The Department of Rail Transport has checked the readiness of the "Lopburi–Pak Nam Pho" double-track railway. The signalling and telecommunications system is more than 95% complete, with testing remaining at two more stations. Full operations are scheduled to open in October 2026. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has been ordered to urgently address the problem of cable thieves cutting signal wires at Lopburi 2 station. During the long holiday, passenger numbers peaked on 28 July at 107,000.
On 30 July 2026, Mr Pichet Khunathhamrak, Director-General of the Department of Rail Transport, together with a team of Department of Rail Transport (DRT) officials, conducted a field visit to monitor the progress of the signalling and telecommunications system installation and to inspect the readiness and safety of the system for the Lopburi–Pak Nam Pho double-track railway project, ahead of the full system opening scheduled for October 2026.
The DRT conducted inspection visits and readiness tests at key locations, including Nakhon Sawan Station, Pak Nam Pho Station, and the newly established Central Traffic Control (CTC) centre at Nakhon Sawan Station. The CTC centre serves as the hub for train operations management, equipped with advanced technology to enhance train management precision, improve safety, and reduce travel times.
Mr Pichet said that the signalling and telecommunications system is a critical component in ensuring safe and efficient train operations. It functions to control train routes, monitor train positions, and support the work of train controllers, station staff, and train drivers.
Currently, the system along this route is more than 95% complete, with only two stations still undergoing system testing. A problem has also been found involving the illegal cutting of signal cables in the vicinity of Lopburi 2 Station. The DRT has instructed the State Railway of Thailand and relevant agencies to accelerate the completion of the remaining work as quickly as possible, and to strengthen measures to prevent the illegal cutting of signalling and telecommunications cables. Should perpetrators be apprehended, the SRT is to pursue legal proceedings to the fullest extent.
"Switching to the new signalling system, together with the traffic control centre, will reduce the risk of human error and increase capacity to accommodate greater train frequency in the future."
@Long holiday: railway passenger numbers surge — 28 July peaks at 107,000
During the recent long holiday period, a large number of people used rail services. From Friday, 24 July 2026, intercity rail passenger usage averaged 98,000 passenger-trips per day. On 28 July 2026, usage peaked at 107,033 passengers, comprising 42,893 passengers on commercial train services and 64,140 on social train services. As passengers are expected to gradually return to Bangkok, the DRT coordinated with the SRT to prepare additional carriages on high-demand trains to accommodate the returning travellers. The DRT also coordinated with electric rail service operators to prepare and monitor passenger volumes via closed-circuit television cameras linked to the train control centre, in order to consider increasing service frequency during peak periods and to facilitate passengers using the rail system.
"This field inspection visit is intended to reaffirm the highest safety standards before the system officially opens in October 2026. In addition, the DRT has been coordinating closely with the SRT and contractors to ensure that work is completed in full according to plan. Once the system is fully operational, it will tangibly reduce travel times for the public and enhance the capacity for rail freight transport to the Northern region."
This operation forms part of the Department of Rail Transport's mission to regulate, monitor, and promote rail transport services in accordance with safety standards, in order to build public confidence and support the efficient and sustainable development of the country's rail system.
