THAILAND: The national rail freight and passenger markets are to open up to competition in the next two years, a representative of the Department of Rail Transport confirmed Railway Gazette International at the Asia Pacific Rail 2026 trade fair show in Bangkok on May 7.
This follows the Rail Transport Act BE 2568 which came into force on March 27. The act provides for State Railway of Thailand to remain the infrastructure owner and keep operating existing services. It will also to make train paths available to private operators who can bid to operate freight or passenger services.
SRT is required to publish a network statement so that aspiring new entrants can review the condition of the network and learn about access conditions. This is expected to come out in July, and the first private companies are expected to start operations by 2028.
The private operators are to run services on the country’s existing metre-gauge network which is being extensively double-tracked. Two new sections are currently being built to the country’s border with Laos. These will link Den Chai – Chiang Rai – Chiang Khong, and Nakhon Phanom – Mukhadan – Ban Phai, and are expected to open in 2028.