Classification of Regional Railway Stations for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in Thailand

This study aims to classify regional railway stations in Thailand according to their potential for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) by applying the Node-Place Model in conjunction with factor analysis based on the 3Ds principle (Density, Diversity, Design).The research utilizes secondary data from the State Railway of Thailand, the Department of Provincial Administration, and the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, along with surveys of Points of Interest (POI) within a 500-meter radius around the stations.The findings reveal that out of 589 regional railway stations, they can be classified into four categories based on TOD potential: Regional Hub Stations (very high potential) at 1.02%, Tourism and Cultural City Stations (high potential) at 3.74%, Secondary City Stations (moderate potential) at 6.79%, and Suburban/Rural Community Stations (low or no potential) at 88.46%.Key factors affecting TOD development potential include population density, land use diversity, number and types of POI, urban roles, and station classification levels.This study proposes appropriate development approaches for each station type: 1) Comprehensive TOD for Regional Hub Stations, 2) Tourism-oriented TOD for Tourism and Cultural City Stations, 3) Mixed-use TOD for Secondary City Stations, and 4) Community Connection Point development for Rural Stations.The research results can be applied to planning and policy-making for the development of areas surrounding regional railway stations in Thailand, aligning with the potential and context of each location.