King Mongkut Institute of Technology Ladkrabang has recently unveiled its locally-developed prototype luxury train carriage, to be put into service on the State Railway of Thailand’s (SRT) high-speed and tourist routes.

Associate Professor Somyot Kiatwanidvilai, dean of the Faculty of Engineering at KMIT Ladkrabang and chief of the project, said that the prototype was developed using local technology and with the help of technology transfer, built with at least 40% local materials, in line with the government’s “Thai First” policy.

He said that the prototype design was inspired by the seats on a business class airliner and first class in a high-speed train. Each car will have 8 super luxury seats and 17 luxury seats. Each seat will be equipped with a touch-screen, which can be used to order food for delivery to the seat.

Each car will be equipped with a vacuum toilet, to ensure maximum comfort and convenience, particularly for disabled passengers. The car is also light, because of the materials used and its design using space frame modular concept. The carriage can travel up to 120kph.

Somyot said that the carriages will require much less investment, compared to imports.

The prototype is currently on trial runs and, if it passes the tests, will be delivered to the SRT by Septembere, he added.

The SRT is aiming to improve its services, to compete with air travel and private cars.