Mr. Sonexay Siphandone, Member of the Politburo of the Party Central Committee and Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), delivered remarks at the National Public Works and Transport Sector Conference for 2025–2026 and the implementation meeting for the 2026–2030 Five-Year Development Plan of the Public Works and Transport Sector on 6 May 2026 at the National Convention Center.

During his address, he emphasized a number of important issues that the Ministry of Public Works and Transport should continue to focus on in order to achieve positive progress and improvements in its work. He stressed that leaders at both the central and local levels of the public works and transport sector nationwide should take the matters discussed at the conference, review them carefully, and lead their practical implementation so that they produce concrete results, including: …

1. Upgrade and develop transport and communications infrastructure in a comprehensive and systematic manner to strengthen connectivity within the country, across the region, and internationally. Priority should be given to the country’s key arterial highways that serve as the lifelines of the economy, including National Road 13 North and National Road 13 South, as well as other roads identified in Government Resolution No. 05/PM dated 30 March 2026. This also includes implementing Resolution No. 165/NA and Resolution No. 10/PM concerning policies to promote road construction and maintenance in the new phase, including the OPBRC and PRTC programs.

In addition, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport should coordinate with the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and local authorities to jointly study and develop road networks leading to tourist attractions, key development zones, and major production areas.

Attention should also be given to the strict management of modified vehicles and overloaded trucks in order to protect existing roads from deterioration and damage, ensuring that transportation routes remain in good condition and can operate normally.

2. Urban development should go hand in hand with environmental protection and improving the cleanliness and attractiveness of cities. This includes addressing urban flooding problems, wastewater management, and municipal solid waste management.

In particular, strategic plans should be developed for the management of electronic waste (e-waste). As the government is promoting greater use of electric vehicles, special attention must be paid to the growing issue of expired and discarded EV batteries. Appropriate methods for handling, recycling, and reprocessing these batteries should be thoroughly researched and implemented.

At the same time, local authorities throughout the country should explore and expand the use of solar energy and other alternative energy sources, especially for public street lighting in urban areas. These efforts are aimed at creating cities that are more livable, environmentally friendly, green, and sustainable.

3. Develop inland waterway infrastructure and transportation in conjunction with protecting the nation’s waterways, territorial waters, and national sovereignty. In recent years, the Government and the National Assembly have allocated approximately 200–300 billion kip per year as a principle budget for this sector.

Therefore, the Ministry of Finance, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and local authorities, is instructed to review annual budget allocations to ensure they are focused on priority areas identified through studies conducted by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

At the same time, efforts should be made to harness the potential of major waterways, including the Mekong River, its tributaries, and reservoirs created by hydropower dams, as alternative routes for water transportation. Water transport is an efficient option that can carry large volumes of cargo while reducing pressure on road transportation networks.

In addition, coordination with local authorities should be strengthened in managing vessel operations, marine engineering standards, and the safety of tourist boats, passenger vessels, and cargo ships. Attention must also be paid to regulating the extraction of stone, gravel, and sand for construction purposes, and authorities must strictly prevent operators from exploiting such activities as a cover for illegal gold mining.

4. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport is also instructed to study and resolve the problem of water shortages in major urban areas throughout the country, particularly in:

• Vientiane
• Pakse
• Luang Prabang
• Kaysone Phomvihane

Solutions should utilize various investment models, including government-funded projects, BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) arrangements, and PPP (Public-Private Partnership) schemes.

Furthermore, urgent action is required to address water supply losses caused by leakage and wasteful water consumption, which result in significant revenue losses. Modern technologies should be adopted to improve monitoring, detection, and management of water systems.

Finally, emphasis should be placed on the use of domestically produced construction materials and equipment that meet quality standards, including broader utilization of products manufactured by Lao Toyota and other qualified local producers.

5. Develop the civil aviation sector to become more modern, safe, and compliant with international standards. Priority should be given to resolving outstanding issues and accelerating the reform of the state-owned airline, Lao Airlines, so that the restructuring process can be completed as quickly as possible.

In addition, studies should be conducted to prepare a long-term plan for a new airport in Vientiane, as it is recognized that the existing Wattay International Airport is already experiencing significant congestion and is becoming increasingly overcrowded.

6. Strengthen the management of vehicles, driver operations, and passenger transportation services, particularly passenger buses throughout the country, to ensure a high level of safety. Serious attention must be given to protecting the lives and property of citizens and passengers.

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport should take the lead in coordinating with the Ministry of Public Security to address violations of traffic regulations, especially in urban areas. This includes tackling problems such as:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances.
• Excessive speeding beyond legal limits.
• Improper transportation of soil, rock, sand, and other construction materials.
• Other transport activities that do not comply with established regulations and safety standards.

These measures are intended to improve road safety, reduce accidents, and ensure that transportation services operate in accordance with the law.

7. Develop the railway sector and related supporting industries in order to maximize benefits for the nation and its people.

This includes advancing key railway projects such as the Laos–Vietnam Railway, as well as conducting feasibility studies for a railway line extending from Khammouane Province through Champasak Province to the Laos–Cambodia border, with future connections onward to Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City, and Bangkok.

These railway developments should be integrated with the expansion of multimodal logistics and transportation systems (Multi-Modal Transport), combining rail, road, waterway, and other transport modes. The objective is to improve connectivity, enhance trade and cargo movement efficiency, and continuously increase revenue generation for the country.

8. Study and adopt modern technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), as tools to support the development, management, and administration of the infrastructure systems under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

The objective is to improve the efficiency, speed, accuracy, and transparency of planning, operations, monitoring, and management across the sector, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of infrastructure development and public service delivery.

