Bus Hit by Train Near Rama 9 Bursts Into Flames

13 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Common sense says that you do not, ever, drive onto the tracks unless your exit is clear. Unfortunately, common sense doesn't exist in Thailand and so people die.

This same thing could happen at the railway crossing in Khao Talo Pattaya. I was cut off there last week and got stuck on the railway way tracks. If a train had've come at least I could've jumped out whereas the passengers on the bus had no hope. Another needless way to die in Thailand. RIP.

The tragic Thai disease of getting rundown by anything moving never stops RIP'

4 minutes ago, Rams86 said:

This same thing could happen at the railway crossing in Khao Talo Pattaya. I was cut off there last week and got stuck on the railway way tracks. If a train had've come at least I could've jumped out whereas the passengers on the bus had no hope. Another needless way to die in Thailand. RIP.

I don't understand why passengers didn't leave the bus when they could see the train coming in plain view on the long straight track. There was no sign of any attempt in the pre-crash videos I've seen. Didn't anyone notice the danger?

The blame game has already started, the reason for the accident will be decided by a poll. TIT.

12 hours ago, Yagoda said:

All things being equal, I find Thai driving to be overall pretty poor in terms of road safety. In that intersection with the numbers of motorcyles, it could have been worse.

Somebody committed criminal negligence. It will be interesting to see the results of the investigation.

If this was Japan, the guilty party would commit seppuku. Remember the train crash there?

It's pretty obvious who is at fault! The driver may be dead though.

58 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

As far as I am aware no-one has claimed, except commentators on this site and others, that the barriers malfunctioned. They will not come down if something is blocking them. Lights flash, a bell sounds, which warns drivers (in normal countries) that a train is coming and not to enter the tracks. Videos show plenty of cars and people waiting, including motorcyclists who were hit by the bus as it was dragged by the train.

The bus driver went onto the tracks, even though he couldn't exit. And that is plain stupid, whether a train is coming or not. It's like a yellow block - do not enter unless the exit is clear. But such safety measures are only treated as decoration in Thailand, as we all know. According to those who use the crossing every day, it is normal idiotic behaviour. Why go onto the tracks if you can't drive off? Madness. And a train takes a long distance to stop.

Should there have been a red light for the train which only goes green once the barriers are down? Of course. Was there? We haven't been told. But the bottom line is that the bus driver entered the tracks when there was no way to exit and if he survived he would be guilty of unintentional homicide due to his impatience and stupidity.

If you read the updates you would have found it has already been reported that the barrier was up and there is even a picture.

“The footage showed that railway crossing barriers were not lowered at the time of the collision. Authorities have not yet confirmed why the barriers were not in place and investigators are examining the evidence as part of the inquiry.”

9 hours ago, Packer said:

They need to get proper traffic lights and proper barriers for all the roads at this huge junction. Get it and the drivers under controI

I totally agree Packer, installing proper traffic lights and barriers is possible but getting drivers under control is impossible. Thais would jump the queue in a death camp.

16 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

If you read the updates you would have found it has already been reported that the barrier was up and there is even a picture.

“The footage showed that railway crossing barriers were not lowered at the time of the collision. Authorities have not yet confirmed why the barriers were not in place and investigators are examining the evidence as part of the inquiry.”

I did see that, and know that if the road is blocked the barriers are not lowered, for obvious reasons. Would you want to be hit on the head with one, or your vehicle damaged? Alarms sound and lights flash to warn drivers the barriers will be lowered, and they are SUPPOSED to stop and keep the tracks free. Video also shows plenty of other cars and people waiting, because they obeyed the warnings. A Reuters video also shows the lights flashing, as seen from a dashcam, and you can hear the alarm as normal (someone wrote it was a different sound, which is nonsense). Nothing was malfunctioning except the bus driver.

The question should be why the train presumably had a green light to proceed when the barriers were not lowered. And why everyone seems to have stayed on the bus when they saw the train approaching. The same Reuters video shows a woman simply sitting on the bus, so the usual closed curtains blocking the outside world and the sunshine wasn't an issue.

UPDATE

Rail Crossing Officer Charged Over Bangkok Crash

Anyone who drives in central Bangkok will be very aware that this is one of the city's worst intersections.

Several side roads (and rat runs) converge onto the main road right next to that train line. Every lane is snarled, with some converging from the side road attempting to cut across the 4 lanes of oncoming traffic jam packed on the main road and turn right to go north towards Rama 9, which further snarls things.

There is a traffic light that could be used to stop/control that - but it is never operating just flashing. So there is a fix already available but traffic police would need to operate it most hours of the day - certainly 6-9 am and 3-7 pm. That would stop the cutting in from the side roads.

16 hours ago, Kinnock said:

There's been many incidents at that junction. People routinely block the intersection and continue to cross even as the train is approaching.

