PATTAYA: Pattaya Mayor Poramese Ngamphichet chaired a meeting on September 1st 2026 at 1:30 p.m. to hear a proposal for a monorail mass transit system from Trans Asia Futurtec Co., Ltd. The session was held in Meeting Room 132 at Pattaya City Hall.
Also attending were Wachira Thongdileot, assistant secretary to the mayor, and heads of relevant municipal departments. The presentation was led by Narin Silaprak, chairman of Trans Asia Futurtec, together with his team.
The company, which specializes in monorail systems, said it sees strong potential in Pattaya as a rapidly growing world-class tourist destination. Persistent traffic congestion in urban areas and the need for better internal connectivity, it argued, require a sustainable solution. The firm offered its monorail technology and operating experience as one option for future cooperation.
Technical points showcased in the briefing included:
– Limited construction footprint and a compact elevated guideway suited to constrained main roads
– Tight turning radius, allowing routes to curve around obstacles and follow existing urban conditions
– Quiet operation and relatively low environmental impact
– High safety, with a straddle-beam design that the company said eliminates the risk of derailment
– Lower cost and faster payback than heavy rail, plus shorter construction time
– Capability for automated operation
Mayor Poramees said Pattaya has already studied the feasibility of a monorail system and prepared an initial design. The goal is to upgrade public transport, reduce private car use, improve travel convenience and safety, and support future urban growth. The project is currently in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) stage.
He said the city welcomed the technical briefing and the exchange of views with Trans Asia Futurtec, describing it as one possible avenue for future partnership.
Any decision on a particular company, he added, must wait for the EIA results and public hearings scheduled for September. After that process, an appropriate approach would be prepared for consideration by the Cabinet.
Report: Kwanjai Suetrong
Photo: Somprasong Photphan
Public Relations Division, Administration Section
Office of Tourism and Sports, Pattaya City