[Original article ສຶກສາຄວາມເປັນໄປໄດ້ເສັ້ນທາງລົດໄຟ ແຕ່ຄໍາມ່ວນ-ຈໍາປາສັກ-ຊາຍແດນລາວ-ກຳປູເຈຍ ແລະ ເຊື່ອມຕໍ່ໄປພະນົມເປັນ ນະຄອນໂຮ່ຈິມິນ ແລະ ບາງກອກ at laopost.com. Translation by ChatGPT.]

The MRTA board approved a budget of over 58.7 million baht for fiscal year 2027 to construct a skywalk connecting Hua Mak station (Yellow Line and Airport Link), along with a pedestrian walkway connecting Lak Si station (Pink Line and Red Line). The proposal will be submitted to the new Cabinet for consideration. Construction is expected to take one year, aiming to improve convenience and safety. The board also instructed discussions with the Ministry of Transport to negotiate with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) for exemptions from land rental and construction supervision fees.

The “Transportation Innovation Team” of Daily News (Thailand) reported that the board meeting of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) approved a resolution for the MRTA to request budget allocation for fiscal year 2027 to fund the construction of a connecting walkway at the interchange station between the Yellow Line (Lat Phrao–Samrong section) and the Pink Line (Khae Rai–Min Buri section).

The total budget amounts to 58.74 million baht, aimed at enhancing convenience and safety for public travel. This follows a decision in late 2024, when the Traffic Policy Committee of Thailand assigned the MRTA to carry out the project.

The reason for the delay in proceeding with this matter is due to legal constraints. The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) is unable to use its own revenue to carry out the project because the land used for constructing the Yellow Line connecting walkway belongs to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), while the Red Line area is under the responsibility of the Department of Highways (Thailand) (DOH). These areas are not under MRTA’s jurisdiction.

In addition, the construction work arose after the completion of the Yellow Line and Pink Line projects. Going forward, the MRTA will submit the matter to the Ministry of Transport (Thailand) and the new Cabinet of Thailand for consideration. If approved, construction will proceed, with an estimated construction period of about one year.

If the Cabinet of Thailand approves the proposal and the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) receives the allocated budget, construction will be expedited.

However, the MRTA board has instructed the authority to consult with the Ministry of Transport (Thailand) to negotiate a waiver of land rental fees and construction supervision fees payable to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). This is because the connecting walkway is a public facility jointly used to link the MRTA’s Yellow Line with the Airport Rail Link (Thailand) operated by the SRT.

In addition, the SRT will be responsible for the maintenance of the facility.

The report further states that the construction of the Yellow Line connecting walkway has a total budget of 49.25 million baht. This includes:

1. The construction of an elevated pedestrian bridge (skywalk) connecting the Yellow Line’s Hua Mak Station with the Hua Mak Station of the Airport Rail Link (Thailand). The skywalk will be 4.25 meters wide and 51 meters long, and will be equipped with facilities such as passenger elevators, stairways, lighting systems, and CCTV cameras.

The walkway will connect to Entrance/Exit 1 of the Yellow Line’s Hua Mak Station, crossing over the Eastern Railway Line, and link to the existing covered walkway of the Airport Rail Link’s Hua Mak Station.

2. The construction of a ground-level covered walkway connecting the Yellow Line’s Hua Mak Station with the Hua Mak Station on the Eastern long-distance railway line. The walkway will link to Entrance/Exit 4 of the Yellow Line’s Hua Mak Station, using the existing sidewalk width, which is approximately 1.6–1.8 meters, with a length of about 150 meters.

The construction will take place on land under the responsibility of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).

As for the construction of the connecting walkway for the Pink Line, the total budget is 9.49 million baht. The project involves building a ground-level covered walkway connecting the Pink Line with the Red Line suburban electric railway at Lak Si Station.

The construction will take place on land under the responsibility of the Department of Highways (Thailand). The connecting walkway will be 2.50 meters wide, covered with a roof, and approximately 57 meters long. It will be equipped with facilities such as lighting systems, CCTV systems, and other related components.

Once completed, the project will enhance the efficiency of transfers between mass transit systems in the area, making travel more convenient and safer for the public.

[Original article “บอร์ด รฟม.” เคาะของบฯ 58.7 ล้าน สร้างทางเดินเชื่อมสถานีหัวหมาก/สถานีหลักสี่ at dailynews.co.th. Translation by ChatGPT.]

Article By: dailynews.co.th

Thailand’s first Shinkansen high-speed rail line, “Bangkok-Chiang Mai,” is hoping the new government will approve its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to prevent it from expiring, despite being approved 9 years ago without construction. It plans to share its route with the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project.

The “Daily News Transport Innovation Team” reported that the Department of Rail Transport (DRT) has held discussions with the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the high-speed rail project on the Bangkok–Chiang Mai route, covering a distance of 668 km. The project is part of a memorandum of cooperation on rail system development between Thailand’s Ministry of Transport and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). The development is divided into two phases: Phase 1 from Bangkok to Phitsanulok, spanning 380 km, and Phase 2 from Phitsanulok to Chiang Mai, spanning 288 km.

This is because the EIA received approval from the National Environment Board (NEB) more than five years ago. The Bangkok–Phitsanulok section was approved on 8 August 2017, while the Phitsanulok–Chiang Mai section was approved on 2 August 2018. Normally, an EIA is valid for five years; once it expires, the mitigation measures must be reviewed and resubmitted to the NEB for consideration.

ONEP stated that the EIA has not expired because the project uses the same alignment on the section from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Ayutthaya Station as the Thai–Chinese high-speed rail Phase 1 project (Bangkok–Nakhon Ratchasima), which is currently under construction. The projects share elevated structures, with four tracks in total—two for the northern line and two for the northeastern line. However, if construction begins, detailed discussions will be required regarding the signalling system, specifically whether two separate systems need to be installed.

