100,000 Passengers Expected To Use State Railways On Friday

[george]

100,000 passengers expected to use State Railways on Friday

BANGKOK: -- The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) was set to transport Bangkok workers back to their hometowns during the New Year's holiday as it expected around 100,000 passengers would use the train services on Friday at the start of the four-day weekend, according to Acting SRT Governor Thawin Samnakhon.

Mr. Thawin said the SRT officials were well prepared to accommodate the passengers who opted to travel by trains back to their hometowns to celebrate the New Year with their families and until now had not faced any obstacles.

"Everything is going smoothly and it is expected that today the biggest group of travellers -- around 100,000, will leave Bangkok by train," he said.

To response the increased demand, he said, the SRT planned to increase the number of trains plying major routes for 20 lines, mostly to the northeastern region where many of Bangkok's workers originate.

It was expected that the addition trips would be enough to facilitate today's peak demand, Mr. Thawin said.

SRT Executive Board chairman Siwa Sangmanee assigned the agency's governors to supervise and monitor state rail service during the long holiday.

He added that in the coming new year, the SRT has a policy in place to revamp all services, particularly standards of cleanness, for the pleasure and convenience of passengers.

The SRT also plans to purchase 20 brand new locomotives and more used locomotives from Japanese Railway Company JR-West, he said.

Security will be stepped up -- particularly the sensitive areas in the three southernmost province of Yala, Pattani, and Naratiwat, he said, adding that more closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras will be installed at 27 stations to ensure the safety of passengers.

-- TNA 2006-12-29