BANGKOK, April 24 – The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) suspended its north-bound train service to some central provinces after five carriages of an oil tanker train derailed in Bangkok’s Don Mueang district Tuesday afternoon, blocking tracks and leaking 200,000 litres of crude oil in the immediate area.

No one was injured in the incident and workers are removing derailed carriages, salvaging and remounting those that can be handled.
Heat-induced track expansion, making the tracks wider, was initially believed to have caused the accident.

Nuan-anong Wongchan , head of SRT public relations, said that the oil-laden train derailed between Don Mueang and Laksi stations.

As oil leakages obstructed rail traffic, north- and northeast-bound trains have been routed to another route, passing Chachoensao to reach their destinations.

Meanwhile, trains to the central provinces of Ayutthaya and Saraburi were suspended. Passengers are advised to use other public transport.

Almost 200,000 litres of crude oil flowed out from the train. The operation to salvage derailed bogies is expected to be finished around midnight, said SRT governor Yutthana Thapcharoen.

The 27-carriage train came from Phitsanulok en route to Bangkok to deliver oil to the Bangchak Petroleum refinery.

MCOT