Thailand has taken a step toward domestic railway manufacturing with the unveiling of a prototype luxury passenger coach at Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong terminus on July 3, according to railwaygazette.com.

The coach, built for a maximum speed of 120 km/h on a modular steel frame, has already completed test runs and was formally handed over to the State Railway of Thailand. SRT plans to deploy the vehicle on tourist train routes.

The car features a compartment designed for wheelchair users and a Luxury Class section with eight Super Luxury seats and 17 Luxury seats. Each seat is equipped with electric massage functionality, USB ports, an infotainment system and YouTube connectivity.

The vehicle was developed under the Thai-Made Train project led by King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. The project was financed by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Innovation and the National Industrial Corp.

The Sinogen–PinPetch Joint Venture served as the primary contractor for assembly and manufacturing. SRT reports that 44% of the vehicle’s components were produced domestically.

‘The manufacturing of the prototype car brought together expertise in engineering, materials science, air-conditioning systems and Internet of Things technology to improve maintenance efficiency and passenger services’, said Yodchanan Wongsawat, Minister for Higher Education, Science, Research & Innovation.

‘If Thailand can manufacture passenger coaches domestically, it will reduce imports, create added value for local manufacturers and strengthen the country’s industrial supply chain’, the minister added.

The project marks a milestone in Thailand’s efforts to build railway rolling stock locally, potentially reducing dependence on foreign suppliers and fostering a domestic supply chain.