Rail service in southern border area resumes amid tight security

Hat Yai, June 28 (TNA) -- Train services in Thailand's restive deep South resumed early Saturday, six days after being suspended after apparent insurgents, who passed themselves off as ordinary passengers, revealed automatic weapons and sprayed the interior of a moving railway coach with gunfire, killing three railway workers and a police officer.

Saturday's first train to the far south, packed with passengers, left
Bangkok Friday for Sungai Kolok district in Narathiwat province on the
Malaysian border amid tight security provided by military personnel,
railway police and volunteers.

Security was also tightened at all southern railway stations.

State Railway of Thailand (SRT) southern center director Thanongsak
Pongprasert said only 80 per cent of all train services bound for the deep
South would be provided to commuters because some trains were still parked
in railyards in Yala province and Sungai Kolok at the time when the
incident occurred.

Mr. Thanongsak said he expected full services in the area will resume
Sunday and that tightened security would help stop sabotage from taking
place on the railways.

Train service to the southern border ceased a week ago on June 22 when the
SRT workers and a police officer were attacked and killed abroad a moving
train in Narathiwat province.

SRT staff returned to work on Saturday after saying they were satisfied
with the security measures. (TNA)-E111