Safety worries delay repair of bombed southern rail track

Safety worries delay repair of bombed southern rail track

Soldiers secure the scene of the  bomb explosion that destroyed the railway track  between Rueso station in Narathiwat and Ba Lo station in Yala's Raman district on Sunday afternoon. (Photo: Waedao Harai)
Soldiers secure the scene of the bomb explosion that destroyed the railway track between Rueso station in Narathiwat and Ba Lo station in Yala's Raman district on Sunday afternoon. (Photo: Waedao Harai)

NARATHIWAT -- The repair of the railway track damaged by a bomb explosion on Sunday has been delayed until the safety of the work gang can be assured by the military.

Meanwhile, train services between Yala city and the southern border have been halted indefinitely. 

About 20 metres of the track was damaged by the explosion around 2.30pm on Sunday, between Rueso station in Narathiwat and Ba Lo station in Yala's Raman district.

The railway official said the work is the responsibility of the Tanyongmat rail repair centre, but had not yet begun because railway officials were waiting on a meeting with military staff in charge of security in the area. The work could take two or three days to complete and they needed to first to ensure the safety of the repair crew.

Thanongsak Pongprasert, the State Railway of Thailand deputy governor in charge of train operations, was scheduled to arrive in the province on Monday afternoon for an inspection.

Security for repairmen would be emphasised because in the past some of them had lost legs in bomb explosions while working on the track.

In Songkhla, Saman Raksawong, a train operations inspector at Hat Yai railway junction, said all South-bound trains on the route had to stop at Yala station, while all North-bound trains had to start from Yala.

Sungai Kolok - Phatthalung and Sungai Kolok - Hat Yai local trains would also be out of service pending   completion of the repairs

On Monday morning, Hat Yai railway station was particularly crowded after the arrival of the Bangkok - Sungai Kolok rapid train No 171.  Some of the passengers, most of them Muslims, had to alight at Hat Yai station before proceeding by bus to Narathiwat for the Hari Raya festival.

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