Implementation of the project must await the policy direction of the new government after the election. Previously, when the Pheu Thai Party was in government, Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit ordered the project to be put on hold in order to prioritize the Thai–Chinese high-speed rail project in both phases first, due to the government’s budget constraints. Meanwhile, Japan was not yet ready to jointly invest under Thailand’s proposal, but expressed willingness to support the project by providing Shinkansen system technology.

According to a study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 2017, the project had an estimated investment value of approximately 276.226 billion baht. In 2021, the study was reviewed and the budget was reduced by 14.472 billion baht, bringing the total to 261.754 billion baht. The line would have 12 stations: Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, Don Mueang Station, Ayutthaya Station, Lopburi Station, Nakhon Sawan Station, Phichit Station, Phitsanulok Station, Sukhothai Station, Si Satchanalai Station, Lampang Station, Lamphun Station, and Chiang Mai Station.

[Original article ไฮสปีดชิงกันเซ็งสายแรกของไทย“กรุงเทพฯ-เชียงใหม่”ลุ้นรัฐบาลใหม่ให้ไปต่อ EIA ไม่หมดอายุ at dailynews.co.th. Translation by ChatGPT.]

Article By: elEconomista.es

* The high-speed rail project will link Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City along a 1,541-kilometer route.
* The Spanish public engineering firm has formed a consortium with the French company Artelia and the local firm RCIC for the preparatory phase.
* The initial contract is key to defining the technical and economic aspects of the future corridor.

Engineering firm, with the operator’s collaboration, wins the initial preparation contract

Spain is taking a new step in the international projection of its capabilities as a developer of high-speed rail infrastructure. Ineco, the engineering company of the Ministry of Transport, has been awarded one of the main initial contracts for Vietnam’s future line—the first in the Asian country—which has a planned investment of USD 67 billion (more than EUR 57.5 billion at the current exchange rate).

Specifically, according to information obtained by elEconomista.es, the firm chaired by Sergio Vázquez will be responsible for acting as the project management consultant for the preparation phase of Vietnam’s North–South High-Speed Rail project, which will connect the capital, Hanoi, with Ho Chi Minh City over a distance of 1,541 kilometers.

Ineco is part of the winning consortium, which also includes the French engineering firm Artelia and the local company RCIC. Spain’s involvement goes further, as this alliance has Renfe Proyectos Internacionales—the public operator’s subsidiary for overseas development—as its main collaborator.

The contract won by the consortium involving Ineco comes after the State visit by the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, to Vietnam in April. Following this, the public engineering firm stepped up its commercial activity in the country. The award forms part of the project’s initial works, which will be key to defining the technical and economic aspects that will enable the Government of Vietnam to decide whether to move on to the next phases of the project, which has been declared a priority by the Vietnamese National Assembly.

Ineco, Artelia—participating in the consortium through Artelia Vietnam—RCIC, and Renfe, as a collaborator (not a formal member of the consortium), have a period of more than 10 months to carry out the contracted work. This includes studying the project’s technical, economic, and operational feasibility, as well as developing the basic engineering needed to precisely define the scope, technical requirements, and construction costs.

International presence

Within this framework, Ineco will play a central role in the contract, leading essential technical disciplines for configuring the future rail corridor. These include alignment design, civil works, tunnels, structures, energy supply, architecture, electromechanical systems, and BIM methodology.

For Ineco, the award represents a strategic milestone in its international activity and once again positions Spain’s public engineering sector as a reference in the development of high-speed rail corridors. Both Ineco and Renfe were part of the consortium that previously secured the contract to build and operate the Desert High-Speed Rail line between Medina and Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

The engineering firm has made internationalization a growing generator of business and currently has 134 contracts underway outside Spain. It has a consolidated presence in the Middle East—sometimes with Renfe as a partner—and a more incipient presence in Asia, with an office in Singapore, some work in Malaysia, and interest in Japan and Thailand. The firm highlights its role as a driving force for the Spanish engineering sector by opening markets to Spanish companies—currently collaborating with 14 national private firms on its overseas projects—and by associating the Spain brand with emblematic infrastructure projects around the world.

Renfe, for its part, is positioning itself through this collaboration for a potential tender to operate Vietnam’s high-speed rail line. The railway group aims for 10% of its revenue to come from international markets by 2028. In addition to Saudi Arabia, it owns the Czech company Leo Express, participates in Italy’s Arenaways, and is working on initiatives in Mexico, France, and the United States. In Asia, Renfe and Central Japan Railway established a strategic alliance in 2025 to compete together on international high-speed rail projects.

[Original article España entra en el ‘AVE’ de Vietnam: Ineco y Renfe ganan el contrato inicial para una obra de más de 57.500 millones at eleconomista.es. Translation by ChatGPT.]

Article By: thansettakij.com

From the recruitment of a new Governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT)—the 21st in its history—the application period was open from 22 November to 8 December 2025. Only two candidates applied. The selection results have now been approved, with Anan Phonimdaeng chosen. He currently serves as Deputy Governor of the State Railway of Thailand and Acting Governor of SRT, and is in the process of negotiating his compensation.

The missions awaiting the new top executive are considered the most critical turning point in SRT’s history, as he will be responsible for mega infrastructure projects with a combined value of 830 billion baht, alongside resolving long-standing land issues that affect the organisation’s stability.

Unlocking the High-Speed Rail – 3 Airports Project

The first mission that the new SRT Governor must carry forward is accelerating solutions to the Thai–Chinese high-speed railway project. At present, two contracts are awaiting signing:

• Contract 4-5, Ban Pho–Phra Kaeo section, valued at 10,325.90 million baht, which has been delayed due to revisions to the Ayutthaya station design.

