New Rail Tunnel

[Jun]

Here are reports of riding on a new rail tunnel. I think this replaces one of the twisty sections, just before Nakhon Ratchasima.
I would hope that speeds up the trip, but with SRT, one never knows.

Take a good face mask, as pollution in the tunnel looks horrendous:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/asiantrainguide

[Jun]

Apparently they will now close the tunnel for 14 days to clean it. I wonder what they learned from the trial runs before opening ?

On the subject of trial runs, across the border in Poipet, Cambodia, a trial run of some Japanese trains managed to bring down a load of overhead communication cables, due to inadequate clearance.

Sources same as link in opening post.

[Gaybutton]

Another example of the fine, quality work done by competent contractors.
_____________________________________________________

Phasadet rail tunnel in Saraburi closed within hours of opening

SRT halts operations for two weeks to undertake deep clean of tunnel after videos posted of dust entering carriages

by THE NATION

July 29, 2024

The State Railway of Thailand ( SRT ) stopped services through Phasadet tunnel, the longest railway tunnel in Thailand at 5.2km, yesterday (July 28) within hours of its opening. The decision was taken after videos of dust blowing into carriages were posted online.
Repairs are expected to take two weeks and the tunnel is provisionally scheduled to reopen on August 12.

Images and a video posted by a foreign Facebook user showed strong wind blowing dust into the train and the post also mentioned a strong smell of diesel.

Ekkarat Sriarayanpong, chief of the Office of the Governor of SRT, said that following the post, Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote, instructed the SRT to address the issue urgently. SRT's special projects and construction department promptly inspected the area.

They found that the dust that had blown into the tunnel by strong winds during its construction had accumulated, and that even though the contractors had used fans to disperse it before the opening, a dusty residue remained.

The SRT is now coordinating with the contractor to thoroughly clean the tunnel using water and fans, which will take 14 days. During the cleaning process, the SRT will temporarily reroute 14 passenger trains on the Ubon Ratchathani line back to the original route: Map Kabao - Phasadet - Hin Lap - Muak Lek, a distance of 18 km, taking 32 minutes to cover.

After the cleaning, SRT will inspect and test the route before resuming normal operations.

Phasadet Tunnel is located in Saraburi Province and is Thailand's longest railway tunnel. It is a double tunnel with separate tracks for each direction and is part of the new double-track railway from Map Kabao to Muak Lek, a 14 km distance, and cuts travel time to 15 minutes.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/ne ... l/40040097

[Jun]

Another example of the fine, quality work done by competent contractors.

Also, another example of fine SRT management with carefully monitored pre-opening trial runs.

They found that the dust that had blown into the tunnel by strong winds during its construction had accumulated, and that even though the contractors had used fans to disperse it before the opening, a dusty residue remained.

I think they meant to write "We know tunneling creates dust, but we're too lazy to clean it up properly".

[christianpfc]

Maybe the problem is not dust from construction, but diesel exhaust? I never paid attention to diesel exhaust in the open, anyway it would disperse in all directions. But in a tunnel, all carriages have to go through the exhaust, and how long will it stay in a tunnel 5 km long? Or does the train work as a piston and push out old air and draw in new air as it goes through the tunnel?

[Jun]

Maybe the problem is not dust from construction, but diesel exhaust?

The videos & photos show lot's of light coloured dust, probably from construction, rather than the black soot from diesel engines.

After they clean up the mess from construction, I suspect the trip would be bearable, even with a diesel engine, just as long as you wear an N95 mask.

[Gaybutton]

After they clean up the mess from construction, I suspect the trip would be bearable, even with a diesel engine, just as long as you wear an N95 mask.

I'll take the bus . . .

[Jun]

I'll take the bus . . .

I'll take the train, but I suspect the majority of Thais would be on the bus with you.

The whole idea of the railway upgrades ought to be to make the rail service so good that the buses just can't compete.

Instead, they seem to be spending money to enrich contractors, rather than provide faster trains.

[Jun]

Incidentally, this tunnel did not reopen as scheduled after cleaning out the construction dust.
Apparently, if & when it does reopen, it will be for aircon passenger trains only. I believe only a minority of trains have all aircon carriages.

Yet another example of a construction project that fails to improve the service to customers.

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q= ... buri%20NBT

[Jun]

I recently took a train through this tunnel. Dust was not a noticeable problem.
I put my N95 mask on, so there was no problem with diesel soot.

I'd imagine it saved some time by cutting out the twisty sections.

They're also constructing a high speed line nearby. As high speed would have to be a broader gauge, I'd imagine they won't be using the same tunnels for that. So how long will these tunnels be running passenger services for?