CONTINUED RAIL DISRUPTION OF STRIKE ACTION

On 19 October 2009 the railway union in Thailand threatened to shut down the primary terminal, Hualampong station in Bangkok, in relation to the ongoing strike that began over the 17-18 October weekend. The union workers argue that many of the locomotives belonging to the State Railways of Thailand (SRT) do not meet safety regulations. The Bangkok rail station services thousands of locals and tourists travelling to various areas throughout Thailand. All local railway services in southern Thailand remain suspended due to the strike. The SRT is currently in the process of replacing the drivers and engineers to restart operations. On 20 October the Transportation Ministry approved student and retired drivers to fill in for the striking railway drivers. The SRT has also provided alternate transportation to those travellers who were stuck on halted trains. The strike has affected more than 4,000 people in southern Thailand.