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.

Get today's headlines by email

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.

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Bangkok Post · 14 Apr 2026

View full article

I’d suggest this delay is the exception rather than the norm. As an SRT passenger over the years, I’ve generally been quite satisfied with both the service and the on‑time performance.

I have experienced some delays, including one lengthy incident when Special Express No. 7 from Bangkok to Chiang Mai couldn’t make it up the hills. After a four‑hour stop at a small station, a locomotive arrived and towed us to Lampang.

Even then, the staff handled the situation well and provided sandwiches and water to everyone on board.

So while this Bangkok–Yala cat may have caused a brief disruption, I’d say the only “Cat” capable of causing serious delays would be a Caterpillar diesel engine in the locomotive.

Replace the word cat in the article with Farang

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

feline caused disruption during the journey

Was this her?

cat traveling in a non-air-conditioned sleeper car

Traveling on a hot train with all the train noise with a cat is animal abuse.