The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) board recently gave the green light for an extension on the civil engineering contract tied to the construction of the Muak Lek-Lam Takhong tunnel, a vital segment of the Sino-Thai high-speed rail project. This 181-day extension pushes the deadline from June 7 to December 5. Interestingly, despite the extended timeline, the contractor won’t be seeing any extra compensation, as clarified by the SRT. This tunnel is a significant piece of the puzzle in the larger Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima section of the Bangkok-Nong Khai high-speed rail project—a massive collaboration between the Thai and Chinese governments. The project, as ambitious as it is, is not without its delays, currently running approximately five years behind its original schedule. Costing an impressive 4.28 billion baht, the tunnel project encompasses a 12.3-kilometer stretch. This includes 8 kilometers of tunnel, 3.3 kilometers of ground-level rail embankment, and a kilometer of elevated…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
Picture this: a nostalgic slice of Japan now making its way through the heart of Thailand. It’s not a culinary fusion or a cultural exchange program, but a Japanese KiHa train, beloved for its service in Japan, now given a second life on Thai tracks. Visualize that gleaming marvel, standing majestic in dusky Makkasan depot, all set for a makeover that will soon see it whisking Thai commuters along bustling suburban routes. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT), with the zeal of a collector unveiling new treasures, is readying the KiHa 40 and 48 diesel trains for an imminent debut. According to SRT governor Veeris Ammarapala, these second-hand trains are a gift from Japan and are about to redefine suburban travel with their unique charm. Lovingly upgraded to fit Thailand’s narrow-gauge tracks, these classic beauties are more than mere vehicles; they are ambassadors of nostalgia and practicality, set to roll…
As the morning mist lifts off the lush landscapes of Phu Kradueng, a conversation that’s been stirring for over three decades now reaches another crescendo. The talk? A cable car project, one that promises to redefine the contours of accessibility and conservation at this iconic destination. In the thick of these discussions is Saran Timsuwan, a dedicated MP from Loei’s Constituency 3, who’s now addressing a curious mix of interest and skepticism amongst the public. The proposed cable car isn’t merely a ticket to boost tourism, Saran emphasizes with a steady voice. “We’re not trying to paint the mountain with neon lights,” he chortles, his metaphorical brushstrokes instead crafting an image of a project that’s equally about safeguarding nature and enhancing emergency responsiveness. In a world where nature and progress often find themselves in discord, he’s advocating for a symbiotic dance. A robust budget of 25.7 million baht sits at…
On the bustling island of Phuket, where azure waters meet bustling markets, an unusual story captured the attention of locals and tourists alike. As Thai taxi driver controversies go, this one involving a grey hatchback certainly turned a few heads. The Facebook page โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต, which can be translated to “Phuket is so brutal,” set the scene by sharing a video that left viewers both bemused and intrigued. Imagine this: A hatchback, not quite the vehicle you’d expect for a taxi service, pulls up to cater to eager foreign tourists. But there’s a catch – it’s already cozy with the driver’s wife perched upfront. What follows is almost like watching a live puzzle as she vacates her seat and squeezes herself into the rear storage compartment, making room for not one, but three passengers. The tourists, slightly bewildered by this peculiar switcheroo, eventually hop in, setting off an online frenzy.…
In a heart-stopping, nail-biting event that could rival any action-packed thriller, Thai police stormed in to rescue two helpless baby orangutans from the clutches of black marketeers—just in the nick of time. Imagine a bustling petrol station on Prasert Manukit Road in Bangkok’s lively Lat Phrao district, and there, under the bright neon lights and the buzzing of daily life, played out a clandestine operation to thwart a cruel handover of these precious creatures. The date was May 15, 2025, a day marked by daring heroics and the triumph of law over the vile underbelly of wildlife trafficking. The saga began with an anonymous tip-off, the kind that makes your heart race a little faster, from international wildlife agencies. A monumental collaboration involving Thailand’s Environmental Crime Suppression Division (ECSD) and the fastidious Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), backed by astute insights from the US Fish and…
