Train Driver at Controls Before Bangkok Crash

So it's everyone else's fault barr the train driver is it. The bus was invisible thats why the rain driver didn't event attempt to stop.

6 minutes ago, Hardcastle P said:

So it's everyone else's fault barr the train driver is it. The bus was invisible thats why the rain driver didn't event attempt to stop.

How you even read any of the multiple articles on this topic.

This is the latest update and the previous related articles are linked.

It was previously reported that police have charged the train driver, the bus driver and the level crossing supervisor with recklessness causing death and injury.

I am not entirely sure the train driver is to blame for this accident. The bus should not have been stationary on the railway track. The bus driver should not have attempted to cross the track until it was clear to do so.

This is Thailand everything will be conveniently forgotten in a few weeks time. Wasn't there a major bridge collapse and an earthquake that brought down a multi story building in recent years. Or is that just my imigination?

A reconstruction of the incident is scheduled for 20 May, focusing on train signalling and flag procedures. Investigators said journalists would not be allowed onboard due to limited space and safety concerns.

How long does it take a movong train to come to a stop ?

and"Common Sense 101 . don't stop a vehicle on the tracks ....

They are going to need a real wide angle lens to capture all the finger pointing on this one !

54 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

I am not entirely sure the train driver is to blame for this accident. The bus should not have been stationary on the railway track. The bus driver should not have attempted to cross the track until it was clear to do so.

I think there is plenty of blame to share amongst many people to be honest. Not just among people involved in this particular crash, but also the people managing the transport process which is patently flawed and an accident waiting to happen.

Bus driver, train driver, signal operator for the day in question, but who else for the flawed system in operation.

Train Driver at Control Before Bangkok Crash.

Why try to be blame everyone , ?

There's only one person the blame ,that's the bus driver he shouldn't have stopped on the rail tracks he should've looked first if there was enough space on the other side of the tracks for the bus to cross the railway line .

It's just very sad that the train driver braked a bit late and could't stop on time.

So, they interviewed train officials but no mention of the freight train illegally going through Bangkok during day time hours. Guess that's been conveniently swept under the rug. Had the train not violated that rule, the accident would not have happened. Passenger trains slow to a stop at that intersection to let passengers off and on. Ridiculous that car and motorcycle drivers are being fined when the barriers never went down to prevent them from driving through the intersection. It's clear from the videos that nobody is even aware a train is coming until it's too late to move.

14 minutes ago, newnative said:

So, they interviewed train officials but no mention of the freight train illegally going through Bangkok during day time hours. Guess that's been conveniently swept under the rug. Had the train not violated that rule, the accident would not have happened. Passenger trains slow to a stop at that intersection to let passengers off and on. Ridiculous that car and motorcycle drivers are being fined when the barriers never went down to prevent them from driving through the intersection. It's clear from the videos that nobody is even aware a train is coming until it's too late to move.

This is the latest of multiple updates. The previous updates are linked in the OP. The train travelling outside operating hours was fully covered yesterday.

5 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

This is the latest of multiple updates. The previous updates are linked in the OP. The train travelling outside operating hours was fully covered yesterday.

5 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

This is the latest of multiple updates. The previous updates are linked in the OP. The train travelling outside operating hours was fully covered yesterday.

Yes, I know it was mentioned before, but now no mention of it, perhaps because it is the most serious of the train system's multiple screw-ups. It should be prominent in every update of the investigation.

3 hours ago, Hardcastle P said:

So it's everyone else's fault barr the train driver is it. The bus was invisible thats why the rain driver didn't event attempt to stop.

I'm sorry but this is a stupid post completely ignoring the fact that trains and very heavy and cannot- surprising - stop on a dime. Next you'll be asking why large ships take 5kms to stop.

As there are no barriers to stop trains at crossings it may explain which vehicles stop the quickest and which mode of transport has the right-of-way

The sol culprit in this collision is the bus driver who, being responsible for 40 +/- people in his vehicle, stopped on the crossing. Which if the police have already fine 25 people; is illegal in Thailand.

Even the train driver testing positive for drugs or the train ignoring the day time travel restrictions does not mitigate the bus driver stopping on the crossing as the cause of the collision.

Spreading the blame around does nothing except share the payers of the compensation.

22 minutes ago, newnative said:

Yes, I know it was mentioned before, but now no mention of it, perhaps because it is the most serious of the train system's multiple screw-ups. It should be prominent in every update of the investigation.

Why would it be mentioned agin. This is a daily update of the latest developments. The previous updates are all linked above.

Those 19 witnesses won't be able to say much. Every single one of them had their face glued to their phone...until impact!

