Transport Ministry Orders 2 Million Baht Compensation for Makkasan Train-Bus Crash, Mandates 3-Month Safety Plan

Brickinfo News Agency – The Ministry of Transport has announced a comprehensive compensation package of up to 2 million baht per victim following a fatal collision between a State Railway of Thailand (SRT) train and a Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) public bus at the Makkasan railway crossing. The accident, which occurred last Saturday, resulted in eight fatalities and 30 injuries. During an emergency press conference on Monday, transport officials vowed strict criminal and disciplinary actions against those responsible, alongside a nationwide overhaul of railway crossings with a three-month deadline to finalize structural safety plans.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, who led the briefing alongside Deputy Transport Minister Siriphong Angkasakulkiat, expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims. The financial remedy for fatalities totals 2,090,000 baht per person plus additional contributions. This includes 1.75 million baht from the BMTA—consisting of 1.5 million baht from insurance and the Protection for Motor Vehicle Victims Act to be paid within seven days, 50,000 baht from network partners, and full coverage of funeral expenses. The SRT will contribute 340,000 baht, which includes 80,000 baht for initial assistance and funeral rites, followed by 260,000 baht once legal heirs are verified. Additionally, the Department of Rights and Liberties Protection will provide an extra 300,000 baht.

For the injured victims, the BMTA will cover actual medical expenses ranging from 80,000 to 1,000,000 baht, promising to absorb any excess costs. The authority will also provide 30,000 baht from network partners and 20,000 baht from the accident fund. The SRT will distribute an initial 5,000 baht in assistance, with additional compensation of up to 50,000 baht for intensive care patients. The BMTA has further committed to covering all third-party property damage and deploying teams to provide daily mental health support to the injured. On a national level, the Prime Minister has ordered special financial assistance from the Department of Rail Transport and the Prime Minister’s Office Disaster Relief Fund.

Addressing accountability, Deputy Minister Siriphong emphasized that the ministry would not shield anyone from consequences. Criminal proceedings are underway, with the SRT acting as the plaintiff to prosecute the train driver for negligence causing death. Internally, both the SRT and BMTA are establishing committees to investigate all levels of management, warning that negligent supervisors face immediate suspension. Furthermore, in line with policies initiated on April 20, 2026, the ministry will enforce aviation-level safety standards across public transport. This includes replacing random screenings with a mandatory 100% alcohol and drug testing policy for all SRT, BMTA, and Transport Company drivers before starting their daily shifts.

To address the infrastructure risks at railway crossings in Bangkok, the ministry revealed that while eight northern and northeastern crossings have been resolved via the Red Line elevated railway, 16 eastern crossings and three western/southern crossings remain vulnerable due to missing links. A two-pronged strategy has been introduced to manage passenger and freight trains. For passenger lines, an immediate rule dictates that trains will not move unless the crossing barriers are lowered, synchronized with traffic lights. In the medium term, long-distance and commuter trains will be barred from inner Bangkok; western and southern lines will terminate at Tling Chan Station to connect with the Red Line, while eastern lines will stop at Lat Krabang Station to link with the Airport Rail Link. Shuttles will bridge any remaining gaps, and a joint ticketing system will be implemented to protect vulnerable commuters from fare hikes. In the long term, the ministry will accelerate the construction of the elevated Phaya Thai-Yommarat-Central Station missing link, positioning Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal as the primary hub and officially decommissioning Hua Lamphong Station.

For cargo transport, immediate measures include halting inside-city freight trains to reduce traffic by 10 convoys per day, redirecting goods to outer hubs like ICD Lat Krabang, Ban Phachi, and Nakhon Pathom for small-truck distribution. Oil trains are strictly banned from entering Bangkok, while essential night-time cargo operations will be heavily regulated by crossing barrier systems. Long-term cargo solutions involve developing the third outer ring road (MR10) under the MR-Map project to bypass the city entirely and establishing multimodal transport centers in the surrounding suburbs.

“I have ordered the State Railway of Thailand to implement these urgent measures for immediate concrete results,” Minister Phiphat stated during the closing remarks. “Within three months, they must thoroughly study these measures and mitigation plans for potential impacts. Progress must be reported to me on a monthly basis to expedite the timeline and reassure the public that such tragic losses will not happen again in the future.”