In an unexpected twist in Thailand’s financial landscape, the government has embarked on a daring new initiative to roll out a digital currency dubbed the Government Token, or G-Token, sparking a robust debate across the country’s economic corridors. This innovative strategy, meant to redefine fundraising alternatives, received a nod of approval from the Cabinet on a fine Tuesday, May 13. However, it’s not being hailed as a financial game-changer by everyone. Economic experts nationwide are voicing sharp criticisms, likening this move to treading on a financial tightrope sketched with legal grey areas and potential misinterpretations for the public. The intention behind the G-Token is to offer retail investors a more enticing option than the conventional bonds or bank savings, promising returns that eclipse the usual bank deposit interest rates. It’s a brave new world of finance indeed! Amidst the clamor, one voice rising above the rest is that of Thirachai…
In a tale that seems to only gather momentum, an American academic finds himself marooned in Thailand amidst a web of legal complexities, despite the charges against him being dropped. Paul Chambers, a 58-year-old political science lecturer, has been living in a state of suspense ever since he was arrested under Thailand’s stringent lese majeste law—a regulation rarely applied to foreigners that threatens up to 15 years of imprisonment. Though Thailand’s state prosecutor has ultimately dismissed these charges, Chambers remains stuck, ensnared by a bureaucratic net that refuses to let him go. His passport has been confiscated, his visa revoked, leaving him in an uncertain limbo that confounds even his family. His brother, Kit Chambers, voices the exasperation shared by many: “He’s not allowed to leave the country, and we’re not sure why. Our 85-year-old mother thought he was coming home. Now, we’re just hoping he doesn’t face more charges.”…
In the ever-vibrant province of Buriram, nestled in the heart of Thailand’s Isaan region, a rather outlandish scenario unfolded recently, painting an unexpected portrait of rural life disturbed by the surreal antics of one particularly troubled resident. Brace yourself, dear readers, as this is not your run-of-the-mill community disruption story. Meet Ittiporn, a 37-year-old whose recent escapades have managed to shock even the most seasoned locals and keep the gossip mills whirring. On May 15, this audacious individual embarked on a peculiar journey that led to his arrest and left more than a few farm animals quite bewildered. It all began innocently enough, or as innocent as things can get when one approaches a neighbor with a request that defies all social norms. The unwitting protagonist of this tale, 70-year-old Chaiyasak, found himself in a befuddling predicament when Ittiporn approached him with an unusual proposition — the desire to engage…
Intrigue and deception struck a devout crowd as the long-respected former abbot of Wat Rai Khing, Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, shockingly found himself stripped of his monastic status amidst financially scandalous allegations. This turning point came as the venerable monk, Jaem Inkhungkao, crossed into infamy after being accused of siphoning an astounding 300 million baht of temple funds. His purported motivation? A rapidly spiraling addiction to the thrilling but perilous game of online baccarat. The scandal unfolded as law enforcement officers revealed that a significant portion of these stolen funds, climbing to an eye-popping 847 million baht, had been funneled to a mysterious female broker’s account, one entwined with an illicit online gambling operation. The puzzle pieces started fitting when the former abbot conceded to the charges after a warrant materialized, greenlit by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases in response to the relentless probing by the Crime Suppression…
Amid the vibrant ebb and flow of Bangkok’s ever-evolving media landscape, the Bangkok Post has landed a prestigious spot on the shortlist for the Bangkok Pride Awards 2025. Celebrated within the category of ‘Bangkok Pride Value of Offline News,’ the Post stands alongside four other distinguished contenders: Thairath, Thai PBS, Daily News, and the insightful Sarakadee Magazine. This announcement burst forth, ripe with anticipation, straight from the official Bangkok Pride Facebook page. With May 31 circled in red on our calendars, the city buzzes with excitement in anticipation of the winners being unveiled at the grand spectacle of the Bangkok Pride Awards 2025. These awards, a gleaming beacon of recognition, bring into focus the significant role that offline media continues to play amid the digital revolution. In this digitally-dominated age, where news travels faster than the blink of an eye through myriad online channels, the enduring presence of traditional media…