Tragic for the bus passengers who had no control over the risks.😥

Yup. Was in the area last week. Walked by this intersection a few times and traffic control wise it was a mess. The actual trains do not move very fast in this area but any impact with these old buses will not end well. The bus involved looked like the old ones with the windows open. It burst into flames rather quickly and those poor people (who are mostly the working poor of BKK) had no time to escape. Safety and especially safety involving any kind of motorized transportation seemsi will not get better. When in BKK I use mostly the ARL, MRT or BTS. Those modes of transport in BKK have been safe.

According to an article in the BP, the train driver did not respond during radio contact between himself and the barrier operator.

However, as seen in a post above, it appears the rail crossing officer may be charged.

Very poor driving and decision making from the bus driver. You simply do not get caught in traffic in such a dangerous position. According to driving laws here, you aren't even supposed to stop within 5 meters of the track, not that that would be observed anyhow.

However, poor operational procedures on behalf of the railway management are also to blame... and comes off as completely "yee-haw, let's saddle up boys".

UPDATE

Bus and Train Drivers Charged in Bangkok Crash

I’ve seen this so many times in Thailand. Crossings with no signals and no cars will stop to look both ways for trains.

Intersections with signals, traffic backed up, and vehicles stopped in the tracks.

Intersections with signals and barriers, signals flashing, barriers lowered, and yet motorcycles are driving across the tracks.

You can’t fix stupid.

From one of the news reports:

“Bangkok Mass Transit Authority director Kittikarn Jomduang Jaruwornpolkul said the bus became stranded on the tracks after stopping at a red traffic light during heavy congestion. He described the crash as an unavoidable situation caused by backed-up traffic preventing the bus from moving clear of the crossing.“

An unavoidable situation? No it was certainly avoidable.

If that quote is accurate it is pretty sad that a Director of BMTA does not understand traffic rules, and what happens when there is a total lack of common sense.

19 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Further updates are expected once investigators complete an initial examination of the scene

What do you expect. This accident is part & parcel of problems with Thai road safety. Where are the traffic gates to block access across the tracks. The tracks were littered with cars, motorcycles and the bus before the crash. Not just the bus.

Just another day on the Most Dangerous Roads in the World in the Land of Smiles I'm afraid. I wonder who they will blame???

I waited in traffic at exactly this time of day on Thursday. The train did not stop, the barriers did not come down nor did the bells and red lights lights operate.

On 5/16/2026 at 7:26 PM, Georgealbert said:

impact triggered a fire, with flames rapidly engulfing the bus at the scene

Lots of talk about the bus but lots of others involved.

Sadly the intersection was full of traffic, all unaware a train was coming.

21 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

So sad, what a way to go.

Every single light cycle at Makkasan cars and buses stop on the tracks. I have never understood why you don't just stop before the tracks, what is to gain by parking on them? Obviously there was an error with the barriers but even when they work often they can't close them because vehicles are blocking the tracks and the train has to wait for the traffic lights to change. Just so dangerous and I don't understand the mentality.

RIP, a terrible tragedy. Those poor bus passengers who had no say in the matter. :(

Thais stop on the tracks, because if they stop safely before the crossing, three cars will squeeze past them to be first.

47 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

Thais stop on the tracks, because if they stop safely before the crossing, three cars will squeeze past them to be first.

It's the Thai 'Me First' culture, seen all the time on the roads. And instead of politely saying 'After you' people might die as someone has deliberately blocked their exit. Nice, hmm?

57 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Lots of talk about the bus but lots of others involved.

Sadly the intersection was full of traffic, all unaware a train was coming.

Nonsense. Of course they were aware. The warning lights were flashing and the alarm was sounding, as seen from a Reuters dashcam video. They just don't care.

Not giving up! Bus still parked straddling the train tracks

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I waited in traffic at exactly this time of day on Thursday. The train did not stop, the barriers did not come down nor did the bells and red lights lights operate.

A Reuters video shows dashcam footage of lights flashing and the alarm sounding normally. The barriers could not be lowered without hitting cars and people within the yellow box. So the system was working fine at the time of the accident. So what happened to you on Thursday is irrelevant.

Off topic posts removed

On 5/16/2026 at 5:29 PM, Bangkok Barry said:

Common sense says that you do not, ever, drive onto the tracks unless your exit is clear. Unfortunately, common sense doesn't exist in Thailand and so people die.

Unfortunately, common sense doesn't exist in Thailand and so people die.

Excellent generalisation as usual. What expertise!

13 hours ago, 300sd said:

It's pretty obvious who is at fault! The driver may be dead though.

There are a lot of people "at fault"

10 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Nonsense. Of course they were aware. They just don't care.

Oh, so all these people were well aware they are going to hit by a train.

You're saying they are suicidal, just waiting to be hit by the train?

UPDATE

Train Driver Fails Drug Test After Bangkok Crash

21 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

I don't understand why passengers didn't leave the bus when they could see the train coming in plain view on the long straight track. There was no sign of any attempt in the pre-crash videos I've seen. Didn't anyone notice the danger?

Too busy focused on other things. One tale my Mrs told me was of a lady focused on her phone who looked up at the bus window to see a train coming at her. I don't know how full the bus was.