Project News

On 25th November 2021, Department of Rail Transport (DRT) hosted the 1st Railway Demand Forecast Working Group (WG) at Manangkasila Meeting Room of DRT. The WG has been established in order to technically discuss on demand forecasting model focusing on rail system in Bangkok Metropolitan Region with participation of relevant stakeholders, including DRT, Thai/Japanese academia, relevant government agencies, such as Office of Traffic and Transport Planning and Strategy (OTP), Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), DRT consultant team, JICA Expert Team (JET) and JICA.

The first WG aims to explain its objectives, share the progress of M-MAP2 Study of DRT Consultant, and get advice from Thai/Japanese academia.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic spreads in Thailand, the meeting was still arranged by both face-to-face and online options.

Dr. Pichet KUNADHAMRAKS, Deputy Director General of DRT chaired the meeting. Presentations and discussions were made on the following contents;

• Objective of Demand Forecast Working Group and the past activities between DRT, the Consultant of DRT and JET
• Summary of Urban Railway Development in Bangkok
• Travel Survey and Demand Forecast Model in M-MAP2

The academia members pointed out some of the characteristics of travel pattern in BMR that should be considered in railway demand forecast; i.e., high-income households who own cars do not shift to public transportation and railway user's access to the station from far away. These useful advices clarified issues need to be considered in the traffic survey and traffic demand forecast modeling.

It has been decided to hold this WG meeting on a regular basis. The second WG meeting is expected to be held after conducting transport surveys, possibly in February 2022.

Opening remark by Dr. Pichet KUNADHAMRAKS, Deputy Director General of DRT

Online advice from Japanese Academia on the establishment of the Railway Demand Forecast Model

Participants from the DRT Meeting Room