Hua Hin drops railway land lease plan, shifts focus to crossing safety
Hua Hin City Municipality has dropped a proposed railway land lease plan and will instead focus on safety improvements at key crossings, following a review of the legal framework governing the arrangement.
At a meeting on 10 April 2026, chaired by Mayor Nopporn Wutthikul at the Poolsuk Meeting Room at Hua Hin City Municipality Office, municipal officials and staff discussed the possibility of leasing land from the State Railway of Thailand.
The proposal had been developed as part of the municipality’s policy to improve public spaces and tackle the problem of footpath encroachment in some areas. Officials had prepared a formal request to lease railway land for that purpose.
However, after discussions during the meeting, it was concluded that proceeding with the lease under the proposed arrangement would not be in line with procurement regulations that apply to local administrative organisations.
The meeting therefore agreed that the lease should not go ahead in its current form.
Railway crossing safety plan takes priority
Instead, the mayor instructed officials to revise the plan and seek permission to use the land for public benefit rather than leasing it.
The revised approach is expected to focus first on railway crossing safety, particularly through the installation of lighting to improve visibility for motorists and other road users.
Proposed locations include the Chomsin intersection and the Bon Kai area, both of which are regularly used by local traffic.
The shift in approach means the municipality will move away from a formal lease arrangement and concentrate instead on practical safety measures that can be carried out within the relevant rules.
The decision also reflects the need for local authorities to ensure that development plans involving state land are handled in a way that is legally compliant, while still addressing day-to-day concerns affecting residents.
For Hua Hin City Municipality, that now means placing immediate priority on making railway crossings safer, while continuing to look at ways to improve public areas and reduce obstruction on footpaths.