As for Contract 4-1, the Bang Sue–Don Mueang section, efforts are underway to push the Cabinet to approve amendments to the High-Speed Rail Linking Three Airports contract. This is a key condition tied to overlapping shared-area structures.

Advancing Double-Track Rail Phase 2

The second mission is to push forward the Phase 2 double-track railway project, comprising six routes with a total investment of 297 billion baht. The project is currently awaiting inclusion on the Cabinet agenda by the Secretariat of the Cabinet (SoC) for approval.

The six Phase 2 double-track routes include:

• Chumphon–Surat Thani, 168 km, 30,422 million baht
• Surat Thani–Hat Yai Junction–Songkhla, 321 km, 66,270 million baht
• Hat Yai Junction–Padang Besar, 45 km, 7,772 million baht
• Pak Nam Pho–Den Chai, 281 km, 81,143 million baht
• Thanon Chira Junction–Ubon Ratchathani, 308 km, 44,095 million baht
• Den Chai–Chiang Mai, 189 km, 68,222 million baht

Revitalizing Commercial Land

The third mission involves managing commercial land through SRT Asset to generate revenue and resolve accumulated debt of over 280 billion baht. The focus is on increasing income through commercial land management via subsidiaries, opening opportunities for private-sector joint investment, and accelerating the procurement of new rolling stock to enhance competitiveness.

The main goals are to increase passenger and freight revenues and reduce debt. Long-term targets include increasing passenger revenue fourfold and freight revenue fivefold, enabling SRT to become the best rail service provider in ASEAN by 2027.

Previously, SRT planned to develop its commercial land holdings covering 38,000 rai, valued at more than 300 billion baht, which were transferred to its subsidiary, SRT Asset Co., Ltd. (SRTA), in 2022 to auction high-potential plots and generate income.

A key selling point is Bang Sue Grand Station (Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal)—the largest rail transportation hub in ASEAN—which is expected to attract investors for mixed-use commercial development.

[Original article ผ่าภารกิจใหญ่ผู้ว่าการรถไฟฯ คนใหม่ กับเมกะโปรเจ็กต์ค้างท่อ 8.3 แสนล้าน at thansettakij.com. Translation by ChatGPT.]

Article By: Manager Online

The government has heavily invested in developing rail infrastructure over the past decade. This includes seven urgent-phase double-track railway projects, covering a total distance of 993 kilometers, with a budget of 124 billion baht. Currently, seven additional double-track routes (Phase 2), covering 1,479 kilometers, along with two new double-track lines, are being pushed forward, with a combined investment of over 200 billion baht. Between 2025 and 2029, the double-track railway network will expand by another 3,200 kilometers. This will nearly double train capacity, allowing for more train services, increased speeds, and reduced travel times by at least one hour on average compared to the present.

“But the problems of the State Railway of Thailand still exist in many parts, especially the accumulated debt of 300 billion baht and the continuous loss of operations. In 2025, it will have to borrow 18 billion baht to increase liquidity to solve the problem of cash flow shortage. In 2026, the budget has been allocated in the amount of 19,418 million baht, divided into regular expenses of 8,081 million baht and investment expenses of 11,336 million baht, while there is a burden of repaying loans of more than 45 billion baht.”

Providing “locomotives – passenger cars – freight cars” that are not moving

Mr. Veerit Amrapal, Governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), said that the dual-track railway project is part of the railway rehabilitation plan. Therefore, the question must be answered as to what benefits the investment will bring. If there is an additional track but it is not fully utilized, it will not be worthwhile. At present, the SRT must accelerate the plan to procure locomotives, wheels, and freight cars to increase service efficiency and comply with the plan and strategy of the Ministry of Transport, which wants to shift the mode of road transport to rail to reduce transportation costs and logistics costs of the country.

“Rail transport has seen serious development over the past 10 years, unlike roads which have consistently received budget allocations for development. However, for the rail system to become the country’s primary mode of transport, there is still much more that needs to be done. This includes achieving seamless integration with other modes of transportation — connecting stations to urban communities, and linking raw material sources to factories and ultimately to consumers in the most efficient way possible.

Moreover, rail transport helps address several issues, such as reducing pollution and traffic accidents — which often result in loss of life and property — and also lowers annual road maintenance costs. With increasing demand today, freight transport volumes have risen both domestically and in cross-border routes to Laos–China and Malaysia. Rail freight is supported by container yards (CYs) in various areas, which facilitate the onward shipment of goods to ports.”

Shortage of “employees” hoping to unlock the Cabinet resolution to hire more employees

In addition, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) must address the issue of shortages in both personnel and equipment. This includes procuring quality locomotives, rolling stock, freight wagons, diesel railcars, and passenger coaches to improve services.

Another major challenge is the shortage of personnel. A Cabinet resolution from 1998 limits new hires to just 5% of the number of retirees, which has reduced the railway workforce from 20,000 to only 9,000 staff. This number is insufficient to maintain proper service levels. As a result, employees are overworked, often working overtime, which leads to fatigue, negatively impacts their health and quality of life, and increases the SRT’s financial burden due to high overtime costs — especially for drivers and mechanics, where around 1,000 positions are needed. Hiring new staff could help reduce overtime expenses by as much as 200 million baht per year.

Review the “recovery plan” and accelerate the study of setting up a subsidiary company – emphasizing projects that can actually be done.

On 19 June 2025, Mr. Sorapong Paitoonphong, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, chaired the meeting of the working group to supervise and follow up on the implementation of the State Railway of Thailand’s recovery plan, with representatives from the Department of Rail Transport, SRT, the Budget Bureau, the Comptroller General’s Department, the State Enterprise Policy Committee, the National Economic and Social Development Board, the Strategy and Planning Division, the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport attending the meeting.

