Thailand's northbound rail line on repair

BANGKOK, September 8 (TNA) - A stretch of Thailand's northbound rail line from Sila At railway station in Phrae’s Den Chai district to the northern capital of Chiang Mai province will be closed for maintenance starting from September 16 to October 31. State Railway of Thailand (SRT) governor Prapas Jongsanguan said the rail line which has a total distance of 300 kilometres is closed due to frequent derailments in the past few months. He said the incidents, especially between Phrae and Lampang provinces which had occurred not less than 10 times, resulted from natural disasters and aging tracks. Maintenance work will restore traveller confidence, Mr. Prapas said. During the repairing period, the state-run Transport Co. Ltd. will arrange 10 of its buses to help transport SRT passengers from Sila At railway station to Chiang Mai, he said. Five trains which normally operate between Sila At and Chiang Mai will be affected during the temporarily closure of the rail line. (TNA)