Policy recommendations to improve people's quality of life in the social service business of the State Railway of Thailand: A case study of Chumphon Station
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study aims to examine the state of train service and the factors affecting the improvement of people's quality of life through train service. It also assesses the impact of social train service on people's quality of life. This study aims to propose guidelines for developing social train service models that respond to the principle of equality in service access. It also examines successful social train service models in foreign countries and uses them as a comparative guideline for developing social mass transit policies in Thailand. The research employed a documentary analysis method based on conceptual frameworks including Social Public Service, Public Service Motivation (PSM), Equity of Access, Social Fare, and Grassroots Development. The findings indicate that rail services at Chumphon Station significantly contribute to reducing social and spatial inequalities, especially among vulnerable populations, by lowering travel costs and increasing access to education, healthcare, and employment. However, challenges remain in service frequency, accessibility, and overall service quality. Developmental recommendations include increasing train frequency, implementing universal design principles in station infrastructure, creating flexible and fair fare systems, fostering community participation, and transforming the station into a local economic hub. Additionally, international examples—such as Estonia’s free rail policy, India’s low-cost rail system, and the UK’s welfare ticketing scheme—offer valuable insights for enhancing Thailand’s social rail services. These findings underscore that public transport development is not solely a matter of infrastructure but a vital mechanism for promoting equity, improving quality of life, and fostering sustainable grassroots development.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Abiola, O. L., Rauf, G., & Ekeh, C. M. (2023). Stakeholders’ assessment of the role of community-based media practice in grassroots development. Adeleke University Journal of Business and Social Sciences, 3(1), 136–145.
Chinnicha Robkob, & Akkarawit Robkob. (2024). Public Administration and Public Service toward Public Finance: A Case Study of the 10,000 Baht Digital Top-Up Scheme. Journal of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Innovation, Kalasin University, 3(2), 75–92.
Chumphon Provincial Social Development and Human Security Planning Committee. (2025). Chumphon Provincial Social Development Action Plan, Fiscal Year 2025. Chumphon: Chumphon Provincial Office of Social Development and Human Security.
Environmental Law Foundation. (2025). Land Bridge Effect: Impacts of the Chumphon–Ranong Deep-Sea Port Project. Bangkok: Environmental Law Foundation.
Fakhrudi, A. H., & Riani, A. L. (2023). The influence of public service motivation and transformational leadership style on employee performance in non-rail crew operational workers at PT KAI (Persero) Operational Region 8 Surabaya. International Journal of Economics, Business and Management Research, 7(11), 33–45.
Government Citizen Communication Center. (2024). State Railway of Thailand Ready to Open Southern Double-Track Route from Nakhon Pathom to Chumphon, Totaling 421 Kilometers. https://www.gcc.go.th/2024/06/07/การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย-พ-6/
Hameduddin, T., & Engbers, T. (2022). Leadership and public service motivation: A systematic synthesis. International Public Management Journal, 25(1), 86–119.
Li Renliang. (2018). Social Impact Assessments of the Double Track Railways Construction in the Northeast: Case Studies of Mabkabao to Chira Junction and to Khonkaen. Journal of Social, 20(2), 87-100.
Lieophairot, C., & Rojniruttikul, N. (2023). Factors affecting State Railway of Thailand (SRT) passenger train service use decision: A structural equation model. Heliyon, 9(4), e15660.
National Statistical Office. (2023). Report on the Economic and Social Conditions of Households, 2022: Chumphon Province. Bangkok: Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.
Nipapan Jensantikul. (2025). Policy Development and Articles on Public Service by Local Government Organizations: An Analysis of Academic Literature from 2014 to 2023. Journal of Social Sciences, Srinakharinwirot University, 28(1), 34–50.
Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning. (2024). Annual Transport Infrastructure Report 2023. Bangkok: Center for Transport and Traffic Information Technology.
Petcharaporn Chatchawnchanchanakij. (2019). The Factor of Marketing Mix Effect on Satisfaction of Passenger Train Mueng Chumphon, Chumphon Province. Journal of Interdisciplinary Research: Graduate Studies, 8(1), 101-106.
Shafiq, M., Lobo, A., & Couto, A. (2024). Equity of access to rail services by complementary motorized and active modes. Journal of Transport Geography, 121, 104007.
Silver, K., Lopes, A., Vale, D., & Marques da Costa, N. (2023). The inequality effects of public transport fare: The case of Lisbon's fare reform. Journal of Transport Geography, 112, 103685.
Sompong Chae-Tan, Watchara Klinsuwan, & Kriengkrai Charoentanawat. (2024). The Principle of Equity in Access to Public Services and Public Organizations in Thailand. Journal of Justice Process, 17(3), 165–194.
Thailand Consumer Council. (2025). 7 Prototype Areas Driving Safe and Equitable Public Transportation Systems. Retrieved from https://www.tcc.or.th/tcc_media/7-prototypeareas-transport/
Tobi, A. A., & Oikhala, G. I. (2021). Local government reforms and grassroots development in Nigeria. Journal of Administrative Science, 18(1), 113–133.
Van Wee, B. (2022). Accessibility and equity: A conceptual framework and research agenda. Journal of Transport Geography, 104, 103421.
Waldorf, I., Loder, A., Wurster, S., & Bogenberger, K. (2025). Low fare public transport as social policy? A study of Germany’s 9-Euro-Ticket and Deutschlandticket via propensity score matching. Transportation, 1-41.
Wan, T., Lu, W., & Na, X. (2025). Quantifying the social equity of economic performance for different groups of residents in rail transit station areas. Urban Rail Transit, 11(1), 28–52.
