The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) temporarily closed the country’s longest train tunnel shortly after its opening on Sunday due to a cleanup operation necessitated by passenger complaints of thick dust inside.
Ekarat Sri-arayanpong, head of the SRT governor’s office, stated that passengers heading northeast reported significant dust issues as their train traveled through the Pha Sadet tunnel in Saraburi province, prompting the SRT to mandate a 14-day cleaning period by the contractor.
This new tunnel, stretching 5.4 kilometers, is a feature of the SRT’s newly constructed double-track railway heading to the Northeast, with plans to reopen it on August 12.
Mr. Ekarat explained that although the contractor had initially cleared the tunnel of dust before its opening, subsequent winds had blown dust back into the tunnel.
With the tunnel closed temporarily, trains bound for the northeast will revert to using the older 18-kilometer route from Map Krabao station through Pha Sadet and Hin Lap stations to Muak Lek station, which takes 32 minutes to travel.
Conversely, the new route via the tunnel between Map Krabao and Muak Lek spans 14 kilometers and reduces the travel time to 15 minutes.
The dust issue gained widespread attention after videos and photos surfaced on Thai social media, becoming a viral topic.
The dust particularly affects carriages equipped with electric fans.
Footage depicted thick dust swirling into train carriages through open windows, prompting passengers to cover their noses during the journey through the tunnel. Dust was seen covering passengers’ belongings, including their mobile phones.
The Thai Train Guide, a website that covered the incident, criticized the poor air quality inside the carriages as they passed through the tunnel.
Train staff recommended that passengers shut windows and wear masks to protect against the dust, which also caused irritation to the eyes.
Upon exiting the tunnel, passengers were seen cleaning dust off their clothing and seats, as reported by the website.
The SRT has incorporated advanced security and safety measures in the tunnel design, including passenger evacuation sections every 500 meters.
Once upgrades to the double track are complete, passenger trains will be capable of reaching speeds up to 120 km/h, and freight trains up to 60 km/h.
The government envisions the completion of the double-track railway system by 2027 as a pivotal step in transforming Thailand into a key regional hub for cargo and passenger rail transport, linking the new Singapore-Kunming route.
The upcoming network aims to connect routes across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, and China, as highlighted by the Department of Rail Transport.
To meet the 2027 target for this new regional railway connection, Thailand is focusing on accelerating the second phase of its double-track railway development and the construction of a new Thai-Lao friendship bridge, as stated by the department.
