Chuvit puts derailments down to cheap railway tracks

[webfact]

RAILWAYS
Chuvit puts derailments down to cheap railway tracks
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Outspoken Rak Thailand Party leader Chuvit Kamolvisit yesterday blamed the frequent derailment of trains in Thailand on railway tracks made of low-quality steel bought cheaply from China.

Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt and State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Governor Prapat Chongsanguan were also present at Chuvit's press conference held at Parliament House.

At the conference, Chuvit also displayed the procurement contract signed with the company that built the tracks to back up his claim that it bought substandard steel.

He also showed reporters a video clip of the Chinese steel company's laboratory, saying it was far too small and did not meet international standards.

Chuvit went on to say that the contractor had bought the steel for only Bt20,000 per tonne, when the kind of steel used in railway tracks costs at least Bt45,000 per tonne.

He also alleged that the contractor had charged the SRT for track ballast, but instead of supplying proper ballast, it simply used stones taken from the ground in areas where track was laid. He also put the frequent derailments of late down to the SRT's practice of running trains non-stop, even while the tracks were undergoing repairs.

Chadchart, meanwhile, said he would have Prapat verify this information.

Strict law-enforcement needed

In a separate development, the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand is pushing the government to bring wrongdoers to justice after the disappearance of Pracha Maleenont following his conviction for corruption in the purchase of fire-fighting vehicles.

Jada Watanasiritham, vice chairperson of the organisation, said Thailand's judicial system and law-enforcement standards were inefficient and damaged the country, especially when the wrongdoers are politicians.

The government should ensure that all wrongdoers are prosecuted before the cases reach their statutory limits or it would further erode morale in Thai society, she said.

The organisation's statement came after the court issued a verdict in the case related to the purchase of fire-fighting vehicles. Pracha, who was interior minister at the time, was sentenced to 12 years in jail for his role in the graft-tainted procurement of fire-fighting trucks and boats worth close to Bt7 billion.

Jada said that as a long-term means of fighting corruption, the government should ensure integrity in a systematic manner, as there are several ongoing government projects, such as the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority's NGV bus project worth Bt13 billion, the Bt350-billion water-management scheme and the Bt2-trillion infrastructure project.

Public participation should be allowed in the formulation of public policies to help reduce corruption and cut down on losses. Jada said this was better than trying to fix the problem after it occurs.

The organisation has come up with seven measures to prevent corruption:

_ Public agencies and local administrative bodies need to disclose procurement projects to the public as well as broadcast auctions for mega-projects;

_ Tax measures and budget rules should be seriously enforced to control each government unit's revenue and expenditure;

_ A scrutinising network should be set up and informants should be offered prizes. There should also be a system in place for witness protection;

_ Impose stricter penalties on government officials and extend the statutory limit;

_ Reform education and promote media investigation;

_ Encourage public scrutiny through measures such as public hearings; and

_ Impose a code of ethics in the public and private sectors.


-- The Nation 2013-09-20

[canuckamuck]

Yes the Chinese are to blame for selling steel at such an irresistible price.

Certainly the government officials in charge are blameless, as how could they resist such a deal

[lujanit]

"A scrutinising network should be set up and informants should be offered prizes."

The 'prizes' will have to be larger/bigger than the prizes already on offer for this to stand a chance of seeing the light of day.

[rfukata]

corruption takes its course

[notmyself]

There should also be a system in place for witness protection;

Oh my, that is so funny.

[zydeco]

This guy continues to kick over the rotting logs and reveal all the worms feeding underneath.

[NongKhaiKid]

Everyhing about SRT is sub-standard including materials, equipement, maintenance, a non-existent maintenance timetable and the attitude of top officialdom who rely on evil spirits taking the blame.

If the SRT boss says the tracks at the main station in Bangkok are old it writes off the rest of the entire system especially the further away from the capital it gets.

[kurnell]

Everyhing about SRT is sub-standard including materials, equipement, maintenance, a non-existent maintenance timetable and the attitude of top officialdom who rely on evil spirits taking the blame.

If the SRT boss says the tracks at the main station in Bangkok are old it writes off the rest of the entire system especially the further away from the capital it gets.

No different to any public works in Thailand. Look at the footpaths, power lines, roads........

[bigbamboo]

He may have a point. Chinese products do have a reputation of being cheap and cheerful.

Edited September 20, 2013 by bigbamboo

[zydeco]

He may have a point. Chinese products do have a reputation of being cheap and cheerful.

So far, in Thailand, we only have trains falling over and off their tracks. In China, you apparently have "Tofu Construction" fairly commonplace, with the result being multi-story apartment buildings and freeway overpasses falling over on their sides.

[Tatsujin]

Strict law-enforcement needed.

Now there's a novel idea . . . how long did it take for them to come up with that one? How many committee's?

[Songhua]

Strict law-enforcement needed.

Now there's a novel idea . . . how long did it take for them to come up with that one? How many committee's?

Some sort of standards body inspection BEFORE the (any) event seems a simple solution but too much to expect.

[clockman]

Every sector is riddled with corruption, so you cannot trust anybody. And remember the people who control everything are Sino Thai. Enough said!

