The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) have reached an agreement to improve Thailand's rail system parts-making industry so that it meets international standards.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Monday to cooperate on rail system parts research and the standardised testing of locally-produced rail system parts, to keep up with the country's massive infrastructure investment, acting SRT governor, Worawut Mala said.
Materials used in the construction of rail tracks, for instance, are produced in Thailand, he said.
Initially, the SRT and NSTDA aim to raise production standards of less-complicated rail system parts, before moving on to more complicated items, so that the country will be able to decrease its dependence on imports, he said.
The cooperation is part of the country's preparation for the planned expansion of the national rail network, which is in line with many other countries' plans to improve their own rail systems, he said.
Mr Worawut is optimistic that the agreement between the SRT and the NSTDA would drive Thailand's transformation to be an exporter of rail system parts in the future.
Narong Sirilertworakul, president of the NSTDA, said the agency is ready to support the SRT's work.
The NSTDA's headquarters, which is only 3 kilometres from Chiang Rak Noi station on the electric rail system, will also see the maintenance and repair centre for the Thai-Chinese high-speed train project located there in the near future, said Mr Narong.
The agency will assist the SRT in conducting research on rail system parts technology and raising the standard of parts produced for the Thai-Chinese high speed train's maintenance and repair centre, he said.
The NSTDA will also support the development of laboratory testing facilities to ensure that parts are not only suitable for use on the high-speed rail project, but also on other rail projects, including the planned inter-airport rail link.
The agency drafted the master plan for the transfer of technology from China to Thailand in the high-speed rail project, as well as the framework for the project's staff training, he said.