The State Railway of Thailand (SRT), in collaboration with Malaysia’s Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB), completed the trial run of the cross-border tourist train “MySawasdee.” The tests were conducted on the Padang Besar-Surat Thani route from September 21 to 23, marking a crucial step toward the start of regular services by the end of 2025.
SRT Governor Veeris Ammarapala reported that the train, hauled by an SRT QSY locomotive, ran successfully in both directions. The examination looked at critical technical parameters such as wheel spacing, brake systems, coach height, and platform clearances to assure passenger safety and operational reliability.
The agreement to move forward was achieved during the 43rd KTMB-SRT Joint Conference in August, when both operators established a basic framework for operations to begin in December 2025. Veeris also revealed that a separate trial run is being planned for the Bangkok-Butterworth route, with KTMB operating a three-car test train comprising one power car and two passenger coaches.
Currently, the “MySawasdee” travels between Kuala Lumpur and Hatyai on holiday schedules. Its projected expansion to Surat Thani and, eventually, Bangkok intends to boost tourism, give new travel experiences, and strengthen economic, cultural, and social relations between Thailand and Malaysia.
