Train derails just 300 meters from Bangkok's Hua Lamphong main terminal

[webfact]

Train derails just 300 meters from Hua Lamphong main terminal

BANGKOK, 17 September 2013 (NNT) – A train has derailed just 300 meters from the Hua Lamphong main terminal in Bangkok on Monday, only a few days after an earlier derailment in the Bang Sue area of the capital city.

The train was traveling to Bangkok from Su-ngai Kolok and was headed for platform number 8 at Hua Lamphong, when carriages numbers 1-4 derailed. The locomotive was still on track and functioning normally. No one was injured.

A number of trains were delayed because of the rearrangements needed to circumvent the derailed carriages.

Transport Minister Chatchart Sitthiphan quickly visited the incident site, and afterwards told reporters that the cause was suspected to be the age of the rail track and the damaged railway wooden sleepers.

He then told State Railway of Thailand governor Praphat Chongsa-nguan to inspect all the rail tracks in the Bangkok area for damage and report the findings within this week.

The State Railway chief was also told to report the condition of all rail tracks in the country by next week, and to present a maintenance plan and budget to the Ministry of Transport. Mr. Chatchart indicated that the frequent train derailments was an issue that needed to be urgently resolved, and the entire rail system needed to be inspected visually on foot.


-- NNT 2013-09-17

[uptheos]

Do the wheels actually fit onto the railway lines?

[Neilly]

Evil spirits or just shoddy maintenance...hmm, let me guess

[canman]

Ghosts at it again

[wdr]

When is the next ghost ceremony planned especially for railways mishap? Would like to attend the circus

[noitom]

Wow, the number of train accidents this year in Thailand is astonishing.

[PhoenixRising]

'He then told State Railway of Thailand governor Praphat Chongsa-nguan to inspect all the rail tracks in the Bangkok area for damage and report the findings within this week.' So I guess they don't have a routine protocol to inspect and prevent these things from happening. They just wait for an accident to happen and THEN check.

[ginjag]

I do apologize This is a scream.

I am thinking the actual engine doe's not want to go where it's being driven, so it leaves the rails like it's self destructing. The Spirits-sure

I have a feeling that at every place where each derailment has happened, some one was killed-or an animal was run over in the long past, evil spirits are at each point, and only the engine knows.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Perhaps SRT needs to expand the current Uttradit to Chiang Mai rail line closure for maintenance/repair to cover the rest of their shoddy system, and fix their problems before they continue to keep endangering their passengers and further damaging their failing reputation.

Edited September 17, 2013 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[NongKhaiKid]

" The age of the tracks " ? This is the main railway station in the nation's capital so what chances of proper maintainence out in the provinces ?

With all that's happened on the Chiang Mai route we know the answer.

[Patje]

Blame the spirits, it works in the Intnl airport !!!

[WhizBang]

Perhaps it is time to shut down the rail system countrywide.

This is BAD. You cannot even get in and out of Bangkok now, never mind to the distant provinces.

Edited September 17, 2013 by WhizBang

[pisico]

Wow, the number of train accidents this year in Thailand is astonishing.

But the government is still gun-ho on high-speed bullet trains. If this (or future administrations) could at least bring the railway system to 20th. century standards, that would be a great improvement. Let's see what the spirits think of this idea.

[bigbamboo]

And it so nearly made it to the end too.

Very sad.

[Pib]

Evil spirits not at work; just inadequate track maintenance.

Maybe some folks have heard of the aviation maintenance concept called of "Fly to Fail" used for some non-critical aircraft parts; well, it appears SRT is using a modified version of that concept called "Roll to DeRail."

[pisico]

'He then told State Railway of Thailand governor Praphat Chongsa-nguan to inspect all the rail tracks in the Bangkok area for damage and report the findings within this week.' So I guess they don't have a routine protocol to inspect and prevent these things from happening. They just wait for an accident to happen and THEN check.

