4,000 stranded in rail chaos

       More than 4,000 passengers have been stranded at Surat Thani station after drivers of eight South-bound trains walked off the job, aggravating woes from crippling union stoppages.
       The latest action came as Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva insisted a major overhaul of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) might be in order and the SRT board said it was planning an urgent meeting in coming days to discuss the problem.
       Eight long-haul trains from Bangkok to Yala, Trang and Nakhon Si Thammarat ground to a halt unannounced yesterday at Surat Thani station.
       Confused and angry passengers, including foreign tourists, demanded an explanation only to be told by the station public relations officer that the train drivers had left their posts.The announcement was greeted with boos and jeers.
       Vans and buses were arranged to take the passengers to their destinations.
       The station last night announced four Bangkokbound trains which had been held up on Saturday would continue on their journey.
       The driver of the Bangkok-Kantang train also walked off the job yesterday at Lamae station in Chumphon, stranding more than 1,000 passengers.
       There were scenes of chaos as people pushed and shoved to use the toilets.Stranded passengers were not given any food or drink.
       Three passengers filed complaints with the district police in Surat Thani seeking damages of an unspecified amount from the SRT.
       Nattaya Winothapan,68, who was travelling on the Bangkok-Nakhon Si Thammarat train, said the carriages were packed after it picked up passengers abandoned by an express train which stopped running at Lamae station. Her train was then held up at Surat Thani station.
       "It's the internal squabbling," Ms Nattaya said."The SRT people should be more considerate with their protest."
       Angry Yami Culloh,60, of Yala, said she was appalled by the disruption.
       "I've had it with the trains. I'll never take the train again," she said.
       The railway union insisted drivers would stay off the job until the locomotives were safe to drive again.
       It said the system which applies the brakes automatically in emergencies was faulty in many locomotives.
       Union leader Sawit Kaeowan yesterday said passenger safety was the top priority and members of the union would not go back to work until the faulty locomotives were fixed. He said the length of the repairs depended on how quickly the spare parts could be delivered.
       Drivers have handed in leave letters which they hope can save them from disciplinary action.
       SRT chief engineer Krit Salongchai-thawat said 55 mechanics and train drivers at Pak Nam Pho station in Nakhon Sawan and 76 at Hat Yai station had taken leave yesterday.
       The union said too many train engines were poorly maintained and did not pass inspection but SRT engineers say these claims are false.
       Meanwhile, Mr Abhisit said the SRT needed an all-round shake-up. A major organisational reform would be put in place if necessary.
       He said he did not think the strike action was politically motivated.
       Land Transport Department director-general Chairat Sanguansue and a member of the SRT board, said the board would schedule an urgent meeting to resolve the problem in the next few days.
       "These workers should think hard about the organisation that feeds them,"he said.
       Wuthichai Kalayanamitr, president of the Transport Company Ltd, said there were enough buses to shuttle passengers stranded by the strike.
       Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum said he had asked SRT management to meet him and explain the strike action.