Pictures courtesy of Khaosod 

 

Eighteen tourists were injured on 6 December after a shunting locomotive crashed into a stationary passenger train at Wang Yen Railway Station in Kanchanaburi Province. The impact damaged the locomotive and violently jolted six passenger carriages, leaving four people seriously hurt. All injured passengers, were transported to Phahol Pholpayuhasena Hospital.

 

The incident occurred while the Kanchanaburi–Nam Tok passenger train was stopped for a scheduled locomotive change. Police from Mueang Kanchanaburi Provincial Police Station said the locomotive manoeuvring to connect to the passenger cars suddenly reversed into the first carriage with significant force. The collision left the original locomotive unable to continue its journey.

 

The passenger train had nearly a hundred Thai and foreign tourists on board at the time. One tourist described a “very hard impact” that threw passengers across the carriages, causing some to hit their heads on windows and others to fall to the floor. Several windows broke during the collision.

 

Station officials later confirmed the collision was caused by a malfunction in the reversing locomotive. Its brakes reportedly failed as it backed toward the stationary carriages, resulting in the unexpected high-force impact. Local officials and emergency responders arrived quickly to provide first aid and assess the damage.

 

Following the crash, uninjured passengers waited at the station while railway staff coordinated a replacement locomotive. The new engine was dispatched to the site to tow all six passenger carriages back to Kanchanaburi Station. International tourists were seen leaving the area by roadside transport while waiting for onward arrangements.

 

Railway officials said the damaged locomotive was secured pending further inspection. Authorities have not yet released details on the specific mechanical fault that caused the brake failure. Police are expected to review operational procedures and interview staff involved in the shunting operation. Khoasod reported that the replacement locomotive returned the remaining passengers to Kanchanaburi Station later.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Eighteen tourists were injured, four seriously, after a shunting locomotive crashed into a stationary train at Wang Yen Railway Station.

• Officials say brake failure on the reversing locomotive caused the high-impact collision that damaged six carriages.

• A replacement locomotive transported the remaining passengers back to Kanchanaburi while an investigation into the malfunction continues.

 

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 Adapted  by  Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-12-07

 

 

Suddenly??? I am wondering who did the wrong action . It can't be out of the blue, even if it is a brake failure.. Now the same excuse as on the roads, for have a solution for own shortcomings.. Besides that the trains are almost all outdated

The land of Failing Brakes .....

lookss like driver error. What should be a slow speed operation turned into a too fast collision causing extensive damage to the loco and injuring passengers

5 minutes ago, jippytum said:

lookss like driver error. What should be a slow speed operation turned into a too fast collision causing extensive damage to the loco and injuring passengers

 

Er.....yes.

On 12/7/2025 at 4:44 AM, Georgealbert said:

Station officials later confirmed the collision was caused by a malfunction in the reversing locomotive. Its brakes reportedly failed as it backed toward the stationary carriages, resulting in the unexpected high-force impact.

Brake failure... again ?

In my own experience of driving trains should there be any fault in the braking system a brake application was activated to prevent any movement.

Sounds to me Somchai mistook the power handle for the brake and in typical Thai fashion will deny he screwed up. I doubt if this loco has any OTDR equipment on board which would give a clear indication of what exactly happened.

Maybe the driver was letting his kids or a mate have a go.

I have seen accidents with heavy machinery happen because of such stupidity.

On 12/8/2025 at 12:16 PM, IsaanGuy said:

In my own experience of driving trains should there be any fault in the braking system a brake application was activated to prevent any movement.

Sounds to me Somchai mistook the power handle for the brake and in typical Thai fashion will deny he screwed up. I doubt if this loco has any OTDR equipment on board which would give a clear indication of what exactly happened.

Of course its got OTDR number 2 somchai at the back of the train 🤣 

 

On 12/8/2025 at 7:16 PM, IsaanGuy said:

Sounds to me Somchai mistook the power handle for the brake and in typical Thai fashion will deny he screwed up.

 

And in typical Thai basher fashion, a groundless bit of nonsensical speculation gets attention.

On 12/8/2025 at 7:27 PM, NE1 said:

Maybe the driver was letting his kids or a mate have a go.

I have seen accidents with heavy machinery happen because of such stupidity.

 

I have seen...aeroplanes fly into mountains, even.

Very bad image for tourism and Thailand as the disaster will go viral all over the west. 

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

 

And in typical Thai basher fashion, a groundless bit of nonsensical speculation gets attention.

Are foreigners allowed to drive trains in Thailand?🤣🤔🎣☻

4 hours ago, Sigmund said:

Very bad image for tourism and Thailand as the disaster will go viral all over the west. 

 

viral? like the 'war' with Cambodia?