SRT looks at 3rd party cover

       The State Railway of Thailand is looking into providing passengers with third party insurance following Monday's fatal derailment in Hua Hin.
       But passengers would have to foot the bill for the proposed coverage themselves.
       SRT governor Yuthana Thapcharoen yesterday said passengers would be asked to pay one baht a trip extra on top of their fare to cover the cost of insurance.
       The SRT has not yet made it clear whether the insurance would be optional or incorporated into the cost of a normal ticket.
       The SRT resumed its southern ser-vices at 6am yesterday after clearing the wreckage and repairing tracks at Khao Tao station where the express train from Trang to Bangkok left the track.
       The SRT said seven passengers died and another 88 were injured in the crash.
       Sleepers along the track in question had been replaced before the accident.The train's locomotive had only been used for 12 years and the signalling system was functioning.
       The investigation into the incident would focus on the railway staff, Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum said.
       The SRT labour union complained after the accident that the agency was short-staffed, especially for drivers and engineers.
       Mr Sohpon said he was ready to seek a review of a 1998 cabinet resolution which required the replacement of only 5% of railway staff who retire or resign.
       The SRT governor admitted that rail staff had to work overtime and double shifts.
       Mr Yuthana said the train driver in question might have been drowsy as he did not respond to orders to slow down when approaching Khao Tao station, where a freight train was coming in the opposite direction on the same track.
       The driver would be fired and face criminal charges, he said.
       In the meantime, the SRT will study how the staffing shortfall was affecting its employees.