Deputy transport minister Nikorn Chamnong told the Bangkok Post that Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had asked his ministry to study the feasibility of dusting off the city's old tram-lines, the Bangkok Post reported.

"As the economy improves, more and more cars are using the roads, which means traffic jams are getting worse. Electric trams should be a good way out as they will not worsen pollution problems," Nikorn told the daily.

As Thailand's economy recovers from the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis, vehicle sales have once again soared in the kingdom, rising 30.6 per cent from a year earlier in the first 10 months of 2003.

Bangkok has endured years of traffic snarls due to a lack of mass transit systems. The elevated Skytrain began operating four years ago but its limited network does not reach to the suburbs.