TRAIN SERVICES IN SOUTHERN THAILAND SUSPENDED

Train services in southern Thailand remained suspended on 17-19 October 2009 in order to allow time for maintenance to be completed on the engines. An ongoing strike by train staff who refuse to work until engines are repaired forced the suspension of at least 36 trains in the region. According to officials, several trains on the routes from Bangkok to Sungai Kolok, Yala, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Kantang will be suspended indefinitely. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) stated that it remains unclear when normal operations will resume. On 19 October transport officials announced plans to temporarily replace striking employees with retired rail workers in order to restore train services. The SRT also filed a formal complaint with the Crime Suppression Division against the striking workers. Rail union members threatened to shut down Hualampong station, Bangkok's main railway station, should officials continue to refuse to negotiate an end to the strike.