Rail department gears up for increase in commuters

By The Nation

The Department of Rail Transport is discussing with related authorities preparations for the fourth phase of the lockdown easing and the opening of a new academic semester.

The proposals will be forwarded to the Ministry of Transport.

Since the beginning of June, the number of commuters using rail transport has risen to 650,000, up about 100,000 from the previous week.

"The department has randomly checked congestion in the rail transportation system and found that operators provided services to allow people to maintain social distancing and ensure that they do not have to wait for a long time," a department official said.

The officials added that the department is discussing with rail transport system operators, the Ministry of Public Health, and medical science institutions to make suggestions to the Ministry of Transport as soon as possible.

"We expect the number of commuters to increase after the fourth phase of lockdown easing and the start of a new academic semester," the official added.

Meanwhile, Sorapong Paitoonpong, the department's director-general, said that they had implemented measures to ensure commuters' safety while travelling.

"The department has emphasised that rail transport system operators ensure commuters are able to maintain social distancing and they wear a face mask all the time," he said.

"We would like to thank people for cooperating in following the government's measures to contain the spread of Covid-19."

He added that Thailand was one of the countries that campaigned on preventing Covid-19 contagion in the rail transportation system.

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30389161