Thailand and Russia have pledged to strengthen railway ties after transport officials from both countries met in Moscow on Wednesday to discuss technology cooperation, skills development and research partnerships.
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, permanent secretary Chayathan Promsorn, and ministry executives on Wednesday met All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Railway Transport (VNIIZHT) deputy director Mikhail Mekhedov to discuss cooperation on railway transportation development during an official visit to Russia.
During the meeting, both parties agreed to advance a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Thai-Russian communication cooperation.
Established in 1918, VNIIZHT has played a vital role in Russia's railway system, with operations spanning railway system development, infrastructure advancement, rolling stock technology, and more recently digital innovation.
Mr Phiphat said that as the government prioritises railway transportation development to reduce logistics costs and promote regional connectivity, the discussion with VNIIZHT is expected to evolve into substantive cooperation between the two countries.
Mr Phiphat also said Thailand needed to rely on Russian standards in railway development, though the country's main intention was not limited to technology importation alone.
The cooperation will begin with human resource development, expert exchanges, and joint research initiatives, including technology transfer in maintenance, system trials, and supply chain creation.
The plan also covers domestic rolling stock wheel production to strengthen Thailand's railway industry.
Mr Phiphat said the government will select development perspectives suited to Thailand's context, with the main intention being to cultivate human resources for future domestic technology development.
Mr Chayathan, meanwhile, said some of the short-term cooperation under the MoU included an exchange programme to 19 transportation colleges across Russia.
One included the Russian University of Transport, whose curriculum covered railway engineering and digital system implementation.
The delegation also examined Russia's forecasting and analytic system, which can calculate the impact of external factors on railway operations, including weather, humidity, and flood records.