3 hours ago, Luuk Chaai said:

A reconstruction of the incident is scheduled for 20 May, focusing on train signalling and flag procedures. Investigators said journalists would not be allowed onboard due to limited space and safety concerns.

How long does it take a movong train to come to a stop ?

and"Common Sense 101 . don't stop a vehicle on the tracks ....

They are going to need a real wide angle lens to capture all the finger pointing on this one !

What’s your problem with carrying out a reconstruction of the incident ?

It’s common practice in many Western countries even with car crashes that are serious and result in death or serious injury.

They (city hall and traffic police) also need to turn their attention to the complete s-show that entire intersection has become. This morning Thai TV showed (for the first time) the flashing traffic light that is never fully used where traffic from the one lane slip road pushes its way across four lanes of traffic on the main road just before the junction (Asok-Petchburi roads). That slip road entering the main road without any traffic control is an obvious red flag - they need to enforce the traffic flow there (and use that traffic light red, yellow, green - flashing yellow means nothing). It is right next to the train tracks.

5 hours ago, Hardcastle P said:

So it's everyone else's fault barr the train driver is it. The bus was invisible thats why the rain driver didn't event attempt to stop.

Did you actually read the other discussions on this or watch any of the videos?

These freight trains cannot simply “stop on sight”.

Depending on their length and load, they can require anywhere from 200 metres to well over 1.5 kilometres to come to a complete stop. The trains themselves may be between 200 and 800 metres long and are permitted to travel through the city at speeds of up to 60 km/h.

Reports state that this train was travelling at approximately 34 km/h at the moment of impact.

The train cannot realistically be stopped within normal visual range of an obstruction. Multiple videos clearly show the driver sounding the horn continuously for a substantial period before impact, and reports indicate the emergency brakes were applied roughly 100 metres beforehand.

So there is no serious suggestion in any publicly released information that the driver simply “made no attempt to stop” - that speculation alone highlights you are ill-informed.

The real questions being discussed are entirely different:

• Did the train driver miss the red flag?

• Did the train driver miss a red signal light?

• Did the train driver miss or fail to receive the radio warning?

• Was there no red flag displayed at all?

• Was the red flag displayed incorrectly or too late for visibility?

• Was there a failure to activate the signal lights?

• Did signalmen further up the line fail to respond in time?

• Were the signal men further up the line warned at all?

• Was the train ultimately left without sufficient stopping distance because earlier procedures failed?

Those are the issues now under scrutiny and investigation - not whether a freight train travelling on steel rails could somehow stop instantly the moment the driver physically saw the obstruction.

UPDATE

Police Recreate Train-Bus Crash at Asok Crossing

Pictures courtesy of Daily News

Police investigators recreated the movements of a train involved in the crash with a public bus at the Asok-Din Daeng railway crossing on 20 May, as part of an ongoing inquiry into the incident. The operation was carried out by officers from Metropolitan Police Division 1 and Makkasan Police Station, together with officials from the State Railway of Thailand.

Investigators travelled on a train from Hua Mak railway station in Suan Luang district to the Asok-Din Daeng crossing, covering around 9.2 kilometres. During the journey, officers examined evidence and operating procedures at several railway control booths and crossings, located within approximately 3.68 kilometres of the crossing, including Phet-Phra Ram, Khlong Tan station, Sun Wichai, Narai, Rama 9 and Asok-Din Daeng.

The distances between the points were also recorded. Phet-Phra Ram to Khlong Tan station measured around 800.43 metres, Khlong Tan to Sun Wichai 530.75 metres, Sun Wichai to Narai 720.09 metres, Narai to Rama 9 around 1.08 kilometres, and Rama 9 to Asok-Din Daeng 550.11 metres.

Investigators focused on several operational issues during the reconstruction. These included visibility of railway signalling systems, the distance required for braking, train speed before slowing and stopping and the timing of barrier operations and warning signals by crossing staff.

Police also examined whether procedures matched statements previously given by crossing operators, train drivers, engineers and train staff involved in the crash. Officers compared the findings with official State Railway of Thailand regulations covering train operation, radio communication, signalling and barrier control procedures.

Two investigation teams took part in the exercise, with one group stationed on board the train and another observing from railway crossing points. The train used was ordinary passenger service train number 4555, consisting of a locomotive and one carriage, which departed Hua Mak station at 1.55pm and arrived at the Asok-Din Daeng crossing at 2.19pm.

Officials from the State Railway of Thailand confirmed that passenger and freight trains follow the same operational procedures. Media representatives were not permitted to board the locomotive due to limited space.