[retell]

so those cheap tracks are in place for how long ??? before they break down

without any maintenance done .

and that video clip is that taken when they placed the order at that company or recently when the whole company maybe was forced to sell factories so it's kind of small now or even moved to a better bigger plant to do their business

agree on the corruption ideas beeing a politician should not prevent from beeing charged , even if the crime it is done in your time in office or years before

and they should surely make the period before many crimes expire a lot longer

[FireMedic]

"These tracks are made from cheap steel from China. Just because we paid for quality steel and my friend kept the balance has nothing to do with this. However, we can re-track all of Thailand with new quality steel. My brother own a steel company here in Thailand. He'll give us special price."

[rametindallas]

Chuvit is well aware of the slander and libel laws of Thailand and you have to believe he has the proof to back up his claims. Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt and State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Governor Prapat Chongsanguan certainly didn't accuse him of besmirching the good name of the SRT. Chuvit know corruption from the inside out as he, for many years, bribed the police to ignore his illegal operations. I'm glad for Thailand that he reformed himself, somewhat.

[Zolt]

Another example of the rule of the lowest bidder - or the highest kickback, more often than not.

[Bagwan]

Chuvit is well aware of the slander and libel laws of Thailand and you have to believe he has the proof to back up his claims. Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt and State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Governor Prapat Chongsanguan certainly didn't accuse him of besmirching the good name of the SRT. Chuvit know corruption from the inside out as he, for many years, bribed the police to ignore his illegal operations. I'm glad for Thailand that he reformed himself, somewhat.

Wouldn't Chuvit be protected by parliamentary privilege?

[patjem]

"These tracks are made from cheap steel from China. Just because we paid for quality steel and my friend kept the balance has nothing to do with this. However, we can re-track all of Thailand with new quality steel. My brother own a steel company here in Thailand. He'll give us special price."

Thailand does not have it's own steel mills. It's all imported, from China, Japan, Korea & Taiwan mainly. The Thai steel companies are only traders.

[bangon04]

Chuvit is well aware of the slander and libel laws of Thailand and you have to believe he has the proof to back up his claims. Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt and State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Governor Prapat Chongsanguan certainly didn't accuse him of besmirching the good name of the SRT. Chuvit know corruption from the inside out as he, for many years, bribed the police to ignore his illegal operations. I'm glad for Thailand that he reformed himself, somewhat.

Seems that he knows where a lot of the bodies are buried - after all he is still alive after several months/years of crusading.

Not sure of his motivation, but he may just be Thailand's best hope.... scary

[trainman34014]

Just wander up the platform at Chiang Mai Station and look at the track condition and the sleepers the track is supposedly fixed down to and you will never want to travel by train in this country.

The whole system needs ripping up and replacing properly with double track standard guage track and new Loco's and Rolling Stock. Now; if the trillions of Baht that they are trying to get their dirty hands on for so called 'Infrastructure Projects' were even partly used for this purpose, without any graft involved, Thailand would be on its way to becoming a 'Developing Country'. But; we all know this would be far more sensible than the high and mighty idea's of a High Speed Railway that is all about 'face' and nothing to do with the needs of the Nation. Don't expect much other than words in the foreseeable future.

[laurentbkk]

A better control on the expenses would have been wiser , a better control on the tracks when it has been done also . Too late to cry now after so many accidents. I just wonder if the Chinese fast train will bring as much as issues in the future ...

[Bagwan]

Maybe they should consider Hornby or Bachmann for track replacement.

[samjaidee]

He may have a point. Chinese products do have a reputation of being cheap and cheerful.

Apple iPhones are Chinese products. Hardly cheap and cheerful.

[Always18]

Cheap steel railway lines? - these derailments are more likely being caused by the cheap wooden sleepers they installed 100 years ago and never bothered to replace!

[zydeco]

Chuvit is well aware of the slander and libel laws of Thailand and you have to believe he has the proof to back up his claims. Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt and State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Governor Prapat Chongsanguan certainly didn't accuse him of besmirching the good name of the SRT. Chuvit know corruption from the inside out as he, for many years, bribed the police to ignore his illegal operations. I'm glad for Thailand that he reformed himself, somewhat.

Seems that he knows where a lot of the bodies are buried - after all he is still alive after several months/years of crusading.

Not sure of his motivation, but he may just be Thailand's best hope.... scary

Yes, he is. The best hope, that is. Takes one to know one. And this is the only time in this country I've ever seen someone come out and expose things. Dems AND Reds are just interested in blaming each other for process, while keeping everything else under covers.

[Frank James]

Hats off to Khun Chuvit. He is the only Thai politician I trust. He's got style.

[Frank James]

A previous poster was right on about the condition of the tracks and rolling stock to be seen at the Chiang Mai terminus. This system is not worthy to be considered a railroad. Narrow gauge, filthy old junk, tear it all out and get new tracks and equipment to build a full size, up to date system, capable of hauling freight and passengers safely. The high speed China Express idea is a pipe dream, and will be a horrible boondoggle if they ever decide to really do it.

[mayday49]

Whistle Blower Fund ...!

[mayday49]

Hats off to Khun Chuvit. He is the only Thai politician I trust. He's got style.

And He's got Moxey ...