Trains in Thai South not yet resume normal services

BANGKOK, July 6 (TNA) - The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) reports that train services on southern routes have remained partly disrupted in the Far South, from Yala to Su-ngai Golok Stations, pending repair works. Banharn Gobyayang, head of train service management, region 5, in his capacity as acting director of SRT southern centre, told journalists on Wednesday that officials concerned are mapping out a plan on repair works of the railway section, which was damaged by a bomb attack in Rue Soh District of Narathiwat Province on July 3. Besides, security officers have not yet finished inspecting the damaged area to prevent any repeated incident, while security measures to protect the repair staff in the sensitive area have not yet been completed. Banharn suggested people to temporarily rely on cars or buses if they need to travel from Yala to Su-ngai Golok and vice versa until the repair works of the damaged rail tracks are completed. Banharn said for those who have booked their train tickets in advance, they can get a full refund for the tickets, while ticket sales for the Far South-Bangkok route and vice versa have been 60 per cent canceled. In the meantime, the senior SRT official noted, train services on the southern routes have been temporarily stopped in Hat Yai of Songkhla Province, where passengers are then taken by buses provided by SRT to their destinations in the Thai Deep South. The senior official insisted on heightened security measures, both at the Hat Yai Station and along the 214-kilometre tracks leading to Su-ngai Golok Station, including regular patrols and inspections of security officers. (TNA)