Revealing Electric Train and Railway Usage During Songkran 2026: 7-Day Total Surpasses 8.22 Million Trips

The Department of Rail Transport revealed that on the first day of operation, over 1.11 million rail trips were made, with a cumulative total during the seven-day Songkran festival exceeding 8.22 million trips.

Mr. Pichet Kunathamrak, Director-General of the Department of Rail Transport (DRT), disclosed the daily rail travel overview on Thursday, 16 April 2026, which was the first working day after the extended holiday and the seventh day of the Ministry of Transport's plan to facilitate and ensure safety during the Songkran festival (10–19 April 2026). It was found that travel patterns returned to normal, with especially heavy crowds at both electric train and railway stations during peak hours in the morning and evening, as most people resumed work. Additionally, some were still traveling back to Bangkok from other provinces, resulting in a total daily rail travel volume on 16 April 2026 of 1,115,988 trips (about 16.57% below forecast). The details are as follows:

Intercity trains (State Railway of Thailand - SRT) served a total of 86,514 trips (about 10.65% below forecast), divided into 47,738 inbound trips and 38,776 outbound trips (including 37,024 commercial passengers and 49,490 social passengers). The SRT continued to provide sufficient services with a total of 212 trips, including special trains to support return travel, facilitating those still gradually returning. The breakdown of SRT users by line is as follows:

• Southern Line: 30,249 trips (15,804 inbound / 14,445 outbound), with 63 trips in total.
• Northeastern Line: 23,379 trips (13,608 inbound / 9,771 outbound), with 48 trips in total.
• Northern Line: 16,573 trips (9,495 inbound / 7,078 outbound), with 37 trips in total.
• Mahachai and Maeklong Lines: 6,241 trips (3,067 inbound / 3,174 outbound), with 42 trips in total.
• Eastern Line: 10,072 trips (5,764 inbound / 4,308 outbound), with 22 trips in total.

The electric train system recorded a total of 1,029,474 trips (about 17.03% below forecast), consistent with travel behavior after the festival, as some people continued returning or extended their leave. However, during peak hours, working-age groups continued to use the electric train system as their primary travel choice. The details by line are as follows:

• Green Line: 535,376 trips (about 7.69% below forecast), providing 1,275 trips (865 on the Sukhumvit line and 410 on the Silom line).
• Blue Line: 278,612 trips (about 31.76% below forecast), providing 489 trips (including 18 additional trips).
• Airport Rail Link (ARL): 53,170 trips (about 12.29% below forecast), providing 222 trips (including 7 additional trips).
• Pink Line: 47,525 trips (about 18.17% below forecast), providing 516 trips (including 240 on the extension, with 1,771 trips using the extension).
• Yellow Line: 38,363 trips (about 3.06% below forecast), providing 276 trips.
• Purple Line: 40,021 trips (about 36.20% below forecast), providing 319 trips (including 1 additional trip).
• Red Line: 30,534 trips (about 20.33% above forecast), providing 294 trips (178 trips on the Krung Thep Aphiwat–Rangsit route and 116 trips on the Taling Chan route).
• Gold Line: 5,873 trips (about 5.27% below forecast), providing 219 trips.

Mr. Pichet added that the cumulative seven-day rail travel during the Songkran festival (10–16 April 2026) showed a total of 8,222,793 trips, only about 0.59% below forecast, reflecting strong confidence in convenient, fast, and safe travel. The breakdown is as follows:

Intercity trains (SRT) over seven days: a total of 628,514 trips, about 9.29% below forecast, divided by line: Southern Line 222,672 trips, Northeastern Line 164,587 trips, Northern Line 116,216 trips, Eastern Line 68,760 trips, and Mahachai/Maeklong Lines 56,279 trips.

Urban electric train system over seven days: a total of 7,594,279 trips, about 0.20% above forecast. The top three lines with the highest cumulative users were Green, Blue, and ARL lines, respectively, while the Gold Line exceeded forecast by 40.21%. Details are as follows:

• Green Line: 3,860,473 trips (about 4.06% above forecast).
• Blue Line: 2,196,066 trips (about 5.68% below forecast).
• ARL: 402,813 trips (about 2.92% above forecast).
• Pink Line: 301,513 trips (about 8.02% below forecast), including 13,165 trips on the extension.
• Purple Line: 280,764 trips (about 9.52% below forecast).
• Yellow Line: 273,688 trips (about 6.97% above forecast).
• Red Line: 194,275 trips (about 0.40% below forecast).
• Gold Line: 84,687 trips (about 40.21% above forecast).

Mr. Pichet further stated that regarding safety, on 16 April 2026 at 02:10 AM, Express Train No. 139 (Bangkok Aphiwat - Ubon Ratchathani) struck and killed one person near Huai Thalaeng–Nong Krathing station. The deceased was lying within the railway structure at a dangerously close distance. Following this incident, the DRT strongly emphasized and warned the public not to trespass onto railway property under any circumstances. They also requested cooperation from the public and local community leaders to monitor and prevent unauthorized entry into railway areas to avoid serious accidents and loss of life.

Additionally, there was one reported electric train system disruption: on the Red Line suburban train (Thani Ratthaya line) at 20:33, a wheel axle counting device malfunction occurred near Thung Song Hong station, causing delays on two outbound trips (trips 1155 and 1157). The operator quickly resolved the issue, and normal service resumed by 21:30.

Mr. Pichet added that the overall safety and train operation summary over seven days (10–16 April 2026) recorded five reported hazardous incidents related to train operations and two electric train disruptions.

He added that to facilitate and accommodate citizens still gradually returning to Bangkok from other provinces, the SRT has arranged two additional special trains today (Friday, 17 April 2026) to ensure no passengers are left behind. These include:

• Train No. 984 Yala - Bangkok Aphiwat, departing at 15:35.
• Train No. 6 Chiang Mai - Bangkok Aphiwat, departing at 19:35.

Mr. Pichet concluded by saying that although the long Songkran holiday has ended, the Ministry of Transport and the DRT continue to implement their facilitation and safety plan until 19 April 2026 to support citizens gradually returning. The DRT has instructed the SRT and all electric train service providers to maintain the highest safety standards, ensure train readiness, and provide station facilities to deliver the most convenient and safest travel experience for the public every day.

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