Panel wants train driver fired

A fact-finding panel looking into the cause of the Oct 5 train derailment in Hua Hin has proposed that the driver be dismissed.

State Railway of Thailand deputy governor Pakorn Tangjetsakao yesterday said the committee found the derailment was mainly caused by the recklessness of driver Roengsak Panthep.

The committee found Mr Roengsak had violated train driving regulations and should be dismissed.

The investigation found the driver of the Trang-Bangkok express train dozed off after taking antihistamines and fever relief medication while on duty.

The train jumped a light at Wang Phong station and derailed at Khao Tao station in Hua Hin district in Prachuap Khiri Khan as it was shifted at high speed on to another track to avoid a collision with a parked freight train.

The committee also found the driver suffered from hypertension and had not been drinking before the journey. He had also had only one day off, Sept 14, between September and Oct 5.

The panel also recommended a 15% cut in the salary of Bowornrat Suatim, the train's engineer, and train attendant Uthai Raksaket for 10 months for failing to help monitor signals and switch tracks to ensure the safety of the train.

Mr Bowornrat said he saw Mr Roengsak take his medication.

He himself did not hear radio warnings from train stations due to a hearing problem.

Seven passengers were killed and 88 injured in the accident at Khao Tao station.

Mr Pakorn said the SRT would set up a disciplinary committee in the coming days to consider the exact punishment for the staff involved.

They were suspended from work as of yesterday.

Meanwhile, members of the SRT union rallied in front of the Transport Ministry on Ratchadamnoen Avenue yesterday to demand the dismissal of SRT governor Yuthana Thapcharoen in a week.

Union leader Sawit Kaeowan said a series of train derailments had resulted from SRT management ignorance.

Mr Sawit said train staff were forced to work every day because a cabinet resolution limited the SRT's recruitment. The SRT management had failed to fight for a solution to the staff shortage which was exhausting train drivers.

It was unfair for the SRT management to blame train accidents on railway staff alone, Mr Sawit said.

There was a series of derailments in Kanchanaburi before the derailment last week in Prachuap Khiri Khan.