Train services return to normal

Rail services will return to normal today after the government agreed to delay a restructuring plan for the debt-ridden State Railway of Thailand to allow unions to have input into its reorganisation.

Services on some lines reopened yesterday after the State Railway of Thailand Workers Union called off the strike it declared on Monday morning.

The strike left more than 200,000 passengers stranded and caused 16 million baht in damage to the SRT.

SRT union leaders and a team of government negotiators led by Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart yesterday met for an hour at the Transport Ministry. SRT governor Yutthana Thapcharoen and other executives were excluded from the meeting.

An agreement was signed after the meeting suspending the government's plan to split SRT into two subsidiaries pending discussions between rail workers and management on the role of union members in the new structure.

Maj Gen Sanan said the rail strike was not about the SRT union's opposition to the plan. The SRT management apparently failed to honour an agreement that it would consult the union before making any structural change to the agency, he said.

A plan endorsed by the cabinet on June 3 would see the state railway divided into two firms: one to handle its assets and the other to oversee services.

Maj Gen Sanan said action against the workers who staged the work stoppage had not been considered.

"After this, the SRT union and executives will discuss the restructuring plan and submit it to the cabinet for consideration," he said.

Railway union leader Sawit Kaewwan said workers did not oppose the rehabilitation plan but wanted a say in it.

"We agree with the SRT's restructuring. But we do not want it to proceed in haste and with a lack of transparency," Mr Sawit said .

"The strike was staged to protect the interests of the public in the long run. A conclusion should be reached within 150 days."

He said the union was willing to talk to the SRT management as long as the restructuring did not lead to the privatisation of the agency.

"We are willing to ensure the SRT provides efficient services to the public, with transparency, and at the same time remain a public asset," he said.

Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum said talks between the SRT union and the management should be concluded in no more than two weeks.

"If it is further delayed, it will cause damage and affect the planned operation of the Airport Rail Link scheme," he said.

The SRT is required by the cabinet resolution to set up the assets management and services management subsidiaries within 30 days of the June 3 decision.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said there was no need to revoke or review the cabinet resolution on the SRT rehabilitation plan.

He said the plan had nothing to do with any privatisation of the SRT. Instead it sought to divide the agency to achieve management efficiency.

"The cabinet resolution also makes it clear the SRT will remain as the owner. The objective of the plan is to cut losses," the prime minister said.

On the union's demand to seize SRT land taken over by House Speaker Chai Chidchob and Mrs Karuna, the wife of Mr Chai's son Newin, a banned politician from Buri Ram, Maj Gen Sanan said the allegations were being investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the investigation should be allowed to run its course.

The Chidchobs have been accused of encroaching on the plot on Khao Kradong mountain in Buri Ram's Satuk district.

Maj Gen Sanan, who is said to have close ties with Mr Sawit and former SRT union leader Somsak Kosaisuk, now leader of the New Politics Party, reportedly volunteered to negotiate with the union. Informal talks were held before the formal negotiations.