Fostering Factors to Rail Freight in Thailand

Abstract

Thailand's rail freight industry was expected to remain its backbone for the next fifteen years. Given the massive volume of rail freight, the government attempts to provide the conditions necessary to promote a modal shift from road to rail. The public is therefore left wondering about the large outlay given the ambitious goal. The major goal of this study is to reverse this scenario by examining what and where to increase demand for rail freight as well as fostering elements that promote the actual expansion of rail freight in Thailand. In order to address the goal of the first study, the researcher conducted a literature review and qualitative research.

In order to address the goal of the first study, the researcher conducted a literature review and qualitative research. To address issue number 2, 284 stakeholders answered questionnaires, and 8 focus groups were organized in addition to mixed-methods research. Commodity supplies and future product demand patterns are studied in order to estimate rising rail freight volumes, with the government's targets of 7%, 8%, and 10% in 2027, 2032, and 2037, respectively, serving as the foundation. It was found that 70.37%, 68.09%, and 61.07% of products will be transported, respectively, with an increase in the volume of things transported, comprising both currently transported goods and additional new commodities.

The primary factors influencing rail freight in Thailand, as shown by the stakeholders' conclusions, First, according to the key stakeholders, service, law, and public relations are the three most important aspects, followed by infrastructure and PR. The legislation, logistical facilities, infrastructure, public relations, and policy were then disclosed by the secondary stakeholder. The primary stakeholders prioritize rail performance, infrastructure, legality, cost, mode choice, and technology.

Rail freight organizers can employ the elements that have been shown to be contributing to the growth of rail freight in Thailand as a useful guide to improve their policies, plans, and practices.

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