Picture: Sanook

 

It has been nearly a year since the disaster at a railway crossing in the Khlong Kwaeng Klan area of Chachoengsao in the central/east of Thailand on October 11th 2020.

 

A cargo train hit a bus carrying Buddhists who were attending a kathin ceremony (changing of cloths). Nineteen people died.

 

Picture: Sanook

 

Sanook were contacted by the former phu yai ban (local official) who said that a simple religious ceremony attended by the local abbot would be held to mark the anniversary. 

 

Sanook discovered two things on their visit to the village and the deserted station.

 

 

Firstly that a year on there was still no barrier to prevent a repeat of the devastating accident. There was just a large sign saying to take care.

 

Secondly they were regaled with many reports from the locals who reported that the station was haunted.

 

They never had such a problem before the accident but now they reported seeing a headless fat man on several occasions. 

 

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Horrific and sad history..

But more sad to read a single sign that says “Be careful”, after a year of tragedy.

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

They never had such a problem before the accident but now they reported seeing a headless fat man on several occasions. 

Should ask him to write down the next lottery numbers, beats driving to the next burnt tree or disfigured animal

5 hours ago, webfact said:

There was just a large sign saying to take care.

That is really all that's needed at a railroad crossing.

 

A big sign saying 'Don't be a ****wit'

The former phu yai ban hasn't put up any signs in remembrance, then?

2 hours ago, Tarteso said:

Horrific and sad history..

But more sad to read a single sign that says “Be careful”, after a year of tragedy.

A "Be careful" sign fitted the budget.

4 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

That is really all that's needed at a railroad crossing.

 

A big sign saying 'Don't be a ****wit'

I live in Chaochoengsao 150 metres from a railway crossing of which the Pattaya train travels everyday. There's always containers and rail tankers pass through the same point. The crossing is properly constructed with boom gates and flashing red lights but that doesn't deter the morons, If the boom gates are down and the red lights flashing, they drive around the boom gates without even slowing down. There's going to be a major disaster here soon, Thais are simply non conformists.

Why on earth would anyone expect Thai authorities either police, railway, local township to act just because 19 people had died at a particular spot. It would be too damned sensible! 

Thing why don't they buy a bit of paint and paint stop and give way markings on the roads? Again, way too sensible.....and not enough money to be diverted into the pockets of the already obscenely wealthy. 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

They never had such a problem before the accident but now they reported seeing a headless fat man on several occasions.

Why not have a sign showing a headless fat man?

That might get through.

Why bother - surely everyone knows it's a dangerous crossing ...

If it is logical that installing barriers will stop the idiots crossing the track when it is obvious a train is coming then barriers should be installed at all traffic lights on roads to prevent the thousands of similar idiots ignoring red lights adding to the road kill there. 

4 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Should ask him to write down the next lottery numbers, beats driving to the next burnt tree or disfigured animal

Not so easy to make up that without a brain.

I can clearly see that they have lights at the crossing. Probably also have some kind of sound. How much do you need to stop? I mean if they do not see the lights, what makes them believe they would notice a barrier?

1 hour ago, kidneyw said:

Why not have a sign showing a headless fat man?

That might get through.

Yes that would do it

4 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

I can clearly see that they have lights at the crossing. Probably also have some kind of sound. How much do you need to stop? I mean if they do not see the lights, what makes them believe they would notice a barrier?

They will do as they have  always done, exactly as they want.

1 hour ago, Pedrogaz said:

Thing why don't they buy a bit of paint and paint stop and give way markings on the roads? Again, way too sensible.....and not enough money to be diverted into the pockets of the already obscenely wealthy. 

They constructed concrete barriers on a 4 lane highway near me. No 'turn left' signs or 'no right turn' signs from any of the side roads. No one would take any notice anyways. A roundabout replaced 4 way traffic lights near me too. No one seems to have a clue how it works, no yield markings in the road, just lane markings no one obeys.

A proper crossing barrier is a little out of the thinking for places as above...No money, no thought, no care.

 

4 hours ago, Tarteso said:

Horrific and sad history..

But more sad to read a single sign that says “Be careful”, after a year of tragedy.

It appears to be a long, straight line, easy to spot a train coming. Telling people to be careful should be enough, but in brain-dead Thailand they need to have barriers as people can't understand that it's a good idea to look before crossing a railway line.

If I remember rightly the stop/warning lights weren't working and someone in authority promised that lights and a barrier would be installed as a matter of urgency after the 'Accident'