By following up on important issues such as the plan to procure and maintain locomotives and rolling stock that will help increase service efficiency, including studying the approach for private companies to operate trains on SRT tracks to enhance potential and improve management. In addition, there is consideration of establishing a subsidiary company for freight trains and maintenance of locomotives and rolling stock to increase operational flexibility and generate income.

There are observations and suggestions on the results of the SRT’s rehabilitation plan for the first quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2025, such as considering the setting of commercial train fares in a manner comparable to airline fares, but still giving importance to considering the fares of social vehicles used by low-income people, along with accelerating the improvement of buses to have better quality and service.

Also, the SRT should carefully study the advantages and disadvantages of establishing existing subsidiaries in order to establish the freight train subsidiaries and the maintenance and wheel companies with the highest efficiency. It is also proposed that projects that have not yet been implemented be removed from the rehabilitation plan in order to make the plan more concise and focused on actual implementation. The SRT should consider the observations and suggestions received for improvement and present a clear plan so that the SRT’s rehabilitation can achieve its goal of becoming an efficient organization.

Shake Up the Plan for “Locomotive and Rolling Stock Procurement”: Suggest Bundled Purchase in Large Lots

According to news reports, the working committee has recommended that the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) revise its procurement plan for locomotives and rolling stock by developing a comprehensive master plan to be submitted for Cabinet approval. This approach would enable more streamlined and timely implementation, especially to meet the demands of the expanding double-track railway network. The committee also suggested bundling purchases into large packages, which would result in lower costs compared to fragmented, smaller-scale procurements.

“The State Railway of Thailand’s (SRT) procurement plan for locomotives and rolling stock is currently too fragmented. In principle, there should be a master plan outlining the total number of locomotives, passenger coaches, and freight wagons required. Bundling procurement into large packages would enhance SRT’s bargaining power with manufacturers, leading to lower prices compared to piecemeal purchasing.

For example, future passenger coaches are planned to be fully air-conditioned and commercially operated, to improve service standards. Meanwhile, social welfare services will be supported through the government’s welfare card program, allowing eligible passengers to use the same trains without the need to separate commercial and social service trains. This will streamline operations and reduce unnecessary duplication.”

Locomotive and Rolling Stock Plan Worth Over 175 Billion Baht to Support Double-Track Railways

The State Railway of Thailand’s (SRT) rehabilitation plan not only includes the development of Phase 2 of the double-track rail network and new double-track routes, but also covers the procurement and maintenance of locomotives and rolling stock to support these expansions and enhance service efficiency and revenue generation.

The procurement of new locomotives is intended to replace aging units currently in service, improve competitiveness, and promote a shift toward more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly transportation. The plan emphasizes the use of advanced, eco-friendly technologies to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

A long-term estimate shows that hybrid locomotives, when compared to conventional diesel locomotives, could save approximately 225.89 million baht annually in fuel costs over a 30-year period.

The plan to procure locomotives and wheels has an investment budget of approximately 169,327 million baht, including:

1. Project to procure 113 diesel-electric locomotives with spare parts, budget 23,730 million baht, to replace old locomotives, currently being proposed to the Cabinet, expected to procure in 2026, delivered within 2028

2. Project to procure 184 air-conditioned diesel railcars for commercial service, with spare parts, budget 24,150 million baht, to replace 10 existing trains and open 52 new trains, able to accommodate approximately 4.99 million passengers, expected to generate income of 3,037 million baht, expenses of 1,068 million baht, and profit of 1,969 million baht, currently being proposed to the Cabinet, expected to procure in 2026, delivered within 2028

3. Project to procure 182 commercial service buses with spare parts, budget of 10,502 million baht, to replace buses in express and special express trains, improve comfort for all groups of passengers, reduce energy consumption and be more environmentally friendly, as it can reduce energy consumption from fuel per vehicle by 30%, expected to accommodate approximately 0.39 million more passengers, currently being proposed to the Cabinet, expected to be procured in 2026, delivered in 2028.

4. Project to procure 216 air-conditioned diesel railcars for social services with spare parts, budget of 27,317 million baht, to replace 94 ordinary, suburban and local trains and open 30 Feeder trains, currently being proposed to the SRT board, expected to be proposed to the Cabinet in 2025-2026, procurement in 2026-2027, delivery in 2029

5. Project to procure 946 container bogies (TBT) with spare parts, budget of 2,460 million baht, to increase the efficiency of rail transport services, transport through the Railway Freight Forwarding Center (SRTO) from 410,000 to 470,000 containers per year, and to support container transport from the development of container storage areas (CY) in various regions nationwide. Along the dual-track railway route, phases 1 and 2, the new railway line, estimated to have about 9 million tons, is currently being proposed to the Cabinet. Procurement is expected in 2025 and delivery in 2027.

6. Project to procure 17 interchange locomotives with spare parts, budget of 2,845 million baht. To increase efficiency in train operations in the Krungthep Aphiwat station area and reduce oil consumption. Expected to be proposed to the Cabinet in 2025, procurement in 2026-2027, delivery in 2027.

7. Project to procure 332 diesel railcars for social services with spare parts, budget of 41,987 million baht, to open 26 new routes and 106 dual-track trains in Phase 2. Currently collecting data, to be proposed to the SRT board in 2025, to be proposed to the Cabinet in 2026, procurement in 2026-2027, delivery in 2027.

