Thales enhanced rail safety across 48 train stations in Thailand

Thales, leader in transportation solutions, has delivered and continues to expand delivery and implementation of European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 1 projects in Thailand. The equipment is used for modernising the signalling system of State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and hence benefitting from increased reliability and higher capacity. With additional axle counters and point machines, Thales supports SRT’s drive towards the enhancement of safety and efficiency of rail transport. Around 130,000 daily passengers will benefit from this modernisation. 

In 2019, the modernisation program started for 48 stations around Bangkok, from Lop Buri in the north to Nakhon Pathom in the south and Map Kabao in the north-east. The Automatic Train Protection System has been put into operation recently on 321 kilometres of SRT’s four lines Northern, North-Eastern, Eastern and Southern Lines. Thales is proud to have proven again its commitment to support Thailand’s revival of its rail industry. With 14 stations which represent 123 kilometres, the section between Hua Mak and Laem Chabang was the longest part to be equipped with ETCS Level 1, enabling commuters to safely and efficiently reach the eastern part of Bangkok region by rail.

Together with the joint venture partner River Engineering, Thales experts from Thailand, Austria and Bulgaria designed, supplied and installed the ETCS Level 1 trackside solution in decentral mode, meaning Lineside Electronic Units (LEU) are connected directly to the signals in the field. A large number of hardware – in detail more than 1,000 LEUs and over 3,000 balises – have been installed throughout the track.