Thailand’s Railroad Development and Future High Speed Train Development

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อาทิตย์ อินธาระ
เพียรพิทย์ โรจนปุณยา
นราธร สายเส็ง

Abstract

The objective of this study was to present the brief development of Thai Railroad and to analyze the gauge system which is the problem in the development of high speed train. This study was conducted qualitative. The data were obtained from books, journal articles, related research, and field observation. The research revealed that the Thai railway development started from a survey in 1887. The development then expanded from Bangkok to regional of the country. The first Thai railway, with 1.453 meter-gauge was from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima with the distance of 264 kilometers. In 1920, such gauge was changed to one meter and has remained the same ever since. The one meter wide gauge is the problem for high speed train. Therefore the development would need new rails and routes because changes from one meter gauge to 1.435 meters would require a huge budget. Moreover, the old system would have to be terminated. The suitable development, thus, is to improve the existing system and to construct one meter double track all over Thailand. However, high speed train could also be developed in tandem for some routes.

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References

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