MOE Minister giving interview after Thungsong-Bangkok Train Ride

(07-05-2013)

1. On“Train Systems”
   “Last night (May 1,2013) I took the train because I needed to travel from Trang to Hua Hin and there were no other better transportation options available. I boarded the train at about 10.30 pm and found out later that my program at Hua Hin had been cancelled, so I took the train straight on to Bangkok and arrived there at 11.00 am. It took quite a long time.  
           I have to admit that the train system in Thailand is underdeveloped. Its services have not been improved for a long time. The locomotives are at least 25 years old. That is why not so long ago, the cabinet made a resolution to purchase a number of new locomotives. You can see that taking a train from Thungsong to Bangkok took more than 13 hours. Traveling by train should be much faster than that. All of these delays were caused by the ineffectiveness of the system such as time spent waiting to shunt.   
          The government has just set up a new train track system, which will be beneficial for the transportation system in Thailand as a whole. More space to carry cargo and new trains that run at faster speeds are provided for people to choose from. I spoke to an officer of the State Railway of Thailand and he said that the numbers of people using the train services exceed the capacity of the trains to carry them. Train schedules do not continue for 24 hours a day. There are only a number of trains leaving the main station but there are long lines of people waiting to board them every day.
         The train is still in high demand in our country, therefore, if the train system is developed and improved so that trains can take people to their destinies faster, it will become an even more popular and inexpensive choice of transportation. I believe that the Thailand 2020 Project that the government has started will bring great development to the rail system.”   

Progress of High Speed Rail Project

    “Mr. Chadchart Sitthiphan, the Minister of Transportations and Communications, is working on this and there has been a lot of progress made. Many rail systems in Bangkok have been constructed, especially the Red Line. The State Railway of Thailand is still using diesel electric locomotives on the old tracks because the whole electric system is incomplete, but once the high-speed trains are ready to go on service, the people will have many more choices of train on which to travel. These trains will be very convenient and fast, almost like air freight. The trains will run through the middle of the city. Actually, it will be even better than using airplanes when you calculate the time and compare the price. It will be a safer way of traveling, too. People are afraid that the prices will be too high and that ordinary people will not be able to afford it, but I believe that the Ministry of Transportations and Communications will carefully consider the price structure. They will make sure that the system is affordable for most people. We really want everyone to have access to this service.”

 

MOE preparing human resources for this new train services

“We are usually assigned to prepare human resources whenever there are new development projects. For the coming new rail services, we need a lot of people to work in the system. Vocational and academic institutions must prepare them. We have discussed and speculated on the types of personnel suitable for different areas. The government will not only produce the workforce, but will also consider which industries to develop in order to support this new public transportation project so that we don’t have to waste money on foreign currency. We want more income and more business opportunities for Thai people.”

2. On“Corruption in the Teacher Assistant Examination”
Information expected from the Department of Special Investigation:
“The DSIis processing this criminal case and we are going to use the information from the case for investigating and deciding on the consequences for those who passed the exam by cheating. So far, we have received some information from DSI for our consideration and it was presented to OTEPC at the last meeting.”
“I assure you that this is not a phony fight. No one will be protected. We are working through the process in the most straightforward way. Any MOE personnel involved in this corruption will certainly be punished. As for the offenders outside the MOE, the Department of Special Investigation will find out whether or not they have any criminal liability."