Aug. 21, BANGKOK — According to Thailand news outlet Khaosod English, Thailand’s State Railway (SRT) has revealed plans to launch a direct train service from Bangkok’s Bang Sue Grand Terminal to Penang, Malaysia, within the next two to three months.
At the 42nd KTMB-SRT Joint Conference, which took place in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, earlier this month, the project was considered, according to Ekkarat Sri-arayangpong, Chief of the Office of the Governor of SRT. The new service intends to improve tourism and strengthen economic connections by making travel and trading between the two countries easier.
The article states that the train will connect travellers between Thailand and Malaysia with ease by running from Bangkok to Padang Besar and Butterworth in Penang. This project backs the government of Thailand’s policy of increasing transportation connections to boost travel and economic development.
Plans to expand Malaysia’s MySawasdee tourist train route from Hat Yai to Surat Thani in southern Thailand were also a consequence of the conference. The service has continuously run at full capacity due to high demand.
Khaosod reports that SRT anticipates the Bangkok-Penang service to begin with a six-month trial period, backed by a collaborative working group entrusted with completing the project specifications and schedule. It is expected that the service will increase tourism and earnings for Malaysia and Thailand.
The discussion also looked at methods to improve cross-border freight traffic. SRT promised to facilitate the movement of products along several important routes, such as Hat Yai and Padang Besar. The program is a component of initiatives aimed at enhancing regional trade ties.
Based on the report, officials also talked about the ASEAN Express train’s success, which links China, Malaysia, Thailand, and Laos. The frequency of the program will rise from once to twice a week due to its popularity.
Enhanced connection between Southeast Asian nations is a crucial component of Thailand’s ambition to establish itself as a regional hub for tourism and logistics, reflected in the expansion of these train services -malay mail