The 17 KiHA 183 diesel trains donated to Thailand by Japan’s Hokkaido Railway Company are being modified to run on local tracks. Four trains are expected to start running by mid-2022.
“Japanese diesel trains use 1.067 meter wide axles, while the Thai railway is one meter wide,” the director of the public relations center of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) said on Friday January 21. ), Ekarat Sriarayanphong.
“We started modifying the trains as soon as they arrived last December and they can now run on our tracks. The next step is to repaint them at Makkasan Train Depot.”
Ekarat added that once the trains are repainted, the SRT will make adjustments to other systems such as the engine, transmission system, air conditioning and passenger seats to meet Thai conditions.
“The modifications will be carried out on four trains at a time, with the first batch expected to be completed in mid-2022. These trains will run short distances to Ayutthaya and Chachoengsao to promote domestic tourism,” he said.
KiHA 183 diesel trains have a maximum speed of 100 kilometers per hour. Each train has four bogies and can accommodate up to 216 passengers. When completed, they will be fully air-conditioned and equipped with reclining seats and toilets.
Although the SRT received these trains for free, it paid 42.25 million baht to a private contractor to bring them from Japan to Thailand.
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