Railway Services From Deep South Suspended

[george]

State railway temporarily suspends train services from deep South to Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- All public train services from Thailand's deep South to Bangkok and vice versa have been temporarily suspended due to a train derailment in the southern Phattalung Province, State Railway of Thailand (SRT) officials announced on Monday.

Chief of Pattani Railway Station Wicharn Chayamontri told journalists that all four train services from the country's three southernmost provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani to Bangkok and vice versa scheduled on Monday had been suspended.

This was caused by the train derailment in Phattalung, he said.

A 14-bogie cargo train derailed between Laem Tanod and Khon Had Train Stations in Phattalung Sunday evening, caused by a defected part of the railroad.

Attempts by SRT officials to remove the derailed bogies from blocking the train traffic have yet been completed.

SRT sources said they expected the train services could resume by Tuesday.

Mr. Wicharn said passengers booking the train services in advance could refund at their local stations in full amounts.

He announced that inter-province train services between the three southernmost provinces and from the southern border region to Hat Yai in Songkhla Province and vice versa have been continued.

--TNA 2005-11-14