From the Thai manual of procedures:

MAINTENANCE

"repairs are to be made after something breaks or stops working. Replacement with new parts or equipment only if it is strictly necessary and approval is secured from higher ups. Afterwards, perform usual ritual to summon good spirits and make repairs last a long time."

Edited September 17, 2013 by pisico

[uptheos]

Wow, the number of train accidents this year in Thailand is astonishing.

But the government is still gun-ho on high-speed bullet trains. If this (or future administrations) could at least bring the railway system to 20th. century standards, that would be a great improvement. Let's see what the spirits think of this idea.

IMO all the talk about high speed bullet trains is just a way of placating the Thai people, who are often prepared to forego things in the present, with the promise of something better to come. There will not be a high speed bullet train in my lifetime and even is there is, I for one would certainly not ride on it!

[nong38]

The whole system is past its sell by date by the look of it. Sticking plasters over the bits that go wrong does not solve the problem but it is cheap and it appears to have done the job. Each line should be closed, re aling the tracks with deep ballast ( and that needs to be specified what "deep" is ) concrete sleepers used and materials that stop the tracks from moving used. Then move to another line and so on. otherwise de railments, injuries and deaths will continue.

Lets hope they come with a plan and a sensible budget, or, will be back again next week?

[webfact]

Train derailed near Bangkok's Hua Lamphong Station
By English News



BANGKOK, Sept 17 – A train bound for Bangkok from the South derailed near Hua Lamphong, the capital’s main railway station, yesterday, an accident coinciding with the first day of 45-day track maintenance shut down for the northern line between Uttaradit and Chiang Mai.

Prapat Chongsanguan, State Railway of Thailand (SRT) governor, blamed it on land subsidence following a downpour which softened the soil under the track.

Four carriages skidded off the track but it did not affect SRT service as other trains could use alternative tracks.There was no report of injuries.

The latest previous train derailment in Bangkok was reported on July 1 when one carriage left the tracks about 500 metres from Yommaraj Station shortly after leaving Hua Lamphong.

The SRT yesterday suspended North-bound train services for 45 days between Sila-at station in Uttaradit and Chiang Mai, pending maintenance of 300km of track. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-09-17

[jilli]

at this rate they are going to run out of black paint for obscuring the SRT logos.

[Thormaturge]

Number 14.

For some unfathomable reason there is no mention of passengers.

[worgeordie]

Think the Railways are just doing this so they can get their hands on some

of those High Speed Trains thats been promised,but in the mean time its

a good job the trains now only seem to do 50Kph,!

regards Worgeordie

[chainarong]

The Thailand Rail system is very much a-lined with the PTP party, they both keep coming off the line.

[RubbaJohnny]

Time t sideline the old buffers and streamline te service,make it compulsary for MPs

[travelman]

Asean Hub. Thailand. WOW. Look at the condition of Thailand Railways. I think concerned high level officials should resign because of the magnitude of problems and shame especially.

[Tywais]

I wonder if the track system was undermined from the severe floodings a couple of years ago and now weakened due to subsidence as I've never heard of so many 'incidents' in such a short time span. I did have an interesting experience when taking a train from Singapore up through Malaysia to Penang where the cars kept uncoupling every hour or so. At least they stayed on the tracks.

[jackr]

Four carriages skidded off the track but it did not affect SRT service

... as the trains run better when they're not on the rails.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The latest previous train derailment in Bangkok was reported on July 1 when one carriage left the tracks about 500 metres from Yommaraj Station shortly after leaving Hua Lamphong.

-- TNA 2013-09-17

MCOT seems to be forgetting the train that jumped its rails and hit the station roof earlier this month in Thonburi.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Another-train-accident-in-Thon-Buri-30214373.html

Edited September 17, 2013 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[rheinwiese]

During the last few weeks train derailments almost on a daily basis.

And this week the 2 trillion baht infrastructure bill is up for debate in the parliament.

Coincidence??

Edited September 17, 2013 by rheinwiese

[johnlandy]

Wow, the number of train accidents this year in Thailand is astonishing.

Not really, it's called TIT