Southbound trains from capital and Bangkok-bound services from South continue suspended as SRT labour union’s Hat Yai branch claim ageing locomotives unserviceable.

The SRT union in Hat Yai said locomotive repairs were needed, and many workers ask for holidays or sick leave from supervisors.

Seventy-six Hat Yai junction workers take leave while 50 colleagues at Thung Song junction in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat were also absent from work.

As train services were suspended, intending passengers in Hat Yai were forced to travel by bus instead.

Nearly 2,000 passengers aboard a train leaving Bangkok bound for Kantang district in Trang province were told to disembark at Lamae station in Chumpon province. The driver reportedly told passengers that protests were in progress at railway stations in the South, including Hat Yai.

The engine driver reportedly told passengers that he feared for their safety and that it would be better if the passengers discontinued their journey.

Lamae district officials later arranged for 30 buses to take the passengers to their destinations.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday ordered SRT management to investigate service suspension.

Mr. Abhisit reportedly told senior SRT managers that the problem must be solved quickly because “SRT must provide service to the people” and that when the people suffer the government would intervene to overhaul SRT operations. (TNA)