Strategy to Increase Rail Freight Share from ICD Lat Krabang to Laem Chabang Port to 30%
December, 8 2023
On November 20, 2023, Mr. Athiphu Chitranukhro, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Rail Transport (DOR), participated in a strategic brainstorming meeting titled "Promotion of Rail Transport at Laem Chabang Port." The meeting was held at the Single Rail Transfer Operator (SRTO) Development Project Office, Laem Chabang Port, Chonburi.
This initiative is part of the "Transportation for the Well-being of the People" policy, aimed at boosting economic growth, improving safety standards, enhancing service quality to meet international standards, and promoting environmental sustainability.
Current Rail Freight Situation at Laem Chabang Port
- Total annual freight volume: 472,000 TEUs (5.4% of port cargo)
- Key sources:
- ICD Lat Krabang – Laem Chabang: 88% of rail shipments
- Other railway lines (Southern Isan, Northern, Southern Lines): 12%
Future Targets and Strategic Plans
The meeting explored plans to increase rail freight volumes to 2 million TEUs per year through:
- ICD Lat Krabang: 700,000 TEUs annually (35%)
- Other railway routes: 1.3 million TEUs annually (65%)
Rail transport is expected to reach 20-30% of total cargo shipments on the ICD Lat Krabang – Laem Chabang corridor, reducing reliance on road transport, which currently carries 930,000 TEUs per year via trucks.
Benefits of increasing rail freight transport:
✅ Lower logistics costs for businesses
✅ Reduced road congestion and truck-related traffic issues
✅ Decreased air pollution and carbon emissions
✅ Enhanced competitiveness of Thailand’s logistics industry
Key Action Plans to Achieve 30% Rail Freight Share
- Eliminating Rail Transport Bottlenecks at SRTO Terminal
- Amending the 2006 State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Traffic Regulations to allow multiple train operations per session within SRTO, maintaining safety standards
- Expanding Locomotive & Freight Wagon Capacity – SRT to expedite locomotive and freight wagon procurement to meet growing demand
- Encouraging Private Sector Involvement in rail freight services
- Regulatory Improvements & Infrastructure Development
- Enhancing X-ray scanning efficiency for cargo inspections
- Upgrading rail signaling systems to improve train operations
- Expanding capacity to support Phase 3 development of Laem Chabang Port
Conclusion
The Department of Rail Transport remains committed to enhancing rail freight efficiency and safety, supporting Thailand’s logistics sector, and ensuring the country remains competitive in the global import-export market.