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Songkran '69: Electric trains busy, Gold Line surges 51%, 3-day ridership over 3.6M

Songkran '69: Electric trains busy, Gold Line surges 51%, 3-day ridership over 3.6M

Thansettakij•Economy•7h ago

Reader Briefing

Thai rail transport saw over 3.6 million passengers during the first three days of Songkran '69, with the Gold Line experiencing a significant 51% surge.

  • •Over 3.6 million passengers used the rail system during the first three days of the Songkran festival in 2026.
  • •The Gold Line saw a 51% increase in ridership, attributed to Songkran celebrations at Iconsiam.
  • •Intercity train services operated smoothly, transporting 96,309 passengers on April 12, 2026, with no stranded passengers.
  • •The overall rail ridership was 4.36% below projections, potentially due to staggered travel patterns.

Overview

  • •From April 10–12, 2026, a total of 3,601,010 passenger-trips were recorded on the rail system.
  • •The Gold Line experienced a 51.86% surge in passenger numbers, reaching 10,934 passenger-trips.
  • •On April 12, 2026, intercity train services facilitated 96,309 passenger-trips in order to accommodate holiday travel.
  • •The Ministry of Transport implemented a plan to facilitate and ensure safety for public travel during the Songkran festival from April 10–19, 2026.
  • •The total rail ridership for the first three days was 3,601,010 passenger-trips, which was 4.36% lower than estimated.
  • •Staggered travel patterns and citizens remaining in Bangkok for festival activities contributed to the lower-than-estimated overall ridership.
  • •The Skytrain system served 957,550 passenger-trips on April 12, 2026, with the Green Line being the busiest.
  • •Passengers are urged to follow safety regulations, such as emptying water from containers before entering stations and refraining from playing water inside stations or trains.

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Key Quotes

Pichet Kunathamaraks
"Tracking the overall rail travel during the first 3 days of the facilitation plan (April 10-12, 2026), it was found that 3,601,010 passenger-trips used the rail system, which is 4.36% below estimates."
จากการติดตามภาพรวมการเดินทางด้วยระบบรางในช่วง 3 วันแรกของแผนอำนวยความสะดวกฯ (วันที่ 10–12 เมษายน 2026) พบว่ามีประชาชนใช้บริการระบบรางสะสมรวมทั้งสิ้น 3,601,010 คน-เที่ยว ซึ่งต่ำกว่าประมาณการร้อยละ 4.36
Pichet Kunathamaraks
"Intercity train users were highest with 96,309 passenger-trips, with no passengers stranded at Bangkok Station (Hua Lamphong) and Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station."
ผู้ใช้บริการรถไฟระหว่างเมืองสูงสุด 96,309 คน-เที่ยว โดยไม่มีผู้โดยสารตกค้างที่สถานีกรุงเทพ (หัวลำโพง) และสถานีกลางกรุงเทพอภิวัฒน์

Key Entities

Organization

Department of Rail Transport (DRT)(กรมการขนส่งทางราง (ขร.))
The governing body responsible for overseeing rail transport in Thailand.
Ministry of Transport(กระทรวงคมนาคม)ℹ️
The government ministry overseeing transportation infrastructure and services in Thailand.
SRT(รฟท.)ℹ️
State Railway of Thailand, responsible for operating intercity train services.

Person

Mr. Pichet Kunathamaraks(นายพิเชฐ คุณาธรรมรักษ์)
Director-General of the Department of Rail Transport (DRT), who provided data on rail travel during Songkran '69.

Law

Intercity Trains(รถไฟระหว่างเมือง)
Rail services connecting major cities across Thailand.
Southern Line(สายใต้)
A railway line operated by SRT, connecting Bangkok to southern Thailand.
Northeastern Line(สายตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือ)
A railway line operated by SRT, connecting Bangkok to northeastern Thailand.
Northern Line(สายเหนือ)
A railway line operated by SRT, connecting Bangkok to northern Thailand.
Eastern Line(สายตะวันออก)
A railway line operated by SRT, connecting Bangkok to eastern Thailand.
Mahachai/Maeklong Line(สายมหาชัย/แม่กลอง)
Railway lines operated by SRT, connecting Bangkok to southwestern areas.
Electric Trains(รถไฟฟ้า)
Urban rapid transit systems powered by electricity.
Green Line(สายสีเขียว)
A major Skytrain line in Bangkok serving key entertainment and commercial districts.
Blue Line(สายสีน้ำเงิน)
A major subway line in Bangkok, forming a circular route around the city center.
Airport Rail Link(ARL)ℹ️
A railway service connecting central Bangkok to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Purple Line(สายสีม่วง)
An MRT line in Bangkok connecting northern and western suburbs to the city center.
Pink Line(สายสีชมพู)
A Skytrain line in Bangkok serving northeastern areas and connecting to other lines.
Yellow Line(สายสีเหลือง)
A Skytrain line in Bangkok connecting Lat Phrao to Samrong.
Red Line(สายสีแดง)
A commuter rail line in Bangkok connecting Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station to Rangsit and Taling Chan.
Gold Line(สายสีทอง)
A short automated monorail line connecting Krung Thon Buri BTS station to ICONSIAM.

Place

Bangkok Station (Hua Lamphong)(สถานีกรุงเทพ (หัวลำโพง))ℹ️
A major historical railway station in Bangkok, Thailand.
Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station(สถานีกลางกรุงเทพอภิวัฒน์)
A new intermodal transit hub in Bangkok, Thailand, serving major rail lines.
ICONSIAM(ไอคอนสยาม)ℹ️
A major riverside mixed-use development in Bangkok, popular for Songkran celebrations.