Train driver surrenders to Hua Hin police

       The driver of the Trang-Bangkok train which killed seven passengers after derailing on Monday has surrendered to police,putting some of the blame for the tragedy on a faulty alarm system.
       Roengsak Panthep,49, turned up at Hua Hin district police station in Prachuap Khiri Khan yesterday to answer charges of reckless driving causing deaths and injuries.
       Mr Roengsak told police that prior to the accident, he had developed a slight fever and had taken medication which left him drowsy. The exhaust fumes from the train engine also made him tired.He earlier admitted he passed out before the accident.
       The express train derailed at high speed at Ban Khao Tao station in Hua Hin district at about 5am on Monday, killing seven passengers and injuring more than 80. It is thought to be the country's worst train accident in years.
       The train jumped the stop light at Wang Phong station as it was heading for Ban Khao Tao station.
       Staff at Ban Khao Tao warned the driver but received no response and had to switch the express train onto another
       track to prevent it colliding with an awaiting cargo train.
       Mr Roengsak refused to say if he had been driving too fast. He said he would testify only to police or a court.
       He also said the locomotive's auto-alert system was not working. The system would set off an alarm and eventually apply emergency brakes if the driver had been away from the control panel for too long.
       He apologised for the accident and denied he had fled the scene. Mr Roengsak said he had remained at the accident site although he was hurt himself and helped carry the injured out of his train but no one knew he was the train driver.
       He continued helping the passengers until almost everyone was rescued. After that, rescue workers gave him first aid and brought him to Hua Hin Hospital.
       Later, he was discharged from the hospital and he left for Bangkok. He did not contact anyone because he was stressed. He added he would visit the injured and enter the monkhood to make merit for the dead passengers.
       Pol Maj Gen Roongroj Saengkhram,chief of Prachuap Khiri Khan police,said Mr Roengsak was allowed bail because he had surrendered.