8. Project to procure 188 air-conditioned diesel railcars for commercial service with spare parts, budget of 23,776 million baht, to open 68 trains on the new route and the second phase of dual-track, expected to be able to accommodate an additional 6.35 million passengers, currently collecting data, to be submitted to the SRT board in 2025, to the cabinet in 2026, to be procured in 2026-2027, and delivered in 2027-2031.

9. Project to procure 273 commercial passenger cars with spare parts, budget of 15,560 million baht, to open 18 trains, expected to be able to accommodate an additional 3.38 million passengers, to be submitted to the SRT board in 2026, to the cabinet in 2026-2027, to be procured in 2027-2038, and delivered in 2028-2032.

Major repairs on “locomotives and passenger cars” cost more than 6.1 billion baht

There is also a plan to upgrade many diesel locomotives and passenger cars, as they are old and often break down, in order to extend their service life for another 10-15 years (while waiting for new locomotives to be purchased) and to generate income from passenger cars and tourist train routes connecting primary to secondary cities in line with government policies, including:

1. Project to repair and improve 36 GEA diesel-electric locomotives Budget 1,692 million baht

2. Project to repair and improve 21 HID diesel-electric locomotives Budget 777 million baht

3. Project to replace 10 ALSTHOM locomotive engines Budget 496 million baht

4. Project to repair and improve 17 KIHA 183 diesel railcars Budget 272 million baht

5. Project to improve the 3rd-class passenger car system to 40 air-conditioned 3rd-class passenger cars Budget 295 million baht

6. The project to modify 12 electric bogie cars, budget of 195 million baht, signed the contract on May 21, 2024, is in the process of designing and modifying the cars, delivery will start in 2025.

7. The project to modify the 2nd class air-conditioned passenger and sleeping cars to be air-conditioned passenger cars, improve the electrical system and closed toilets, 2nd class air-conditioned passenger and sleeping cars, 96 cars, budget of 476 million baht.

8. The project to repair and improve DAEWOO diesel railcars, 39 cars, budget of 975 million baht.

9. The project to repair and improve THN, NKF, and ATR diesel railcars, 24 cars, budget of 874 million baht.

10. The project to modify 10 JR-HOKKAIDO cars (Royal Blossom), budget of 120 million baht.

The SRT rehabilitation plan has been implemented seriously since 2018. The goal is to solve the problems of losses and accumulated debts, as well as increase the efficiency of passenger and freight transport services to make the rail system the country’s main transportation system, with passenger revenue increasing 4 times and freight revenue increasing 5 times, and becoming the best state rail service provider in ASEAN by 2027. However, at present, it is still far from the goal due to various obstacles, both social conditions and technology that are changing rapidly, while the SRT still works in the same old way. Therefore, the SRT must urgently reform the organization to drive in line with the rehabilitation plan…

[Original article รถไฟหนี้พุ่ง 3 แสนล้าน”แผนฟื้นฟู”ส่อหลุดเป้าปี 70 รื้อแผน’รถจักร-ล้อเลื่อน’งบ 1.7 แสนล้านรับ’ทางคู่-สายใหม่’ at mgronline.com. Translation by Google Translate.]

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The government is preparing a major step in developing rail-based transportation. The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) is also targeting the development of a railway network of up to 10,000 km by 2030, and opening the door wide for investment, both from within and outside the country.

This was conveyed directly by the Director General of Railways of the Ministry of Transportation, Allan Tandiono at the International Conference on Infrastructure (ICI) 2025 forum in Jakarta, Wednesday (11/6/2025).

He emphasized that trains are an efficient mode of future transportation and play an important role in reducing national logistics costs.

“Good transportation can reduce logistics costs and finally we really believe that trains are a very efficient mode of transportation that can reduce logistics costs that will boost the economy. There is a lot we need to do, but we need more money,” Allan said.

Currently, he continued, the length of railway lines operating in Indonesia is 7,000 km. To achieve the target of 10,000 km by 2030, the government needs large investment support, including in the construction of an underground metro system that requires high costs.

“Indonesia has a big dream to develop our railways. In 2030 we hope to have a railway line of more than 10,000 km. Now we are only operating over 7,000 km, so there is still a lot to be done. To create an underground metro system in the market, now we need around US$ 120 million/km, imagine if we need to build 20 km, how much money the government must provide,” he explained.

In terms of investment, Allan stated the Ministry of Transportation’s commitment to open up and guarantee the comfort and security of investors.

[Photo: A new series of Commuter Line Indonesia (CLI)-125 electric trains enter the platform at Manggarai Station, Jakarta, Tuesday (3/6/2025). (CNBC Indonesia/Faisal Rahman)]

“We are all committed here to be professional and transparent in managing investments in our place from start to finish and this is what we are committed to. We want to do something so that if you do business with us everything will be smooth, smooth and easy and enjoyable,” he said.

Furthermore, he said that investment in the Indonesian railway sector is not only profitable in terms of business, but also has a direct impact on the quality of public transportation services.

“Our commitment is that we will open ourselves to all businesses from local, foreign, investors. We open ourselves, we will protect your investment, we will make sure that there will be certainty in your dealings with us and your money here will be very useful and profitable,” Allan explained.

“So we believe, in addition to your investment, you will also be able to provide better services in the future. Not only in reducing logistics costs, but trains are a mode of transportation that is preferred by many people,” he continued.

Allan also highlighted the public’s enthusiasm for train services in metropolitan areas such as Jabodetabek. He gave examples of the surge in commuter line users, MRT, LRT, and the Jakarta-Bandung fast train.

“In the Jakarta metropolitan area, for example, almost 1 million people use the commuter line. MRT now serves around 100,000 people per day, our LRT also now serves more than 100 thousand passengers per day,” he said.

