Bangkok: The three-day Songkran festival witnessed a remarkable influx of 3.6 million commuters utilizing the rail system, as Bangkok residents and tourists flocked to engage in traditional water games, significantly boosting rail usage.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Pichet Kunathamarak, Director-General of the Department of Rail Transport (DRT), provided insights into the rail travel statistics on Sunday, April 12, 2026, marking the third day of the Ministry of Transport's initiative to facilitate and ensure public travel safety during the Songkran Festival 2026. A peak of 96,309 passenger-trips on intercity trains was reported, with no stranded passengers at major Bangkok stations. The vibrant atmosphere in Bangkok and surrounding areas saw increased participation in Songkran activities, particularly in the afternoon and evening. The BTS Skytrain system reported 957,500 passenger-trips, marking an increase of 44,234 trips compared to the previous day, resulting in a total of 1,053,859 rail passenger-trips, which was 1.34% below the estimate.
The intercity trains, operated by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), recorded a total of 96,309 passenger-trips, which was 10.67% lower than anticipated. The majority of passengers were traveling out of Bangkok to return to their hometowns, with 53,009 outbound trips and 43,300 inbound trips. The SRT provided a total of 209 train services, including three special passenger trains on the Northern, Northeastern, and Southern lines. The Southern line experienced the highest passenger volume, followed by the Northeastern, Northern, Eastern, and Mahachai/Mae Klong lines.
In terms of the electric train system, 957,550 passenger-trips were recorded, slightly below the estimate by 0.30%. The Green Line, a major route to popular water-splashing spots, served 483,776 passenger trips. Other lines, including the Blue, ARL, Purple, Pink, Yellow, Red, and Gold Lines, also saw significant usage, with the Gold Line reporting a 51.86% increase in passenger-trips to accommodate celebrations at ICONSIAM.
Mr. Pichet further highlighted that overall rail travel from April 10-12, 2026, totaled 3,601,010 passenger-trips, 4.36% lower than expected. The travel pattern was more dispersed, with some starting their journeys ahead of the holiday while others stayed in Bangkok for festival activities. The intercity trains registered 282,719 passenger-trips, an increase of 9.71% compared to the same period in 2025, while urban electric trains accounted for 3,318,291 passenger-trips. The services operated smoothly, with no rail accidents or electric train disruptions reported.
Emphasizing safety, Mr. Pichet urged continuous monitoring at high-risk areas and asked passengers to comply with regulations, such as emptying water containers before entering train systems. He also mentioned the preparation of two additional special trains by the SRT to facilitate travel. Despite lower-than-expected travel volumes, Mr. Pichet called for public cooperation to ensure rail safety and thanked officials for their dedication in making the festival safe and enjoyable.