During the reconstruction, investigators observed that when the train was about 550.11 metres from the crossing, near the Rama 9 control booth, crossing staff activated warning signals for road users. Traffic police, patrol officers and Bangkok Mass Transit Authority staff cleared traffic while another railway official stood at the central reservation displaying a signal flag.

After traffic was cleared, the barrier was lowered and a green flag signal was displayed. The train slowed and came to a stop before gradually accelerating across Asok-Din Daeng Road.

Daily News reported that police said the investigation team would now compile and analyse the collected information at Makkasan Police Station before presenting the findings to the media.

Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 20 May 2026

4 hours ago, newnative said:

Yes, I know it was mentioned before, but now no mention of it, perhaps because it is the most serious of the train system's multiple screw-ups. It should be prominent in every update of the investigation.

Good to see you now raised your status to Professor of Journalism along with safety engineer and crash investigator

25 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Good to see you now raised your status to Professor of Journalism along with safety engineer and crash investigator

You do understand this is literally a discussion forum, right? The entire purpose of it is discussion, interaction, speculation, debate, exchanging ideas and hearing opinions you may not personally agree with - which is ironically the exact thing you’re now whining about like it’s some kind of problem.

Perhaps stick to reading news headlines or scrolling comment-free articles instead, because criticising discussion on a forum designed for discussion is genuinely an outstandingly dumb complaint.

It’s like walking into a pub and crying because people are talking.

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Did you actually read the other discussions on this or watch any of the videos?

These freight trains cannot simply “stop on sight”.

Depending on their length and load, they can require anywhere from 200 metres to well over 1.5 kilometres to come to a complete stop. The trains themselves may be between 200 and 800 metres long and are permitted to travel through the city at speeds of up to 60 km/h.

Reports state that this train was travelling at approximately 34 km/h at the moment of impact.

The train cannot realistically be stopped within normal visual range of an obstruction. Multiple videos clearly show the driver sounding the horn continuously for a substantial period before impact, and reports indicate the emergency brakes were applied roughly 100 metres beforehand.

So there is no serious suggestion in any publicly released information that the driver simply “made no attempt to stop” - that speculation alone highlights you are ill-informed.

The real questions being discussed are entirely different:

• Did the train driver miss the red flag?

• Did the train driver miss a red signal light?

• Did the train driver miss or fail to receive the radio warning?

• Was there no red flag displayed at all?

• Was the red flag displayed incorrectly or too late for visibility?

• Was there a failure to activate the signal lights?

• Did signalmen further up the line fail to respond in time?

• Were the signal men further up the line warned at all?

• Was the train ultimately left without sufficient stopping distance because earlier procedures failed?

Those are the issues now under scrutiny and investigation - not whether a freight train travelling on steel rails could somehow stop instantly the moment the driver physically saw the obstruction.

You forgot to add an important question.

Was the train driver on drugs? Answer : yes - methamphetamine and cannabis (marijuana) in his system.

4 minutes ago, atpeace said:

You forgot to add an important question.

Was the train driver on drugs? Answer : yes - methamphetamine and cannabis (marijuana) in his system.

what's that go to do with the bus driver stopping on the crossing? The train was travelling by all accounts at 35 kph.

Train drivers can see just as far as the rest of us, but the stopping distance of a fully laden freight train can be upwards of a mile. That means if a train driver can see something on the tracks ahead, it’s often already too late.

He had no chance of stopping; drugs or not.

Just now, VocalNeal said:

what's that go to do with the bus driver stopping on the crossing? The train was travelling by all accounts at 35 kph.

Train drivers can see just as far as the rest of us, but the stopping distance of a fully laden freight train can be upwards of a mile. That means if a train driver can see something on the tracks ahead, it’s often already too late.

He had no chance of stopping; drugs or not.

If your kids were in the bus, you might possibly be upset that a train driver that was on drugs. Just a guess - 555

Also stop the drama. Have you been on a train in Bangkok? They aren't going at speeds that take a mile to stop. That was funny...

1 minute ago, VocalNeal said:

8 minutes ago, atpeace said:

You forgot to add an important question.

Was the train driver on drugs? Answer : yes - methamphetamine and cannabis (marijuana) in his system.

what's that go to do with the bus driver stopping on the crossing? The train was travelling by all accounts at 35 kph.

Train drivers can see just as far as the rest of us, but the stopping distance of a fully laden freight train can be upwards of a mile. That means if a train driver can see something on the tracks ahead, it’s often already too late.

He had no chance of stopping; drugs or not.

There is potentially a causal link here. If the train driver tested positive for methamphetamine and cannabis and was heavily impaired at the time, it is entirely possible that this contributed to a failure to observe or respond correctly to earlier warning measures - such as red signal lights, red flags from signalmen further up the track, or radio instructions to stop.

