Signals, Barriers to be Finally Built at Railroad Crossings Following Rail Accidents

BANGKOK – Thailand’s Transport Ministry will cooperate with local administrative organizations to build signals and barricades at railroad crossings nationwide to prevent accidents which have occurred frequently in Thailand, said Transport Minister Prajin Juntong.

Inspections have been made and it is found that there are more than 584 points throughout the country in which there are no railway crossing signs or barricades at the crossing, said Air Chief Marshal Prajin.

The absence of the sign and the barricade is mot often found south-bound rail routes, followed by the northern and central routes.

In order to remove such accidents in the short-term, the Transport Ministry will cooperate with local administrations in building and installing signals and movable barriers at rail crossings.

A flyover bridge or an underground tunnel will be built at crossings, with at least one-third to be built within next year and the rest to be completed in the  following year, he said.

ACM Prajin’s remarks were made following two rail accidents taking place recently in the Phetchaburi province southwest of Bangkok and Khon Kaen in the northeast.

Seven persons died in the two accidents when passenger trains smashed into vehiclers at unmarked junctions.

Meanwhile, Soithip Trisuddhi, permanent secretary for Transport, said a meeting will be held next week to discuss the problem and decide where signals and barriers will be built first.

Participants will also confer the necessary budget, said Ms Soithip