Northern train services back on track

Train services to the North from Bangkok resumed yesterday, while Southern train services remain suspended due to flooding of the railway tracks.

State Railway of Thailand (SRT) public relations division chief Nuanla-ong Wongchan said yesterday that the first Bangkok-Chiang Mai express train departed Hua Lumpong Station at 8.30am, while the Chiang Mai-Bangkok express train departed the northern city at 8.45am. Both trains would re-route via the east to avoid flooded areas. The northern trains had been suspended for a month after floods covered the tracks in Lampang, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Lop Buri, and Ayutthaya. To avoid the flooded Don Muang-Ayutthaya section, SRT has re-routed them to the east - Makkasan-Hua Mark, Chachoengsao, Khlong 19, Kaeng Khoy, Ban Phachi and back to the rest of the northern route - which would lengthen the journey by another 1-2 hours.

The SRT suspended the Southern train services and refunded money to those who had already bought tickets, after the Bang Sue-Bang Bumru railway tracks were submerged under 50cm-deep flood waters and the Nong Pla Duk-Suphan Buri station was under 30cm-deep waters. For information, call hotline 1690 around the clock.