German business delegation on railway technology: The Future is Rail

The German-Thai Chamber of Commerce (GTCC) successfully organised a delegation trip for German companies to Thailand between 9 and 13 May 2022, with a focus on the exchange of knowledge in the area of technology solutions in the railway sector.

On the first day, the delegation gained firsthand knowledge of Thailand's economy and political situation during a Thailand briefing led by Mr. Marius Mehner, GTCC Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Hans-Ulrich Südbeck from the German Embassy Bangkok and Mr. Thomas Hundt from GTAI (Germany Trade & Invest). Later in the afternoon, the delegation visited the SRT Electrified Train (SRTET) maintenance centre as well as the operation centre at Bang Sue Grand Station. They had a roundtrip ride on the SRT Dark Red Line, “Bang Sue-Don Mueang”. The Red Line Mass Transit System began full commercial service in November 2021.

On the following day, the delegates joined the German-Thai Conference on “The Future is Rail”, which took place within the framework of the Foreign Market Entry Programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) supported by the BMWK (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action). Organised at the Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn with the participation of about 120 guests, the conference provided an excellent platform for the German companies to present their state-of-the-art rail products and solutions to Thai counterparts. The conference commenced with opening remarks by GTCC Executive Director Dr. Roland Wein and welcoming remarks by German Ambassador to Thailand H.E. Georg Schmidt.

Mr. Axel Schuppe, General Manager of the German Association of the Railway Industry (VDB) e.V. provided a valuable insight into the work of the VDB with its 210 member companies that include infrastructure companies, component and subsystem suppliers, engineering solution providers, system integrators and service providers. Their common goal is to create green mobility made in Germany, with fast, punctual, emission-free, efficient, connected and comfortable features.

Next, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Nisai Fuengwarodsakul, Dean of the Thai-German Graduate School (TGGS) and Chairman of the German-Thai Railway Association (GTRA), shared the background of GTRA, which started in 2017 with the German-Thai Railway Partnership (GTRP). GTRA's goal and mission is to support Thai-German Railway networking and co-operation in creating “Rail Transportation for better life quality in Thailand”.

Mr. Tomasz Mazur, CEO, Siemens Mobility Limited showcased the company’s latest products and solutions in the field of railways. Siemens Mobility Limited has been supporting Thai pioneers in the implementation of the first e-railway solutions in Thailand for more than 20 years. Mr. Jan-Andre Völkel, Sales Manager Product Business, Thales Deutschland GmbH highlighted the company's 140 years of technological expertise and railway enthusiasm. Thales is a trusted partner in the transportation industry, with high-quality products that are 100 per cent manufactured in Germany. Mr. Low Kok Ming, Sales Director North and SouthEast Asia for HIMA Paul Hildebrandt GmbH, explained that HIMA as the world’s leading specialist in safety automation, supports OEMs, distributors and system integrators as well as end-customers in the railway industry.

Mr. Achim Schlink, Infrastructure Sales, HANNING & KAHL GmbH & Ko. KG, presented the company’s high-quality products for customers worldwide with planning aheadinnovative solutions and products for light rail and metro lines. Mr. Gabriel Hornemann, Global Sales and Marketing Director of Dellner GmbH showcased the company’s offers of safety, quality, delivery, and cost train connection systems with an innovative and sustainable concept. Mr. Alexander Weber, Key Account Manager of GMT GummiMetall-Technik GmbH, presented safety GMT products and offered a variety of components for railway vehicles.

Dr. Chayut Ngamkhanong, Lecturer at Chulalongkorn University (CU)/Faculty of Engineering, moderated a panel discussion on “The Future is Rail – Thailand’s journey to a new era in rail transportation” led by panelists that included: Dr. Sara Cheung, Managing Director, Asia Era One Co., Ltd. (AERA 1); ), Lakthan Thongnopakoon, Assistant Managing Director of Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc (BEM); and Dr. Ekkarut Viyanit, Principal Researcher and Director of Rail and Modern Transport Research Centre (RMT), NSTDA, Thailand. They discussed the current railway development in Thailand and its challenges. Dr. Cheung believed that Thailand is in a good position in terms of railway development, and that the high-speed trains should be extended to China and Viet Nam. Mr. Lakthan agreed with Dr. Cheung's view on Thailand's current situation, but addressed the challenge of the ticketing system that needs to be improved into a one-ticket system for all. Dr. Ekkarut commented that Thailand is doing extensive research and development to maintain the competitiveness of Thai railroads, but that condition-based maintenance needs to be done.

The panelists further discussed the future of Thailand’s railways and its improvements. After two years of the Covid 19 pandemic, people's habits towards public transportation have changed, according to Dr. Cheung’s opinion. More flexibility and privacy need to be adapted to the future railway. Dr. Cheung suggested cost reduction for the maintenance in the future through greater efficiency. Mr. Lakthan reviewed three main areas for improvement — the smart ticketing system with more information for passengers, predictive maintenance as well as cyber security. Dr. Ekkarut believed the future of travel would be more digital, with real-time health diagnostics, condition-based maintenance, a digital traffic infrastructure and an enhanced customer experience becoming increasingly important. In conclusion, they agreed that all points needed to be improved as well as building a green concept and financial sustainability.

The session of company presentations continued with Mr. Carsten Chantrain, Sales Manager Asia, GERB Schwingungsisolier ungen GmbH & Co. KG with focuses on the interface and vibrational control for railways. FOGTEC Brandschutz GmbH, presented by Mr. Jens Splitter, Senior Sales Director AsiaPacific – Rail Systems, is designing fire protection concepts and it offers a wide range of products for railway-specific systems covering different levels of technology and safety. Mr. Willy Molter, Director Export of KRAIBURG STRAIL GmbH & Co. KG showcased the company’s level-crossing, sound protection and polymer sleepers’ products. SI-KA-TEC GmbH engineering coating, with coated technical textiles, films and laminates, was presented by Mr. Samoundy Ramalingame, Sales Director, South-East Asia.

There was an MoU Signing Ceremony on German-Thai rail co-operation between VDB and GTRA, presided over by Thailand’s Minister of Transport H.E. Saksayam Chidchob, H.E. German Ambassador to Thailand and the GTCC Executive Director. The Thai Minister of Transport stressed that Germany is considered to be a close partner in knowledge exchange and co-operation with Germany, contributing to the improvement of Thailand's railway system. He also presented the master plan that foresees the expansion of the existing rail network with a total length of 4,043 km to 4,721 km in the future.

The event was followed by individual business-to-business speed networking and get-togethers. The German delegates on the last day of their trip (13 May) had a chance to visit the BTS Group and BTS Training Centre at Mochit. They were welcomed by Mr. Sumit Srisantithum, Chief Operating Officer of Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited.

Written by Janina Stoll, GTCC Membership, Events and Communications Trainee