In an attempt to modernise and become more efficient, Thailand’s State Railway (SRT) has shifted its attention towards procuring electric trains as opposed to previously planned diesel locomotives. In the words of SRT’s head, Nirut Maneephan, the altered proposal has gained the green light from the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), and the SRT modernisation plan with an unchanged fund allocation of 1.5 billion baht is all set to be presented to the new administration.
Furthermore, Nirut noted that the SRT is also planning to add 182 new carriages to its fleet. An interesting SRT modernisation shift has been witnessed in their procurement method, with the SRT considering novel procedures such as financial or operating leasing – a common practice in the aviation business that the SRT is yet to put into action.
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