track in Phaya Thai district, Thailand, continues to unfold. Having called this area home for over two decades, community leader Chao Kerdaree candidly shares insights into the upcoming eviction, which has been instigated by the State Railway of…
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Thailand’s PM set to review Pink Line urban rail project progress
In a move to accelerate urban transport development, the Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayut Chan-o-cha, is scheduled to examine the Pink Line urban rail project‘s ongoing progress tomorrow before it is set to commence its trial operations. This announcement came from Anucha Burapachaisri, the acting government representative. This inspection visit is centred on the Pink Line, a massive elevated monorail…
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Only one firm bids for Central Terminal transformation project
Contrary to the anticipation of a competitive bidding process for the commercial development of Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has revealed that only one company has stepped forward with a bid. Three firms, reportedly interested, had initially procured invitations to tender. The disclosure surfaced yesterday after the bidding process culminated earlier this week. Ekkarat…
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EV Market soars as Thailand and Indonesia take the lead in Asia
In a global trend, electric vehicles (EVs) are steadily gaining traction in the worldwide automobile market, with significant growth realised in Asia-ASEAN countries, specifically Thailand and Indonesia. This comes as per a study undertaken by the BloombergNEF research agency. Ideally placed at the forefront of Asia-Pacific transportation, Senior Analyst of BloombergNEF, Allen Tom Abraham, projected a sharp increase in the…
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SRT relocation: Thai railway plans 200km move amid billion baht overhaul
The Thai State Railway (SRT) is shifting gears, planning to relocate its locomotive maintenance and production facilities closer to Bangkok, within a distance of 200 kilometres. The SRT relocation move is sparked by the forthcoming transformation of their current premises in Makkasan into a bustling, mixed-use space which will host a public park, an SRT historical exhibit, and a city…
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Passenger’s botched domestic flight sparks questions about airline accountability
A heated online discussion was sparked when a disgruntled passenger shared his exasperating domestic flight experience. His intended short journey from Don Mueang International Airport to Trang, taking off at 7.35am yesterday and originally slated to land in Trang by 9am, turned out to be a distressing mid-air marathon caused by an unexpected chain of issues springing up. As the…
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SRT modernisation: State railway plans 1.5 billion baht investment in electric trains
In an attempt to modernise and become more efficient, Thailand’s State Railway (SRT) has shifted its attention towards procuring electric trains as opposed to previously planned diesel locomotives. In the words of SRT’s head, Nirut Maneephan, the altered proposal has gained the green light from the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), and the SRT modernisation plan with an…
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Pink Line monorail preps for safety tests ahead of free trial run
Pink Line monorail project safety measures are currently being assessed through initial test runs. According to a spokesperson from Northern Bangkok Monorail (NBM), following this evaluation, a complimentary trial run for the public is set to be initiated. The board director of NBM, Surapong Laoha-Unya, oversees the concessionaire of the Pink Line monorail which operates on the Khae Rai-Min Buri…
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Yellow Line Monorail to face new fare regulations from July 3
In recent developments, government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri confirmed yesterday’s Cabinet approval for the initiation of fare collection on the Yellow Line monorail from July 3. The fares, determined by five newly drafted regulations from the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), will range from 15 baht to a higher limit of 45 baht for the Yellow Line’s extensive track…
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Bangkok traffic: New automatic system launched to ease city congestion
As a strategic initiative aimed at improving vehicle movement, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) recently initiated an automatic traffic-management system. This pilot project focuses on optimising traffic across four significant roads within the capital city. Chadchart Sittipunt, the Governor of Bangkok, divulged that the modern system is to be installed at 13 intersections on key city routes, counting Rama VI Road,…
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Train collision in Ratchaburi injures 3 and disrupts services
A train collision occurred between a freight train and a parked lorry near the Srakosinaray Station in the Ratchaburi province, injuring three State Railway of Thailand (SRT) staff members this morning. The accident caused travel delays on the Thonburi-Namtok line, with some passengers having to be transferred by road vehicles to their destinations. At 5.40am, freight train no. 725 ICD,…
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Bangkok’s Yellow Line monorail endorsed by PM for easy city commute
Bangkok’s Yellow Line monorail route was given a stamp of approval today by Thailand’s Caretaker Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who described the new mode of transport as “comfortable.” Setting off from the Yellow Line railway depot on Srinagarindra Road, he and his entourage embarked on a 45 minute journey covering the entire monorail line and reaching Lat Phrao. Though the…
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Bangkok group urges MRTA to protect historic shophouses in station plan
