"Chaiyachana" urges the government to develop "Thung Song" as the Southern ICD, pointing out that although multiple administrations have invested, the facility remains underused. He calls for customs deregulation to reduce export costs and boost farmers' incomes.
On 26 July 2026, Chaiyachana Dechadecho, party-list MP and deputy leader of the Democrat Party responsible for the southern region, visited the Thung Song distribution center in Nakhon Si Thammarat. He called on the government to expedite upgrading this center into an Inland Container Depot (ICD) with comprehensive customs checkpoints to enhance the efficiency of rail freight connections to ports nationwide, lower operators' costs, and strengthen Thailand's competitiveness.
Chaiyachana stated that the Thung Song distribution center is infrastructure continuously developed by successive governments, including buildings, rail systems, and large container yards. However, it remains underused because it lacks a dedicated customs checkpoint, forcing containers to be unloaded and undergo customs inspections again at ports, causing delays and increased costs.
He therefore appealed to Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anek Laothamatas to push for Thung Song to become an ICD like Lat Krabang, with customs and related agencies stationed onsite to allow inspection, document clearance, and container sealing from the origin.
"Once fully operational, containers can be transported by rail directly to ports such as Kantang, Laem Chabang, or Songkhla, then loaded onto ships for export immediately without repeated inspections at the ports," Chaiyachana said. :
He added that if the government systematically links rail systems with ports and distribution centers nationwide, it will significantly lower logistics costs for operators, ultimately increasing income for farmers and Thai producers. A single train can carry about 20 containers, while trucks can carry only 1-2 containers. This not only cuts costs but also reduces the number of trucks on roads, easing traffic congestion and lowering national energy consumption.
Chaiyachana emphasized that the Thung Song distribution center has the potential to become the southern logistics hub if the government upgrades it fully to an ICD. He invited the Prime Minister and Finance Minister to visit the site themselves to witness its potential and expedite the project's tangible progress.