“The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train, when we started the project, many wondered who would take the train because the distance was short. But today, on weekends we serve more than 20,000 passengers,” he added.

According to Allan, the success of these projects must be continued with intermodal integration, especially ensuring easy access to important stations such as Karawang.

“In the future, we believe that with the termination of Karawang, there must be collaboration from other sectors, ensuring (the public) access to these stations becomes easy,” he concluded.

[Original article RI Kejar Target Punya 10.000 Km Rel KA di 2030, Tinggal Sisa Segini by Martyasari Rizky at CNBC Indonesia. Translation by Google Translate.]

Yesterday (May 30), within the framework of the Investment Promotion Conference of Ba Ria – Vung Tau province, Sun Group Corporation and the People’s Committee of Ba Ria – Vung Tau province officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement. The event laid the foundation for the strategy of developing synchronous infrastructure, urban and tourism projects, positioning Ba Ria – Vung Tau to become a national marine economic center and a high-quality international tourism center.

[Ba Ria – Vung Tau signed cooperation with Sun Group and other units.]

Cross-regional light rail connecting to Bai Sau – Vung Tau

Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh shared: Ba Ria – Vung Tau has a strategic position in the Southeast region, possessing outstanding advantages in oil and gas, international seaports, logistics services, tourism and marine economy. In the future, after merging with Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong, this locality will become one of the major development drivers of the Southeast region and the whole country. The Government is committed to strongly accompanying and creating the most favorable conditions for further development.

At the conference, the Provincial People’s Committee held a signing ceremony for strategic cooperation with major investors in the fields of urban areas, tourism, tourism brand development, and digital transformation. Specifically, the Provincial People’s Committee entered into a strategic cooperation with Sun Group Corporation to invest in and develop infrastructure, urban – tourism projects…

The province has granted certificates and investment decisions to 53 projects, with a total capital of over VND100,000 billion, and announced a list of 24 key projects calling for investment in the coming period. Of these, Sun Group proposed investment ideas for Mui Nghinh Phong commercial and service complexes; Cu Lao Ben Dinh urban area; Go Gang Island new urban area combined with tourism and service; Bac Phuoc Thang eco-tourism area and Tay Nam Ba Ria urban area, and a number of projects in Con Dao district.

[Sun Group has proposed a light rail line with a length of nearly 100 km connecting Ho Chi Minh City – Tay Ninh (PHOTO: Illustration).]

Previously, during the working session between the Standing Committee of the Ba Ria – Vung Tau Provincial Party Committee and Sun Group, highly appreciating the potential and stature of Sun Group with its high-class transport, healthcare and urban infrastructure projects across the country, the province proactively proposed that Sun Group study and invest in more strategic infrastructure projects, with connectivity and creating new development momentum.

Notable among these are the Ho Chi Minh City – Dong Nai – Vung Tau light rail line, the international hospital project and the large-scale sea square in Vung Tau city.

The Ho Chi Minh City – Dong Nai – Vung Tau light rail line is expected to connect to Bai Sau beach, Vung Tau city, which will be a strategic regional connection infrastructure, shortening travel time and promoting tourism development in Vung Tau. At the same time, it is an important link in the strategy of developing the public transport system, meeting the needs of inner-city travel and inter-regional connection in the future megacity after the merger.

Meanwhile, the international hospital solves the problem of high-quality medical services that are lacking in Vung Tau, enhancing the experience of long-term tourism and resort and serving residents in new urban areas.

With the Sea Square, this is a symbolic community living space, a cultural – tourism – event meeting place of the modern coastal city in the future that the government and people of Vung Tau always wish to have.

According to Sun Group Chairman Dang Minh Truong, Ba Ria – Vung Tau is converging many favorable conditions to become a regional-scale tourism – service – marine economic center. These figures reflect the transparent, dynamic investment environment and sustainable development orientation of the locality. “We believe that only with open planning, long-term vision and flexible policies can strategic investors like Sun Group maximize their implementation capacity, bringing long-term resonance value to the locality,” said Mr. Dang Minh Truong.

[The 37,000 billion VND “white city by the ocean” Blanca City project has just been started by Sun Group.]

A series of “huge” projects bring Vung Tau tourism to a new level

Right before the conference, Sun Group also realized its desire to “beautify the land” of Vung Tau by starting the first project called Blanca City – a white city by the ocean, in mid-May.

Blanca City urban area is located on 3/2 Street, next to Bai Sau beach, Vung Tau City. With a scale of 96 hectares and a total investment of nearly 37,000 billion VND, Blanca City is positioned as a model coastal urban area with an “all in one” model, meeting the needs of high-class living – resort – entertainment, converging all the iconic works, international quality service systems. The highlight of Blanca City is the 19-hectare multi-functional water entertainment complex expected to attract millions of visitors each year.

[Vung Tau lacks high-end tourist complexes and diverse experiences.]

Not only is Ba Ria – Vung Tau one of the localities with strong growth in industrial economy and logistics, it also possesses unique sea and island tourism potential. In 2024, the province welcomed nearly 16 million visitors – among the top in the country. Natural advantages and planning vision helped Ba Ria – Vung Tau attract more than 4 billion USD in investment in the first 5 months of the year. However, according to many experts, the length of stay and spending of tourists in Vung Tau is still modest, due to the lack of high-end tourism complexes and diverse experience products.

With nearly two decades of experience in creating tourism, resort and infrastructure ecosystems in localities such as Quang Ninh, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Tay Ninh, etc., Sun Group is dedicated to developing large-scale destinations – where resorts, entertainment, healthcare, education and culture converge.

[Sun World Vung Tau – 19-hectare multi-purpose water entertainment complex.]

