Train Collision On Bangkok - Chiang Mai Route

[Jai Dee]

Train collision in Bangkok-Chiang Mai route, causing many injuries

Officials are expediting in gathering the wreckage and repairing the railway, following the collision of two trains between Bangkok and Chiang Mai route last night, and the route is expected to be serviceable this afternoon.

The accident occurred when a sprinter train crashed into the rear of a Bangkok-Chiang Mai train line, which was loading with tourists who would like to visit the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006 in Chiang Mai.

The incident took place near Taphan Hin Train Station, or about three kilometers from Phichit. Many passengers were injured from the collision. 11 of them have been admitted to the hospital, and three are still in serious conditions. Five injured people are foreign tourists.

According to the investigation, two bogeys immediately derailed after the collision. Further investigation is being conducted.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 27 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

Passengers injured when train ferrying them to flora expo hit by another

Phichit - A special-service train ferrying passengers from Bangkok to the flora expo in Chiang Mai was hit by another train, causing part of it to derail and injuring many passengers.

Police said the accident happened at ten minutes after midnight Sunday night between the Huayket and Taphan Hin stations in Phichit's Taphan Hin district.

Police said the normal service train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai hit the last car of the special service train, causing the last car and the engine and a goods car of the second train to derail.

Police said the injured passengers included foreigners but their exact number was not known yet.

Source: The Nation - 27 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

Trains bound for Northern Routes expected to resume today

The State Railway of Thailand said trains bound for the northern routes will resume again about 11.00 p.m. A slight train collision took place late last night. The Railway’s Board of Commissioners had called an urgent meeting to investigate the cause of accident.

Following the collision of two trains at Phichit Province last night, Monthakarn Sriwilat (มณฑกาญน์ ศรีวิลาศ), Chief of the public relations department of the State Railway of Thailand, revealed that there are 70 passengers wounded and taken to hospital. 11 of them are allowed to return home.

The public relations admitted that the Railway’s Board of Commissioners had discussed all people involved in the incident to investigate the cause of accident and find measures to prevent it in the future.

The railway officials will expedite the investigation process as they are afraid that the accident may affect the reputation of the SRT. Most of the passengers of the trains involved in the collision are visitors of the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006.

Mrs Monthakarn insisted that train is the safest way to travel in this country.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 27 November 2006

[sriracha john]

75 injured in Thai train crash

BANGKOK : Some 75 people were injured after a train heading from Bangkok to Thailand's northern tourist spot Chiang Mai slammed into another passenger train, police said Monday.

The accident occurred in Pichit province, some 340 kilometers (210 miles) north of the Thai capital, around midnight when the Chiang Mai-bound train crashed into the last carriage of the second train, which was stopped on the tracks, police said.

The parked train was waiting for clearance to enter a nearby station.

"Around 11 people broke their legs and arms, but most of the injured suffered minor cuts and bruises," a hospital official said.

Police major Wiwat Mekkham said the cause of the accident was still under investigation.

Passengers on the two trains were taken to their destination by bus. The accident disrupted service on the popular route, but trains were expected to return to normal service late Monday.

- AFP

[Laulen]

Let us hope that the authorities will take steps to ensure that such an incident as this does not happen again, and by that I do not mean 'find a scapegoat!'

If the railways need additional investment, then hopefully the authorities will find the money. Railways are a popular form of transport and a contributor to 'Unforgettable Thailand' 2007, as 'sriracha john' points out!

[PeaceBlondie]

Two bogeys derailed? As in, "Don't Bogart that joint, my friend," or two Bogomils?

[Florin]

As much as I love traveling by train, Thailand has had an unacceptably high number of issues with their ###### network in recent times...whether caused by flooding, human or mechanical error, the trains here have become far from the safest (as pointed out in one of the news items above) means of travel, and many times they're far from punctual, as well.

They need to upgrade the maintenance & signaling of their afterthought of a network so that crap like this doesn't happen so often...I'm not asking for Swiss or German efficiency here, but countries like Vietnam or Malaysia have a far better network, mostly because of better planning and an actual desire to use trains as a valid means of transportation as opposed to a long, cramped bus ride.

I can only see things getting worse for them...the SRT website is downright laughable, with expansion plans and track doubling - I'd like to see their existing tracks & trains functioning in normal parameters first.

[sriracha john]

Two bogeys derailed? As in, "Don't Bogart that joint, my friend," or two Bogomils?

Amazing stuff, that English language...

dictionary.com has an astounding 14 definitions for "bogey", including this one:

A railroad car or locomotive undercarriage having pairs of wheels that swivel so that curves can be negotiated.

Over 100 passengers injured as Sprinter hits Royal Flora Express

PHICHIT - About 130 passengers including a number of foreign tourists were injured when a State Railway of Thailand sprinter train crashed into another SRT train carrying passengers to the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek in the northern province of Chiang Mai early Monday morning.

About 20 passengers were severely injured and taken to hospitals.

The accident, which paralysed all train services on the northern route, occurred in a remote area in Taphan Hin district of Phichit province. Rescue workers walked about five kilometres to transport the injured for emergency medical treatment.

Officials are working to fix the railway track and clear the wreckage of the derailed train. Train service is expected to resume Monday afternoon.

According to the initial investigation, the special service train bound for the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006 stopped, waiting for permission to park at a station.

It was then hit by a Bangkok-Chiang Mai sprinter train. Three cars of the special service train derailed and more than hundred passengers on both trains were injured.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

- MCOT

[Scott]

Best to the injured. I hope they have a speedy recovery.