State Railways of Thailand are expected to resume train services on the northern route, between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, this evening as workers continue working to remove three derailed carriages lying on the tracks and make repairs.
Heavy machinery has been sent from the SRT’s maintenance depot in Bangkok to Long district of Phrae province. It will be used to lift the derailed carriages from the tracks at the scene of the accident, which occurred between Kaeng Luang and Ban Pin stations in Long district.
The derailment of the Bangkok-Chiang Mai special express before dawn on Saturday has been attributed to a flash flood.
The SRT has been ordered by Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote to keep him up to date on progress of the maintenance work until it is complete.
The SRT was also advised to monitor weather reports and take precautionary action to reduce impacts on the passengers.
Passengers who have already made advance bookings on the northern route can ask for a refund, if they want to cancel their trip, and return their tickets at any train station or by contacting the Call Centre at 1690.