Derailment halts northeastern trains

Derailment halts northeastern trains

The cement train is off track in central Nakhon Ratchasima province Monday night. (Photos by Prasit Tangprasert)
The cement train is off track in central Nakhon Ratchasima province Monday night. (Photos by Prasit Tangprasert)

NAKHON RATCHASIMA - All northeast-bound trains were halted Monday night as a cement train derailed in Muang district. Railway workers expected the rails to be reopened early Tuesday.

The train No.527 derailed at the level crossing at the Ha Yaek Hua Rod Fai intersection in Nakhon Ratchasima municipality about 300 metres from the Nakhon Ratchasima train station at about 7.30pm.

Nine of 20 carriages overturned and were dislodged from their wheels. The tracks at the location were twisted. Staff of the State Railway of Thailand said they would need at least six hours to retrieve the derailed carriages.

The train carried the cement produced by TPI Polene Plc from the Hin Lap station in Muak Lek district of Sara Buri and was heading for Ubon Ratchathani province.

It just left the Nakhon Ratchasima station and was passing the level crossing where many vehicles were waiting next to the barricades. Suddenly, the nine carriages derailed. No casualties were reported and concerned officials were investigating the cause.

Local train signalling official Thongchai Rakdee said he was blocking road traffic at the intersection to pave the way for the cement train. Suddenly, the last carriage made deafening noises and vibrations, derailed and pulled other carriages off the track.

Sakchai Sapjaithiang, a railway director of Nakhon Ratchasima, said railway workers would try to clear the derailed train within Monday night.

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