Rail staff accused of train sabotage

The State Railway of Thailand plans to sack 10 union members and is threatening legal action against them after a train was allegedly blocked from leaving Hat Yai by another train.

SRT executives considered the situation as dangerous as the first train had left the key southern station on the Songkhla to Narathiwat route yesterday.

SRT governor Yutthana Thapcharoen said railway management had decided the staff allegedly responsible would have to be fired for severe misconduct.

SRT union members at Hat Yai station have refused to operate train services to the deep South since Oct 16, citing health and safety concerns.

An SRT source said about 10 key union members were singled out for dismissal. They were accused of persuading railway workers in the South and the Central Plains to strike.

The source said the Hat Yai incident happened at 10.30am yesterday and involved the No.463 Phatthalung-Sungai Kolok service.

The train driver, who is from Bangkok, was forced to stop the locomotive about 300 metres from Hat Yai station when he saw the Padang Besar-Hat Yai train parked on the same track.

Union members at the station then surrounded his train and called on him to get down from the cabin.

The confrontation ended after an hour when more than 100 railway police arrived to escort the driver to safety.

Mr Yutthana blamed the Hat Yai staff for allowing the No.463 to run on the same track as the stationary Padang Besar-Hat Yai train.

A crash was only avoided because the driver was able to stop the train in time, he said.

Mr Yutthana said he had ordered a full investigation into the incident.

The driver, Saroj Suksamran, said he was given the green light to pull out of the station but rammed on the brakes when he noticed something wrong with a signal.

He said the SRT management ordered him to file a complaint with police against local union members.

He accused the union members of using another train to block his route and of tampering with a switch that could have derailed his train.

Wiroon Sakaekhum, head of the Hat Yai union, said the departing train almost collided with the other train because it jumped a red light that was switched on to show there was another train on the same track.

The next signal switch was not in the right position for the train to move out of the station and the train would have derailed if it had continued for another 50 metres, he said.

After the Hat Yai incident, SRT deputy governor Itthipol Praphawasit abruptly ended negotiations with SRT union president Sawit Kaeowan at the state enterprise's offices in Bangkok.

The SRT's management blamed the union of failing to cooperate and resume services.

Mr Sawit said the union was sticking to its demands that the SRT management ensure all trains are safe and properly maintained.

Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum said those involved in the Hat Yai rail blockage would be arrested.

The cabinet yesterday approved an SRT request to recruit 171 new train drivers and engineers to cope with a staff shortage.

The railway union blames substandard equipment and a shortage of drivers for a fatal train derailment in Prachuap Khiri Khan on Oct 5.

Members of the State Enterprise Relations Confederation yesterday urged Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to step in to solve the conflict between the railway union and the SRT management.

Railway union members yesterday filed a complaint with the senate committee on human rights, liberty and consumer protection.

The panel will discuss the complaint tomorrow.