The arrival of Rapid Train No.169 at Yala station in southern Thailand, seven hours behind schedule, sparked an unusual wave of online criticism sparked by a cat's misadventures onboard. The train, departing from Bangkok, was delayed after the feline caused disruption during the journey, reportedly due to scorching weather. Witnesses explained that the cat became agitated, scratching passengers and biting its owner, necessitating a 20-minute pause to calm the animal.
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The incident was first highlighted by Facebook user Kijja Pongpisa, whose post showed the ginger cat traveling in a non-air-conditioned sleeper car. Despite initial claims that the pet was responsible for the delay, further comments from passengers clarified that mechanical issues were the primary cause. The train suffered multiple engine failures, which resulted in back-to-back halts at the Na Phak Kwuang and Khao Chaiyarat stations as replacement locomotives were sought.
Despite the inconvenience, several individuals defended the cat, stating that it contributed only minimally to the overall delay. Ros Laoh and Ploythara Chaleefong provided firsthand accounts stating that waiting for functional engines was the real issue. According to Chaleefong, the replacement engines failed consecutively, while Seamen Ben reassured that the incident involving the pet took merely 20 minutes to resolve and was not the source of the extensive delay.
Looking forward, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) did not specify the reason for the delay but acknowledged via their tracker that the train was 430 minutes late. The SRT cited possible causes such as construction, engine malfunctions, track clearance, or passenger-related issues but did not provide further details.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · Bangkok Post · 14 Apr 2026
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