'Free train ride' cancelled for college trip

'Free train ride' cancelled for college trip

Institute claims it only wanted fare discount

Before the public found out and launched social media protests, King Prajadhipok's Institute had allegedly tried to pressure the near-bankrupt State Railway of Thailand to provide free VIP transport and free meals for students planning an outing in Kanchanaburi. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Before the public found out and launched social media protests, King Prajadhipok's Institute had allegedly tried to pressure the near-bankrupt State Railway of Thailand to provide free VIP transport and free meals for students planning an outing in Kanchanaburi. (Bangkok Post file photo)

The cash-strapped State Railway of Thailand (SRT) denied Wednesday it is laying on a chartered train free of charge for a group of King Prajadhipok's Institute (KPI) students.

SRT governor Wutthichart Kalayanamitr said a request for the SRT to provide four "SRT Prestige" carriages for 75 students enrolled in the KPI's executive programme was not possible and the institute was being offered an alternative arrangement.

He admitted that a letter, submitted by the KPI's Class 15 belonging to the Public Administration and Public Laws Programme, had asked for the SRT to waive fares and fees for the train they want to charter to take them to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities in Kanchanaburi.

"The SRT can give them some discount," he said.

According to the letter sent to the SRT and which was leaked to media, the requested train was for a one-way trip on Sept 3 for the group carry out CSR activities at a school in Kanchanaburi's Muang district. They also requested that food and drink be included in the trip.

The request letter, signed by KPI's deputy secretary-general Vitavas Chaipakpoom, has sparked a public outcry.

Critics say those enrolled on the programme are from wealthy families so should not try seeking privileges from a debt-ridden state enterprise. It is believed the fee for the train charter was about 140,000 baht.

Vitavas Chaipakpoom, head of the KPI's Public Administration and Public Laws Programme, claimed the letter was sent to the SRT by mistake.

Mr Vitavas told the Bangkok Post the letter sent to the SRT was the wrong one. He said he had asked for changes to the original draft which was mistakenly sent to the SRT.

He said he had ordered changes to the letter because he realised it would be wrong for the KPI to ask for the train to be laid on free of charge.

The letter that should have been sent asked for a 30% discount which the SRT can give for requests of this nature, he said.

"It's also my fault that I didn't follow this up. I read the first letter and said it was not okay to ask for a free ride. I can guarantee we will pay the proper fees, the same as anyone else who are eligible to ask for a discount. Anyway, the SRT hasn't granted us our request," he said.

He said the trip to Kanchanaburi was part of the Class 15's CSR activities in which many items and money will be donated to the Kanchanaburi school and its students. He said the KPI students had planned to go by train and return by van.

"We're not asking for a free ride and the money to be spent on transportation costs is collected from the students directly. It isn't the institute's money," he said.

However, Mr Wutthichart said the SRT Prestige cars had already been booked by the National Defence College's Class 54 for a trip to Kanchanaburi on Sept 3, so the KPI students were being offered SRT VIP coaches instead. He said the VIP coaches were not being offered for free but the SRT was considering giving a discount.

Under SRT regulations, the rail agency is allowed to waive fees or give discounts to eligible state agencies or charity organisations but each request needs approval from the SRT governor and the board.

He said the KPI did not request free food and drink but will pay for it and also denied the total cost of the trip was 140,000 baht as speculated, saying the cost depends on the distance.

Deputy SRT governor, Thanongsak Pongprasert, said the best discount the SRT could offer for a one-way trip using VIP coaches was 20%, meaning the KPI trip would cost about 57,000 baht after a discount.

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