Train driver to be sacked

Published: 12/10/2009 at 02:24 PM
Online news:

The committee investigating the fatal Oct 5 derailment has recommended the train driver be sacked for ignoring a stop signal, resulting in the deaths of eight passengers and injury to more than 80 others, State Railway of Thailand deputy governor Pakorn Tangjetsakao said on Monday.

Mr Pakorn, who chaired the inquiry, said the panel found Roengsak Panthep, 49, the driver of the Trang-Bangkok train, was at fault because the train, while under his control, jumped the stop light at Wang Phong station, leading to the derailment at Ban Khao Tao station in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district.

The committee resolved to sack Mr Roengsak for reckless driving causing deaths and injuries.

The engineer and train crew face a face a 15 per cent salary cut for 10 months for failing to alert the driver to the need to comply with the regulations.

Mr Roengsak, who later surrendered to Hua Hin police, said he was suffering from high blood pressure. Before going on duty on Oct 5 he took medication for fever and an allergy that made him drowsy, leading to the derailment.

The driver said during the five months before the accident he had only one day off.

The committee ruled that the accident was not caused by problems with the signal, the train or other equipment, but by the driver's error.

The committee's ruling will be forwarded to a disciplinary committee, before going to the SRT board for approval, Mr Pakorn said.

About 100 train workers led by Sawit Kaewwan, president of the SRT labour union, rallied in front of the Transport Ministry today, demanding that Yutthana Thapcharoen be dismissed as SRT governor for administrative failure.

The workers said Mr Yutthana put the blame on the train driver, but the main cause of the accident was shortage of staff, causing employees to be overworked.

They said in fact the train that derailed had malfunctioned in several areas, including the automatic brake system.

They pointed out that Mr Yutthana had already been found by the Office of the Auditor-General to have been involved in alleged irregularities over the Sunday market's operation, the workers said.

The train workers vowed to remain in front of the ministry until they receive a responses from Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum. More rail employees would be called in from other provinces to join the protest if necessary, they said.

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Ramet in Dallas

Discussion 14 : 13/10/2009 at 07:40 AM14
You have the worst of all worlds for safety and efficieny with bloated govt. burocracy as management and unfireable union members as staff. No one worries how to keep their job so no one is responsible for the deplorable conditions on the trains. Privatize and fire anyone who doesn't do their job well. There are plenty of people who will work hard for such good jobs and those are the ones who should have them. I read that if your father worked for the SRT you automatically get a job, even if unqualified otherwise. No private company could stay in business with such bloated and patently lousy management. PRIVATISE before any more innocent people are killed.
Richard Collins

Discussion 13 : 13/10/2009 at 04:07 AM13
Just as I predicted the other week, the train driver will get full blame and case closed...
Henry

Discussion 12 : 13/10/2009 at 01:35 AM12
I say there is everything wrong with the train. What happened to the "dead man's handle" ? If they are not fitted or have been disabled, who is going to assume the responsibility for the numerous accidents?

Why is someone guilty of manslaughter not charged for the offence? Doesn't anyone CARE?
Rico

Discussion 11 : 13/10/2009 at 01:19 AM11
Scapegoat ! The train driver, and now his family, is a victim as well ! Victim of the dysfunctionnal SRT. Victim of the suits who are in "charge" (??) . When do they get SACKED !! National STRIKE now !!!
tom hoy

Discussion 10 : 13/10/2009 at 01:16 AM10
The driver says he had one day off in five months. If this is true we should ask who allowed this to happen.

Management perhaps?

Will they suffer?
A Joke ?

Discussion 9 : 12/10/2009 at 11:33 PM9
Santika nightclub Fire - perhaps it will be enough to sack the Barman !
Kelly

Discussion 8 : 12/10/2009 at 10:57 PM8
So the driver has been sacked. Will he be charged with murder or manslaughter?
How much money will he receive in the form of a golden handshake for being a scapegoat?
Were there were two employees on the engine at the time or only one ?
The guard of the train and the train crew are in contact with train control if there was no response from the driver they should have pulled the emergency train brake and this disaster would have not occurred.
Sack them all with no benefits. This is the only way you will get the staff to wake up and take notice.
The driver said he had only has one day off in five months. He is does not have to work his rostered days off. It is the responsibility of all staff to have sufficient rest. If they wish to work on there rest days they should not complain about it. They should not be so money hungry.
Chiangmai Skipper

Discussion 7 : 12/10/2009 at 09:03 PM7
The investigation committee “recommended” the train driver be sacked. Well DUH! Everybody knew that would be the verdict; we were hoping for a little bit more. One train driver apparently uninjured from the train derailment he caused loses his job. Wow! Eight innocent passengers who trusted the SRT to provide a safe ride for the cost of their ticket lose not jobs but their lives and another 80 people will not have the quality of health they enjoyed before boarding the train.
Additionally, the engineer and train crew will face a 15% salary cut for a 10 month period. Basically, end of story. No SRT governor or transport minister acknowledges any responsibility or suffers any consequences whatsoever. Simply pathetic. The administrators, management, and the committee, “ruled that the accident was not caused by problems with the signal, the train or other equipment, but by the driver's error”. In other words no admission that there is anything wrong with the rail system. This article said not one word from the SRT as to what they plan to do to avoid accidents like this from occurring in the future. No word about upgrading the seats, advertisement –covered, view blocking windows, the disgusting toilet facilities. Obviously nobody cares about the passengers and any complaints fall on deaf ears.
An editorial writer in another newspaper pointed out these facts:

“First class air-con passenger carriages are on average 12 years old, the second-class AC cars, 23-34 years old, and the third-class cars, 27-94 years old. In fact, some of the trains will be a hundred years old very soon”.

“As for the railroads, only 24 per cent of the network is in a very good condition, 38.6 are deemed in good condition and 28.5 per cent are usable”.

All this adds up to some shocking statistics.
“Last year, there were 143 cases of derailment, resulting in five people dead and 17 injured, compared to 111 cases, 71 injured and six dead a year earlier. There is every chance of a similar accident happening again”.
“All the SRT needs is a complete overhaul. Incompetent staff, no matter who they are, should not be kept on, and old fleet should be replaced with new ones. Above all, concerned parties should consider taking moral responsibility for things gone wrong in their organisation. As it turns out, it's the low-ranking officers who are fired. It's time for a top-down reform at the SRT”.
My question is when will the SRT get their act in together and plan a new and modern railway system that safely serves all of Thailand. Sadly, I fear that will occur when those in administrative positions take responsibility for their neglect and mismanagement . . . never. Thailand had better start looking to the future and soon.
Pairat

Discussion 6 : 12/10/2009 at 09:01 PM6
The investigation result will be acceptable if the investigatiing team is professional. The state SRT investigated the accident themselves. Is it valid? Is there any conflict of interest? SRT management could be a part of the accident cause. The accident investigation's responsibility should rest on the National Safety Committee belonging the Office of Prime Minister. The investigation team member should comprise of represntative from various sectors, e.g., engineering professor,Engineering Institute of Thailand, Transport Minister as the chair person.PP
Paul 1

Discussion 5 : 12/10/2009 at 05:55 PM5
Granted - the driver is at fault, but what of the engineer? Is he not supposed to be in the cab with the train operator? Therefore, if that is true, he should be sacked also - not just given a 15% pay cut for 10 months. In addition, Management and the Union are also at fault for having overworked employees that are utilized without proper rest. In aviation, a Pilot cannot work more than 8 hours. If the flight is longer than that, a spare pilot must be on board.

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Train driver to be sacked