Japanese diesel trains brought to Thailand for public transport remain idle due to regulatory complications. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and the company responsible for their transport, Green Generation Worldwide, are awaiting the appointment of an oversight committee before proceeding with modifications. The trains, which arrived in June 2024, require adjustments before they can be put into service.
The dispute centers around the removal of bogies (wheel assemblies) from the 20 train cars—11 Kiha 40 units and nine Kiha 48 units—before further modifications can take place. Green Generation Worldwide has already proposed a plan to remove the bogies at Laem Chabang Railway Station and is waiting for approval from SRT’s procurement committee. The company has stated that the work would take approximately four days, involving the dismantling of key components, lifting the train bodies, and transporting the bogies for wheel gauge adjustments.
The SRT plans to alter the trains’ wheel width from 1.067 meters to 1 meter at the Makkasan factory, a process expected to take 25 days. Once complete, the bogies would be reinstalled at Laem Chabang before the trains are transported to Makkasan for further refurbishment. SRT anticipates that the first modified train will enter service in 2025.
However, the process remains stalled as SRT has not yet finalized the appointment of an oversight committee, a necessary step before the bogie removal can proceed. The procurement committee chairman, recently appointed by SRT’s governor, has raised legal questions regarding the committee’s establishment. Discussions are ongoing to ensure compliance with the terms of reference (TOR) before finalizing appointments.
Green Generation Worldwide has stated that whether or not a supervisory committee is established, it does not impact their role, as their responsibility is limited to bogie removal. The company has already trained its engineers in Japan with JR East (East Japan Railway Company) and is prepared to carry out the work. With the transport contract now concluded, Green Generation Worldwide has also indicated its readiness to contest any penalties that may arise from the delays.
The 20 diesel trains were originally acquired from JR East for public transport upgrades in Thailand. SRT awarded Green Generation Worldwide a contract worth 48.6 million baht to transport them from Niigata, Japan, to Laem Chabang, Thailand. Since their arrival on June 2, 2024, the trains have remained parked at Laem Chabang Station, exposed to the elements, due to unresolved issues between the transport contractor and SRT.
SRT Governor Veerith Amrapal has acknowledged that the issue predates his tenure but has assured that the matter is being reviewed. He has appointed a procurement review chairman to oversee the situation, emphasizing the need for careful scrutiny before proceeding further.
