THE collapse of a construction crane working above a line in northeastern Thailand at 09.13 on January 14 resulted in a derailment that killed 30 people and injured 69.
The accident took place in the Sikhio district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, 230km northeast of Bangkok, when three coaches of an express service from the capital to Ubon Ratchathani province were hit by the falling crane, causing them to derail and temporarily catch fire. The train was formed of two Daewoo two-car DMUs, which were travelling at an estimated speed of 120km/h at the time of the crash.
Transport minister, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, said in a statement there were 195 people onboard the train and that he had ordered a thorough investigation. The number of people onboard was subsequently revised to 157.
The crane was working on the construction of the 253km first phase of the 610km high-speed line between Bangkok and Nong Khai. This will eventually link the Thai capital, via an already completed new line in Laos, with Kunming in southwestern China. Much of the new line is being built on viaduct.
The civil works contractor responsible for the section where the crane collapsed is understood to be a joint venture between the Italian-Thai Development Public Company (ITD) and China Railway Engineering Corporation (CREC). The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Construction of the high-speed line has been plagued by delays with the Bangkok - Nakhon Ratchasima section now expected to complete in 2028, several years behind schedule. The whole line to Nong Khai on the border with Laos is due for completion by 2030.