Sun Group leaders affirmed that the Blanca City urban area project worth VND37,000 billion is just the first step in a long-term investment strategy in Ba Ria – Vung Tau. The Group is simultaneously researching a series of other projects in strategic locations with integrated tourism – urban – ecological service development models. These are also areas on the list of 24 key projects that the province has just announced to attract investment, in which many projects have zoning plans, meeting legal conditions and are ready for implementation.

[Original article Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu sắp xây đường sắt nhẹ xuyên vùng Đông Nam bộ published at thanhnien.vn. Translation by Google Translate.]

The planned metro line from Suoi Tien station (belonging to Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien metro, Ho Chi Minh City) to the new administrative center (Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park) and connecting Long Thanh airport is about 38.5 km long, divided into 3 sections. The project has a total investment of more than 67,400 billion VND with mixed capital from the Central, provincial budget, BOT, and land exploitation.

[Long Thanh airport terminal is being roofed, expected to be completed by the end of this year. Photo: Phuoc Tuan.]

Regarding the above metro, Dong Nai province previously studied investing in a line from Suoi Tien station to Ho Nai 3 commune, Trang Bom district, nearly 21 km long, with a cost of about 30,000 billion VND (ODA loan or local bond issuance). Provincial leaders requested the consulting unit to study the underground option instead of the elevated and underground option to ensure urban aesthetics.

The metro extension policy aims to help connect passengers when the country’s largest airport comes into operation, expected on September 2, 2026. The plan to connect the airport with Ho Chi Minh City also includes the Thu Thiem – Long Thanh urban railway, the expansion of the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay expressway, and a high-speed railway.

[The previous route of the metro project from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Nai (blue). Graphics: Khanh Hoang.]

According to the planning approved by the Prime Minister in 2021, the metro system connecting the southern provinces has 8 routes. These are Trang Bom – Hoa Hung, Bien Hoa – Vung Tau, Di An – Loc Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City – Can Tho, Ho Chi Minh City – Nha Trang, Thu Thiem – Long Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City – Tay Ninh and dedicated railway routes connecting Hiep Phuoc port.

In addition to the policy of extending the metro project, Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee also agreed to the policy of building Ma Da Bridge phase 1 connecting the province with Binh Phuoc with a budget of 193 billion VND; the elevated road project along National Highway 51 from Vung Tau intersection to the intersection of Vo Nguyen Giap Street with Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway with a budget of 17,400 billion VND.

Phuoc Tuan

[Original article 67.400 tỷ đồng xây metro nối sân bay Long Thành với TP HCM published at vnexpress.net. Translation by Google Translate.]

Recently, Thach Ban Park Joint Stock Company sent a document to Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh proposing changes to the metro system planning in Ho Chi Minh City. Specifically, this company proposed to build a metro line running along canals to save money.

According to Thach Ban Park Joint Stock Company, currently in the metro planning, there is no metro line connecting directly from Tan Son Nhat airport to the city center and in the planning there is a monorail line 4B connecting to metro line 4 to Ben Thanh station. However, with a monorail line 4B having 4 stations and located close to Tan Son Nhat airport, building a depot is not simple, passengers from the airport moving to the train will not be convenient.

The company also pointed out that some metro lines are not feasible because they pass through heavily flooded areas. For example, line 3A (Ben Thanh – Tan Kien); Nha Be area of ​​line 4 (Thanh Xuan – Hiep Phuoc Port Cluster); line 6 (Ba Queo – Phu Lam roundabout).

[Thach Ban Park Joint Stock Company believes that building a metro line along canals can save 40,000 billion VND. Photo: NGUYEN TIEN]

At the same time, Thach Ban Park Joint Stock Company said that the planning of the Ho Chi Minh City metro system has not taken advantage of the canal system, and there is almost no need to carry out site clearance.

From there, the Company proposed a belt railway with AGT (Automated Guideway Transit) self-driving trains – metro running along the canals.

The route is as follows: Tan Son Nhat airport – Nhieu Loc Thi Nghe canal – to the city center, Nguyen Hue section – along Ben Nghe canal – Nguyen Kieu islet – Tau Hu canal to Dam Sen park, along Lac Long Quan street to Tan Son Nhat airport.

If the metro project is implemented along the canals, there will be almost no need for site clearance, and the construction cost will be only about 1/3 compared to the traditional metro project. The estimated construction time is only about 5-7 years, and after completion, it will solve the traffic congestion on the main traffic routes in the center of Ho Chi Minh City.

When building a metro line running along the canals, it can completely replace Line 6, Line 4B, Ground Belt Line 1, part of Line 5 and the entire Line 3A. This new train line will ensure operation in heavy rain and high tide conditions and can save over 40,000 billion VND, of which, the cost of land clearance alone has saved up to 33,000 billion VND.

Previously, Thach Ban Park Joint Stock Company proposed to build a metro line along the canal with a total length of 29.9 km and a total investment of about VND20,000 billion.

According to the company, the self-driving train on the canal will solve the traffic congestion in the central area and Tan Son Nhat airport, which is causing great damage to the economy, Ho Chi Minh City, about 6 billion USD/year.

The project is expected to be invested in three phases. Phase 1: Tan Son Nhat Airport – Nguyen Kieu Islet: 12.7 km running on Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe Canal.

Phase 2: Nguyen Kieu Islet – Ba Tang Bridge, District 8: 5.7 km running along the Doi Canal.

Phase 3: Ba Tang Bridge, District 8 – Hoang Van Thu and Ut Tich intersections: 11.5 km along Tan Hoa Canal, Lac Long Quan Street.

[Original article Làm metro chạy dọc kênh rạch, TP.HCM có thể tiết kiệm được 40.000 tỉ đồng published at plo.vn. Translation by Google Translate.]