If confirmed, impairment may ultimately be viewed as one of the root causes of the disaster.

However, the incident also exposes a far broader issue: a fragile and antiquated safety system reliant on multiple layers of manual human intervention functioning perfectly within what appears to be an underfunded and overstretched environment.

Modern fail-safe rail systems are designed so that a single missed signal, missed radio call, or impaired operator cannot alone lead to catastrophe.

That is why the focus should not rest solely on the train driver’s condition, but also on the systemic weaknesses that allowed so many opportunities for failure to align simultaneously.

No I'd be upset because the bus driver who should know belter stopped on the crossing.

I'm not stupid enough to think that trains can stop at will. I suppose you would consider yourself to be educated and yet are ignorant of the dynamics of heavy moving objects like trains.

That is exactly why all over the world when trains meet roads trains almost always have the right-of-way.

4 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

There is potentially a causal link here. If the train driver tested positive for methamphetamine and cannabis and was heavily impaired at the time, it is entirely possible that this contributed to a failure to observe or respond correctly to earlier warning measures - such as red signal lights, red flags from signalmen further up the track, or radio instructions to stop.

If confirmed, impairment may ultimately be viewed as one of the root causes of the disaster.

However, the incident also exposes a far broader issue: a fragile and antiquated safety system reliant on multiple layers of manual human intervention functioning perfectly within what appears to be an underfunded and overstretched environment.

Modern fail-safe rail systems are designed so that a single missed signal, missed radio call, or impaired operator cannot alone lead to catastrophe.

That is why the focus should not rest solely on the train driver’s condition, but also on the systemic weaknesses that allowed so many opportunities for failure to align simultaneously.

I agree but but doing drugs while driving a train through Bangkok is not a good idea. He has admitted to being a meth addict and his urine confirmed it.

7 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

No I'd be upset because the bus driver who should know belter stopped on the crossing.

I'm not stupid enough to think that trains can stop at will. I suppose you would consider yourself to be educated and yet are ignorant of the dynamics of heavy moving objects like trains.

That is exactly why all over the world when trains meet roads trains almost always have the right-of-way.

You stated a mile - drama queen -:) The train driver was a meth addict and he was was smoking weed. Trains do stop at will silly. Do think it happens by magic?

11 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

There is potentially a causal link here. If the train driver tested positive for methamphetamine and cannabis and was heavily impaired at the time, it is entirely possible that this contributed to a failure to observe or respond correctly to earlier warning measures - such as red signal lights, red flags from signalmen further up the track, or radio instructions to stop.

I disagree with this as there would be no red signals informing the driver that a bus was stopped on the crossing.

Again.

Train drivers can see just as far as the rest of us, but the stopping distance of a fully laden freight train can be upwards of a mile. That means if a train driver can see something on the tracks ahead, it’s often already too late.

He had no chance of stopping; drugs or not.

42 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

You do understand this is literally a discussion forum, right? The entire purpose of it is discussion, interaction, speculation, debate, exchanging ideas and hearing opinions you may not personally agree with - which is ironically the exact thing you’re now whining about like it’s some kind of problem.

Perhaps stick to reading news headlines or scrolling comment-free articles instead, because criticising discussion on a forum designed for discussion is genuinely an outstandingly dumb complaint.

It’s like walking into a pub and crying because people are talking.

Yeah its a discussion forum, that doesnt mean one cant try to stop it from becoming an even more egregious idiot forum where folks just spew pontifications with no basis therefore and then start flame wars when called out.

Like you just did.

4 minutes ago, atpeace said:

I agree but but doing drugs while driving a train through Bangkok is not a good idea. He has admitted to being a meth addict and his urine confirmed it.

Agreed - but the key question is whether that was actually the cause of the incident.

Did the driver genuinely miss warning signals because of impairment?

And, if I’m not mistaken, there were reportedly two people in the locomotive cab - the driver and the engineer.

If so, did both fail to observe the warnings? Or were the warning signals - red lights, red flags, or radio instructions - perhaps never properly issued, displayed, or received in the first place?

That distinction matters, because there is a major difference between an operator ignoring clear stop warnings and a wider systems failure in which the warning procedures themselves were inadequately executed.

14 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Police said the train driver was experienced and had operated the route 58 times since 2023. The engineer, however, had been employed for only 14 days and was working on the train for just the second time.

2 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Yeah its a discussion forum, that doesnt mean one cant try to stop it from becoming an even more egregious idiot forum where folks just spew pontifications with no basis therefore and then start flame wars when called out.

Like you just did.

2 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Agreed