Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Suriya Juangroongruangkit revealed that the Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, approved the appointment of Weerith Amrapal as the new governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) during a meeting on September 17, 2024. Following the decision, a formal contract will be signed between SRT and Weerith, who will take over the responsibilities of enhancing Thailand’s rail system, with a focus on expanding its capacity and positioning the country as a regional hub for rail transport in ASEAN and Asia.
Suriya emphasized that the new SRT governor must push forward key rail projects. These include completing the first phase of the double-track rail construction, which currently involves four projects. In addition, the second phase, consisting of six routes, must be accelerated for Cabinet approval. The Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project’s first phase, from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, requires resolution of existing issues to keep the project on track, with the second phase, from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai, expected to gain Cabinet approval by 2024 and begin civil work bidding in early 2025. The project will likely operate under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, necessitating further study and preparation by the SRT.
Weerith will also oversee the development of the high-speed rail linking Thailand’s three major airports—Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao—and the expansion of the Red Line suburban rail system. Additionally, Suriya highlighted the importance of upgrading third-class fan-cooled trains to air-conditioned services. While this may result in fare increases, measures will be implemented to ensure low-income and vulnerable groups remain unaffected by such adjustments through continued access to state welfare cards.
Finally, one of Weerith’s critical tasks will be addressing SRT’s massive debt, currently exceeding 230 billion baht, by boosting revenue from passenger and freight transport, as well as developing commercial areas.
In the case of acquiring new passenger trains, SRT’s previous proposal to purchase 184 diesel air-conditioned railcars lacked clarity, prompting the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) to request more detailed information on investment and project viability. As the newly appointed SRT governor, Weerith will need to address these gaps to move forward with the plan.
