The Department of Rail Transport announced that electric train usage during the 2026 Songkran festival surpassed 1.1 million riders. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) was instructed to add four special train services to accommodate people returning to Bangkok on the final holiday.
Mr. Pichet Kunathamrak, Director-General of the Department of Rail Transport (DRT), revealed that on 14 April 2026, rail system usage surged to over 1.2 million trips, with urban electric trains especially crowded around the Silom and Siam areas popular for water celebrations. Meanwhile, the SRT prepared four special train services to support travelers returning to Bangkok on the last holiday, while enforcing the highest safety standards.
Travel activity in Bangkok and its metropolitan area was bustling, with electric train users reaching 1,128,070 trips, an 11.21 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Stations serving as connections to key Songkran water festival landmarks saw especially heavy passenger traffic.
.The area around “Silom Road”recorded 252,265 attendees on 14 April alone, causing the Green and Blue lines—main routes to the event locations—to carry nearly one million trips combined. Additionally, the Gold Line saw the highest growth rate of 59.03 percent, benefiting from tourists traveling to the riverside festivities at Iconsiam on the Chao Phraya River.
Regarding interprovincial travel, the atmosphere clearly shifted toward return journeys to avoid traffic congestion. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) prepared to facilitate travel on 15 April 2026, the final public holiday, by adding extra carriages and running four special trains to prevent passenger backlog.
Regarding interprovincial travel, the atmosphere clearly shifted toward return journeys to avoid traffic congestion. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) prepared to facilitate travel on 15 April 2026, the final public holiday, by adding extra carriages and running four special trains to prevent passenger backlog.
Beyond adding trains, the SRT enhanced safety measures to handle medical emergencies by increasing patrol frequency along the routes. Passengers encountering emergencies can call the SRT hotline 1690, available 24/7, which coordinates with the 1669 emergency line to have ambulances ready at terminal stations for rapid response.
Mr. Pichet concluded by expressing concern for citizens driving personal vehicles returning to Bangkok and other areas. He urged everyone to prepare physically and drive with extra caution, especially when crossing railway intersections nationwide. He requested cooperation to slow down, stop safely when warning signals activate, and strictly obey traffic laws. Cutting in front of trains at close range is strictly prohibited to prevent accidents and losses. He also took the opportunity to thank and encourage frontline staff and all rail system personnel who sacrificed their holiday time to work diligently, ensuring convenience and safety for the public throughout the extended holiday festival, so everyone could enjoy Songkran celebrations safely.
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