KHON KAEN, THAILAND – The first light rail tram fully designed and built in Thailand began trial operations on a university campus, drawing strong attention online.
Campus prototype enters daily test service
The experimental tram, developed by researchers at Rajamangala University of Technology Isan (RMUTI), had run since December on a roughly 450-meter track across the campus. Regular operations were expected within a year, according to the university.
Years of research behind the project
The project was developed over six to seven years at the Faculty of Engineering in Khon Kaen and had been formally advanced since 2020 under a three-year research program. Work was led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Paiwan Kerdtruat, whose team, backed by the Program Management Unit for Competitiveness (PMUC), laid the foundations for the current prototype system.
Local design inspired by global systems
According to Paiwan, the tram’s design came entirely from local engineers, who had previously analyzed rail systems in Germany, Japan and China. The aim was to create a homegrown light rail system that could be deployed in cities such as Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai and Phuket, where public transport was slated for major expansion.
“Our goal is to build a domestically developed light rail system that can serve Thai cities and reduce dependence on imported technology.”
said Asst. Prof. Dr. Paiwan Kerdtruat, project leader.
Hybrid-powered train with urban capacity
The three-car train could carry up to 120 passengers, combining test runs with a realistic capacity profile for urban services. Its drive system used a hybrid setup of batteries and overhead power, and the project team planned to develop a hydrogen-powered version in the longer term.
University grounds as real-world test bed
The current test route ran from the university’s main entrance past several buildings to a maintenance center, simulating a complete miniature operation. Students and official visitor groups were already allowed to ride, while stations and additional infrastructure were to be built over the next twelve months ahead of wider use.
High share of domestically made components
Paiwan said around 80 percent of installed parts were manufactured in Thailand, including by producers in the provinces of Ayutthaya, Chonburi and Samut Prakan. Specialized components not yet made locally were imported and integrated domestically to gradually build up expertise and value creation in the country.
“By increasing the local share of components step by step, we want to strengthen Thai industry and keep more of the value chain in the country.”
said Asst. Prof. Dr. Paiwan Kerdtruat, project leader.
Signpost for Khon Kaen’s light rail plans
Khon Kaen had long pursued plans for a roughly 26-kilometer light rail project, which had yet to be implemented, and for which the campus prototype was now seen as a technical guide. Since photos and videos of the test runs began circulating on social media, the project had received mostly positive feedback, with many people linking it to hopes for modern, locally produced rail technology and a future network extension, including around Kaen Nakhon Lake.
“The positive reaction shows that people are ready for modern public transport made in Thailand and are looking forward to future network expansion.”
said Asst. Prof. Dr. Paiwan Kerdtruat, project leader.