The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has denied claims circulating online that 30 social train services would be cancelled and 16 others would have their routes shortened from June 1, insisting that all train services nationwide will continue to operate as normal.
The clarification came after an internal SRT document outlining possible measures regarding social train services was shared across social media, prompting remarks of concern from commuters, students and others who rely heavily on rail transport.
The SRT on Wednesday apologised for the confusion and concern caused by the leaked document, stressing that no social train services will be cancelled or reduced on June 1, and that passengers can continue travelling on all routes according to existing timetables.
According to the railway authority, the document being circulated online was an internal memorandum seeking preliminary approval at the administrative level and was never intended for public release.
The SRT said it is currently in the early stages of reviewing operational data, particularly for services with below-average passenger usage, to better understand shifts in travel behaviour. The aim is to explore potential improvements, including route adjustments or reallocating locomotives and carriages to routes with higher demand.
However, the agency stressed that the process remains at the data-gathering and preliminary study stage only.
The SRT acknowledged that social train services remain a vital transport lifeline for many people and said any adjustments would be considered carefully to minimise public impact.
It also pledged that no train services would be abruptly cancelled without alternative arrangements, assuring that any changes would go through thorough review with public feedback taken into account.
The SRT also urged the public to refrain from sharing or forwarding the leaked document to prevent further misunderstanding, while thanking people for their concern and constructive suggestions.
