National —
On August 20th, 2024, Mr. Awirut Thongnet, Deputy Governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), attended the 42nd KTMB – SRT Joint Conference in Sabah, Malaysia. The meeting focused on expanding cooperation between Thailand and Malaysia in seamless train services.
The Thai delegation’s participation aimed to facilitate travel and freight transport between the two countries, boosting both economies and tourism sectors. The conference reportedly approved a new train route from Bang Sue Grand Station to Padang Besar and Butterworth in Penang, Malaysia, enhancing connectivity between Thai and Malaysian citizens.
Additionally, the MySawasdee tourist train route, which currently ends at Hat Yai, Songkhla, Junction, will be extended to Surat Thani Station, following strong passenger demand. This extension is expected to promote tourism further and increase revenue for both nations.
A joint working group will be established to finalize details for the extended route from Bangkok to Butterworth, with an initial six-month trial period planned. This development marks a significant step in strengthening rail ties between the two countries, according to Thai national media.
Discussions also included expanding freight transport cooperation, with SRT supporting cross-border shipments along key routes, such as Padang Besar to Bangkok. The success of the ASEAN Express train route, connecting Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, and China, was acknowledged, and plans to increase its frequency from weekly to twice a week were discussed.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
