SRT wants safety to be improved before resuming services in deep south

He said yesterday that it remained unclear when the train service would resume. "We're not ready and there is no scheduled service resumption, pending measures from the national security agencies to restore the confidence of hundreds of officers who are serving the route," he said, adding there must be measures to minimise risks to officers and innocent travellers.

The SRT has asked for police and army patrols to inspect the entire train network in the three provinces, particularly the Ruesor-Tanyongmas route. Security volunteers will also be brought in to ensure safety on the Hat Yai-Sungai Kolok route, which covers 27 stations. Officers from the central government currently oversee the route.

Thanongsak said local train services were the most vulnerable as statistics show they have been the main targets since 1994. "Insurgency attacks are not 100 per cent preventable and cooperation from local people is needed," he noted.

According to Narathiwat Traders Association president Somboon Chanvisut, the suspension of train services in the deep South has caused major damage to the local economy.

"Trains are the main transportation for local people. The closure is also causing problems for industries here that transport their products out of the provinces by train because of the cheap cost," he said.

The Hat Yai-Sungai Kolok route has been suspended since Sunday after four SRT officers were killed on duty.

Somboon said students were also suffering from the suspension as they have to pay more on bus fares travelling to schools in Hat Yai or Muang Songkhla. Some students were stranded yesterday due to the lack of buses.

He said authorities must pay close attention to this problem as a third party could use it to convince residents the central government was ignoring them.