The acquisition of 115 new Chinese rail cars from China’s Railway Rolling Stock Corporation with the first lot of 39 having arrived marks a milestone in the change of train services provided by the State Railway of Thailand to passengers, Deputy Transport Minister Omsin Chivapruek said today in a ceremony to formally unveil the new train cars and new uniforms of SRT train attendants at Si Racha railway station, Chon Buri.
Also attending the ceremony were SRT governor Wutthichart Kalayanamitr and members of the media.
The deputy minister said the SRT’s acquisition of the new and modern train cars from China represents a testimony of the government’s determination to improve train services in Thailand.
SRT governor, meanwhile, said that the SRT planned to launch the maiden service of the new cars on Bangkok-Chiang Mai route in August with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha to preside over the official launch.
Each first-class air conditioned car will have 12 sleeping rooms with two seats each. Each seat is equipped with an LCD monitor with a USB port so that passengers will be able to enjoy entertainment programmes, to receive information or to order food or drinks from their seats.
There are four LCD screens on each of the second-class air conditioned sleeper cars.
On top of that, the toilets in the new train cars will be similar to the type installed on aircraft which is clean, without smell and using less water in flushing.
Each train will be accompanied by a power car which will replace the engines in the old cars. Hence the new cars will be quiet, environment friendly and power saving.
Every car is equipped with a CCTV system which will ensure safety for passengers, ABS braking system.
The entire new fleet is made up of nine first-class sleeper cars, 88 second-class sleeper cars, including nine cars for the disabled, nine canteen cars and nine power cars with 11 cars to be kept as reserves.
All the new cars will be put into services in four routes namely Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani, Bangkok-Nong Khai and Bangkok-Hat Yai.
