Police Crack Down On Rail Crossing Violations Following Tragic Train-Bus Collision

BANGKOK – A major police investigation is underway following a devastating collision between a train and a bus, which resulted in significant casualties. Police are now scrutinizing the events leading up to the crash, with a specific focus on identifying vehicles that illegally blocked the railway tracks.

As the investigation at Makkasan Police Station continues, authorities are working to piece together exactly how the tragedy occurred and who may have contributed to the hazardous conditions at the crossing.

The investigative team has been working tirelessly to gather evidence and witness statements. According to reports from the Metropolitan Police Division 1, the progress is as follows:

Witness Interviews: Investigators have already questioned 28 witnesses. Efforts to interview the injured are ongoing, with some victims still in critical condition and unable to provide statements.
Casualty Identification: DNA testing is currently in progress for the eight victims. While the identities of six individuals have been confirmed, forensic experts are still working to identify the remaining two.
Train Crew Verification: CCTV footage has confirmed that both the train driver and the mechanic were in the driver’s cabin at the time of the collision. The driver is noted to be experienced, having navigated this specific route 58 times since 2023. The mechanic, however, was relatively new, with only 14 days of service and having been on this specific train only twice.

Investigating Track Obstruction

One of the most critical aspects of the ongoing inquiry is whether vehicles parked on or near the tracks obstructed the path or hindered the train’s ability to operate safely.

Police are aggressively reviewing surveillance footage to identify any vehicles that were parked over the tracks in the moments leading up to the accident. Under the Land Traffic Act, parking in restricted areas near railway crossings is a serious offense.

Active Enforcement: Authorities have already taken action against 32 individuals found violating parking rules at railway intersections in the area.
Legal Consequences: Of those cited, five have already paid their 500-baht fines. The police are continuing to track down the owners of the remaining 27 vehicles to hold them accountable.
Signal Integrity: Initial reports from signal officials indicate that the warning equipment was functioning correctly, ruling out mechanical failure of the signals as a primary cause.

To gain a clearer understanding of the visibility and the signaling procedures, police are planning a reconstruction of the incident. Investigators will ride the train to observe the track conditions and signal visibility firsthand.

The investigation remains focused on transparency and public safety. As the team continues to examine the technical logs and interview those in charge of locomotive operations, the goal remains to prevent such a catastrophic event from happening again.

By strictly enforcing traffic laws at rail crossings, authorities hope to deter the dangerous habit of parking over tracks and ensure the safety of all commuters.

Traffic Police Ordered to Pay Special Attention

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Pol. Maj. Gen. Thawat Wongsanga, deputy commissioner and head of the traffic division, said traffic police had changed their plan for the rail crossing on Asok-Din Daeng Road near Asok-Phet intersection after the train-bus crash.

He said officers are now focusing on safety when trains approach, and they are checking whether any vehicles are still stopping in violation of the rules. He pointed out that a bus was still parked over the tracks the day after the accident.

The area already has traffic problems all day because it sits close to the Asok-Phet intersection, so long lines of cars often back up to the railway crossing. He said drivers cannot use traffic jams as an excuse. If they cannot move forward, they must stop before the yellow box and never block the tracks.

They also have to stop at least 5 meters behind the line required by law. That gives drivers room to back out if an emergency leaves a vehicle stuck on the tracks. He added that road users need discipline and must follow traffic laws with safety in mind.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Thawat said there has been no change to the traffic pattern yet. Right now, police are adjusting the deployment of traffic officers in the area to fix the problem, manage traffic, and keep the road system organized and safe around the site.

He also addressed complaints that vehicles coming from Kamphaeng Phet 7 Road turn left through traffic and cut across cars going straight on Asok-Din Daeng Road toward Asok-Phet intersection, which adds to the congestion.

Traffic police will review whether the current traffic setup is working well, or whether they should go back to the former system of changing the traffic signal after 10:00 a.m., when traffic starts to thin out. That review will help guide future traffic management decisions.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau has also coordinated with railway officials on safety measures and prevention steps, along with joint traffic control in the area, to keep the same kind of accident from happening again.