PUBLISHED: 17 May 2025 at 05: 57
Before the end of the month, the State Railway of Thailand ( SRT ) plans to start deploying the used cars from Japan on suburban feeder routes by year-end.
The donated trains had been modified to fit Thailand’s narrow-gauge paths, according to SRT government Veeris Ammarapala. Some of the 20 products that the SRT is renovating will be operational by the end of the year, he said.
At the SRT’s terminal in Makkasan, Mr. Veeris said, adding that the checks are being carried out in accordance with recognized requirements, that the trains ‘ engines, gearboxes, brakes, and other operating systems are currently going through thorough testing.
Before the railways are deployed on a test work, which the SRT anticipates taking area sometime between the last week of May and the end of June, he said, all parts will be thoroughly inspected once more.
When the systems exams are finished, the carriages ‘ interior will be upgraded to contemporary standards, which would appeal to passengers even more. For instance, Mr. Veeris said that synthetic leather will be used to replace the seats because it would be more suited for residential commuting services. However, the toilets will have tickets made in Western style and waste-holding tanks.
The SRT has yet to choose on the final color scheme, he said, but once all the interior work is finished, the carriages ‘ roofs may be painted.
After this year, a residential feeding support will be ready for four to six carriages.
As soon as the remaining units are operational, Mr. Veeris predicted, they will eventually be distributed. He claimed that this will increase the number of trains in the SRT fleet, helping it meet the growing need for residential customer services.