The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has approved a THB10.5 billion project to procure 182 new air-conditioned coaches. This order, expected to be SRT’s largest, includes sleeping cars and first- and second-class coaches for special and express trains on routes such as Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani, Trang, and Nakhon Si Thammarat. Following board approval in December 2024, the proposal awaits final clearance from the Ministry of Transport and Thailand’s cabinet board. Bidding is projected to conclude by 2026, with deliveries beginning in 2028. SRT’s last major coach order was in 2014 for 115 sleeping cars, which entered service in 2017.
Moreover, SRT has signed a THB28.7 billion contract for track doubling along the 167 km Khon Kaen-Nong Khai line. The project, awarded to a joint venture of CHO Thavee and AS Construction, includes modernising 14 stations, building three freight terminals, and installing advanced signalling systems. Completion is anticipated by 2028.
