Again - a train derails in Thailand

[webfact]

Train derails again in Maha Chai



BANGKOK: -- Another train derailed this morning while it was on the way from Maha Chai to Wong Wien Yai railway station in Bangkok.

State Railways of Thailand (SRT) spokesperson Nual-anong Wongchan said that the free-ride No 4320 train was on the way from Maha Chai district of Samut Sakhon to Bangkok’s Wong WienYai railway station when one of its bogie ran off the track at Kok Kwai crossing between Ban Nam Cheud and Ban Khom railway stations in Samut Sakhon.

However nobody was injured. All the passengers were later transferred to another train to further their journey to Bangkok.

The derailment of the bogie did not disrupt train service as the route was not congested, she said.

The Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt has earlier inspected the route and admitted of its poor condition and needed urgent maintenance and repair.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/train-derails-maha-chai/

-- Thai PBS 2013-11-18

[PeterSmiles]

Today was announced by the minister of transportation that Thailand will aim for Hub of train derailments in Asia the entire world

[laurentbkk]

I was only wondering if one day we wont see any accidents like that, between trains or buses ..... just one day without could be nice !

[Thainy Tim]

I'm waiting for the first derailment at high speed.

If they ever build it, you won't catch me getting on the high speed link.

I will continue to take my chances on the roads.

[jackr]

I've an idea, why don't they just remove the rails then there'll be no more derailments and hence no more loss of face associated with a 'developing' nation coming across third world.

[bigbamboo]

With more derailments than I used to have on my Hornby set when I was a kid I just thank Buddha Thai trains generally can't go fast enough to cause serious injuries.

[ChrisY1]

Can't imagine the HSR ever being completed....just too much graft in this country for it to ever be a working, viable transport system in Thailand....

Given the pre-contract payments that have to be made....Chinese constructors.........aint gonna make it off the rails!

[draftvader]

Let's all just pray this doesn't spread to the BTS

[winstonc]

another thailand embarrasment the minister should be put up against the wall...third world its not that good im afraid....

[Scott]

Troll post removed.

[Bluespunk]

What's a "free-ride train"? Is it one that is free to all as name would suggest? If so might not have been the best maintained vehicle.

Edited November 18, 2013 by Bluespunk

[RickeyParkany]

What's a "free-ride train"? Is it one that is free to all as name would suggest? If so might not have been the best maintained vehicle.

Thai passengers ride free 3rd class, farang cost TBt 100...like on the rail line from Bangkok Noi on to Sai Yok from Kanjanaburi, etc. ... ;-} rap.

Edited November 18, 2013 by RickeyParkany

[Lobo4819]

So let's build one that costs a gazillion baht and goes really, really fast and the same people will maintain it and the same ministers will make buffoon-like statements each time it derails killing dozens. No pun intended, but is everyone asleep at the wheel?

[coma]

Surely the transport minister's job must be under serious scrutiny at the moment. With all the derailments this year and with the ongoing delays in re opening the northern line. It would be safe to say that SRT is a mess to say the least. Head need to roll.

[Patje]

In a normal country the minister would resign and make way for a new minister who then would do something about it , not like in Thailand , here the minister in charge just take note of the situation and tells he's sorry ......

[edwinchester]

another thailand embarrasment the minister should be put up against the wall...third world its not that good im afraid....

In China his family would have been billed the bullet for sure.

[petedk]

I've an idea, why don't they just remove the rails then there'll be no more derailments and hence no more loss of face associated with a 'developing' nation coming across third world.

Yes, but then they will crash into each other likes buses and mini vans.

[wirat69]

I guess that it could be one way of getting rid of aged rolling stock, except they seem to stack it in yards out towards Bang Sue, and I guess many other depots around the Kingdom. Comes to mind that if you can't do better than bogey you will never win the tournament!

[Lupatria]

Practice makes perfect! One day in the near future they will run out of coaches.

[NongKhaiKid]

I'm still trying to get over his ridiculous target of no road deaths over Loy Kratong.

However Thai politicians have notoriously poor memories so with the annual carnage of New Year, plus YL's gift of an extra ' chopping ' day, just around the corner I wonder what targets and general stupid statements he'll come up with for that ?

[A1Str8]

I thought Yingluck fixed this already.

[bushman1666]

I was only wondering if one day we wont see any accidents like that, between trains or buses ..... just one day without could be nice !

More chance of a BJ off the Pope! TiT

[Robby nz]

Don't know that the minister himself can do much about it.

He has inherited this from previous transport ministers in this and previous governments.

And I have to say he has made the right noises about actually doing something whereas those who have gone before were just seat warmers.

What we have is an old run down system in dire need of an upgrade, preferably to double track the lot.

There has been little or no funding available for the work that is needed.

What with the bogy man of corruption sucking at what was available the only things that have been done, or have been able to be done, are to patch up where faults occur.

We have been told that once the 2.2 trillion is in hand everything will be sorted, but as the priority now is high speed whether that will happen, we wait to see.

[yooper2001]

Thailand is # 6 in the world in Traffic deaths (29,000 ) and I am sure the minister of transportation can move up to # 2 or 3 and with shooting for # 1 in train derailments and throw in a couple of airplane misshaps, and let us not forget the popular story about Taxi drivers putting on hazmat suits with gas masks before gassing farang passengers through their airconditioning and robbing them. /throw in all the busses that are toppling over or running off the road, Then The minister of tourism wonders why Thailand is loosing out on tourists. The government must be run by the keystone kops

[Crushdepth]

There's a sign at one of the railway stations that says:

"Take the train...its saver".

[4u2mad]

2.2 trillion baht MIGHT just fix the present system

[bigbamboo]

There's a sign at one of the railway stations that says:

"Take the train...its saver".

Off topic a bit but Brit ex pats might appreciate this.

Years ago there was an advert promoting an extended rail timetable with the headline, 'The last train leaves later than you think'.

Under which some wag had scrawled, "Why pick on that one?"

[nong38]

Just another ordinary day on the State Railway where standards of service, rolling stock and infrastructure leave something to be desired or is that dreamt of.

[Carl64]

Isn't that 50 derailments for the year??? Any one for sure?

[Patje]

Don't know that the minister himself can do much about it.

He has inherited this from previous transport ministers in this and previous governments.

And I have to say he has made the right noises about actually doing something whereas those who have gone before were just seat warmers.

What we have is an old run down system in dire need of an upgrade, preferably to double track the lot.

There has been little or no funding available for the work that is needed.

What with the bogy man of corruption sucking at what was available the only things that have been done, or have been able to be done, are to patch up where faults occur.

We have been told that once the 2.2 trillion is in hand everything will be sorted, but as the priority now is high speed whether that will happen, we wait to see.

Then stop pretending and stop all train traffic until it is fixed, but do not charge and find weak excuses, what is he waiting for? The first passengers who will die ?