SONGKHLA: Train services resumed yesterday between Hat Yai and Padang Besar, the border town in Sadao district of Songkhla, after it was suspended early last month following two bomb explosions.
On Dec 3, a bomb exploded on the tracks in tambon Tha Pho, Sadao district, causing freight train No 707 (Hat Yai-Padang Besar) to derail. Eleven of the 20 carriages came off the tracks, which were also badly damaged. The four train staff -- two drivers, one technician and another staff member -- were unhurt.
Then, three days later on Dec 6, another bomb went off at the spot while the tracks were being repaired, killing three railway staff and wounding four others.
The two incidents forced the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to suspend train services on the route for the rest of the month.
With repairs now complete, the SRT was able to resume a four-train service on the Hat Yai-Padang Besar route yesterday, according to the SRT.
The two morning trains are the No 947 which departs Hat Yai at 7.30am and the No 948 which leaves Padang Besar at 8.55am.
The two afternoon trains are the No 949 from Hat Yai at 2pm and No 950 from Padang Besar at 3.40pm.
However, there were few passengers aboard the first Hat Yai-Padang Besar train yesterday as most people are still on the long New Year holiday, local officials said.
The Hat Yai-Padang Besar rail route will now be under maximum security for three months, with explosive ordnance disposal teams deployed to make sure the rail tracks are safe.
In nearby Pattani province, police said yesterday bullets were fired at an army base and small fires were set in each of its four districts late on Saturday night in an apparent attempt to disrupt New Year's Eve celebrations.
The following five incidents occurred almost simultaneously about 11.30pm:
Bullets were fired at an army operation base at Po Phumae, the Moo 2 village in tambon Talo, Yaring district. There were no casualties reported.
Car tyres were set alight on Highway 418 at Ban Thung Pho, the Moo 5 village in tambon Lipa Sango, Nong Chik district. The words "Patani Merdeka", meaning "free Pattani", were spray-painted on the highway.
Car tyres were also set on fire on Highway 4061 at Ban Thakham, the Moo 1 village in tambon Thakham of Panare district.
A police checkpoint was set on fire at Ban La-nga, the Moo 2 village in tambon La-nga, Mayo district.
Car tyres were set ablaze on Highway 42 (Narathiwat-Pattani) at Ban Palat, the Moo 5 village in tambon La-nga.
From the evidence gathered so far, it is believed the incidents were the work of southern insurgents, and were intended to disrupt the festive atmosphere on New Year's Eve, police said.