A Bangkok civil group has urged the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) to move the proposed entry point for the Phan Fa Purple Line station in a bid to protect historic shophouses located on Phra Sumen Road. Rosana Tositrakul, an ex-senator of Bangkok and president of the Rattanakosin Heritage Conservation Group (RHCG), expressed concern that the century-old shophouses could be…
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Green Line extensions: Operator anticipates 20 billion baht debt repayment
Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC) Chairman Keeree Kanjanapas expressed optimism regarding the repayment of overdue debts by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) for the operation and maintenance of the Green Line extensions. Following a meeting with Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt yesterday, Keeree said the discussions were encouraging, and he anticipates a 20 billion baht repayment from the BMA. Keeree…
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Bolt invests 300 million baht in Thai expansion amid ride-hailing competition
Estonian tech firm Bolt is set to invest 300 million baht in Thailand to bolster its presence in the country as part of its Southeast Asian expansion strategy. This move follows Bolt’s recent funding round, which raised 628 million euros at a valuation of 7.4 billion euros, earmarked for geographical growth. The company’s expansion adds to the fierce competition in…
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Bangkok taxi tango: Bad boy driver tries to rip off South Korean tourist
Another bad boy Bangkok taxi driver was caught engaging in unscrupulous deeds, this time attempting to rip off a South Korean tourist, charging the foreigner 700 baht for a 30-minute trip. Fortunately, the South Korean man saw through the taxi driver’s antics and paid him only 300 baht. The taxi driver was furious with this and went into meltdown, cursing…
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DRT urges partial Pink Line monorail launch to ease Bangkok traffic
The Department of Rail Transport (DRT) has called on the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) to partially open the main routes of the Pink Line monorail to alleviate traffic congestion in the area. The 34.5-kilometre MRT Pink Line is set to connect Khae Rai in Nonthaburi with Min Buri district in east Bangkok via Ram Inthra Road, with…
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Airport Rail Link suffers 70 million baht monthly loss amid 25% commuter drop
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) reports that the Airport Rail Link (ARL) service has been losing 70 million baht per month, as it continues to carry fewer passengers than before the pandemic in 2019. To address long-standing operational issues, the SRT chose to involve a private company, Asia Era One, in managing rail operations during the pandemic. An agreement…
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Free rides on Bangkok’s Yellow Line monorail during June trial
The (MRTA) announced that a one-month trial run of the Yellow Line monorail will start on Saturday, June 3, offering free rides for commuters during this period. The decision was made during a meeting between the Department of Rail Transport and Eastern Bangkok Monorail (EBM), the company responsible for the line’s concession. Staff members working on the Yellow Line will…
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Thailand’s Pink Line monorail project faces third extension, delays completion to 2024
The completion date for Thailand‘s Pink Line monorail project has been pushed back by 345 days, marking the third extension granted by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). The new estimated finish date is now set for August 2024, as opposed to the previously anticipated July this year, Bangkok Post reported. Sarawut Songsivilai, Highways Department director-general and MRTA…
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Thai Airways – Thai Smile merger gets green light
Debt-ridden Thai Airways International (THAI) will merge its subsidiary Thai Smile into its main company as part of its overall restructuring plan. The merger is set to be completed this year. THAI reported that their creditor’s committee gave the merger the green light yesterday. Now, the plan will be put before Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob and the Civil Aviation Authority…
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Bangkok Airways to revive flights to Mae Hong Son, northern Thailand
Mae Hong Son Airport in northern Thailand became a ghost town after Nok Air scrapped the only remaining commercial route to the airport last month. But much to the delight of local tourism operators, Bangkok Airways is planning to revive flights to the province. Bangkok Airways is looking to start flying between Bangkok and Mae Hong Son via Lampang thrice…
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Free shuttle bus services to ease Bangkok traffic on school routes
School routes in Bangkok might soon see a bit less traffic. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is set to offer free shuttle bus services connecting Samsen Road to various areas in Thon Buri to alleviate traffic congestion when schools reopen tomorrow. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt spoke after a trial run, stating that the shuttle bus services will help mitigate heavy traffic…
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Thai Vietjet launches premium lounge at Suvarnabhumi Airport
Budget airline Thai Vietjet opened ‘The Coral Executive Lounge’ at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, where passengers can indulge in a range of premium services while waiting for their journey to begin. Services offered at the lounge include food and refreshments, snacks, a bar, WiFi, flight information services, private rooms, neck and shoulder massages, newspapers and magazines, televisions, and disabled…