Thailand plans to take 13 more used Japanese railcars

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is preparing to receive 13 additional used KiHa 100 diesel railcars from Japan, saying the plan will complement rather than replace efforts to build a domestic railway manufacturing industry.

In its 8 November statement, the SRT said most of the railcars were expected to be refurbished and upgraded before entering service. It said the vehicles would broaden passenger travel choices and support tourism and regional economies.

The railway operator also expects the work to give engineers and technicians practical experience in inspecting diesel railcars, upgrading mechanical and electrical systems, maintaining equipment and managing spare parts. Technical exchanges with relevant organisations are also planned.

The SRT has previously received used Japanese trains, including KiHa 183 and KiHa 40/48 models. It described the planned addition as small relative to its overall passenger fleet.

Under its Local Content policy, the SRT said it had begun developing passenger coach prototypes with local manufacturers. These include the Beyond Horizon (Sud Khob Fah) project, which draws on domestic design, engineering and manufacturing expertise.

The operator plans to extend that work with local manufacturers and industrial operators, covering design, components, assembly and maintenance. It said domestic coach production remained a long-term priority, while the Japanese railcars would help expand services and railway tourism in the shorter term.