Power bank ban planned on Thai trains above 160Wh

A power bank ban covering Thailand's train systems is being drafted by the Department of Rail Transport, which wants to keep large, damaged or uncertified battery packs off trains and out of stations. The proposed rules would bar any power bank above 160Wh, roughly 43,200mAh, and could bring fines of up to 1,000 baht, The Thaiger reported on Friday, citing Daily News.

The plan is still only a draft. Officials expect to send it for approval in February 2027, so nothing changes for rail passengers yet.

What the power bank ban would cover

The draft is part of a wider notice on safety, cleanliness and order at railway stations and on board trains. Three kinds of portable charger would be kept off the network:

• Power banks with visible damage, such as swelling, cracks or leaking fluid.
• Devices that lack Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) certification or a recognised international equivalent.
• Any unit with a capacity above 160Wh, about 43,200mAh at a nominal 3.7 volts.

Certified chargers in good condition that stay under the limit would still be allowed. This means most travellers would not notice any change.

Most passengers are well under the limit

The department said the typical phone charger is far below the proposed cap. Everyday units usually hold 10,000mAh to 20,000mAh, which works out at about 37Wh to 74Wh. Even a large 20,000mAh pack would be less than half of the planned ceiling.

The 160Wh figure matches the upper limit many airlines already use for spare lithium batteries. Packs of that size are more likely to be found in camping kits, laptop power stations or professional camera gear than in a commuter's pocket.

No checkpoints, but random inspections

Stations would not get dedicated screening points for chargers. Instead, rail operators would have to publicise the rules, and staff would carry out random checks. Operators would also be given the right to remove anyone who breaks the rules from the system.

The draft has been prepared under Section 119 of the Rail Transport Act. Under the proposal, a passenger who breaches the restrictions could face up to one month in prison, a fine of up to 1,000 baht, or both.

Next steps before the rules take effect

The proposal must still go through internal screening and a round of public comment, including feedback from railway operators. The department expects to finish that process and submit the draft to its director-general by February 2027. If approved, the notice would be published in the Royal Gazette before it takes effect.

That timetable means travellers on Bangkok's mass transit lines, the State Railway of Thailand and other operators have several months before any new rule applies. Rail users can follow other changes on the network in our report on Bangkok's train lines buyback, and past safety issues in our coverage of the Prachuap Khiri Khan derailment.

Air travel rules are already stricter

Thailand already restricts power banks on flights. In June, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand stopped passengers from using or charging power banks during flights, and the devices are among the most common banned items found in checked luggage at Thai airports. Visitors flying into Phuket should keep chargers in their hand luggage, as our Thailand airport tips explain.

The rail plan follows the same logic: lithium batteries that are damaged, poorly made or very large carry a higher risk of overheating and fire, and a fire in a crowded carriage or underground station is hard to manage.

What travellers can do now

Passengers who want to be ready can take a few simple steps:

• Check the capacity printed on your charger, in mAh or Wh.
• Look for a TISI mark or a recognised international safety label.
• Replace any pack that is swollen, cracked or unusually hot.

Phuket has no passenger rail line, but many residents and tourists use Bangkok's trains and the national railway when travelling around the country, so the rules would reach far beyond the capital.

Image: A Green Cell PowerPlay 20 portable battery, used here to illustrate the planned power bank ban on Thai trains. Photo by Jacek Halicki via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.