The Ministry of Transport ordered compensation of up to 2 million baht for victims of the Makkasan train-bus collision, vowed criminal and disciplinary action against those responsible, and mandated urgent resolution of railway crossing issues, including suspension of long-distance trains entering Bangkok, with a 3-month deadline for completion.
18 May 2026 GMT+7 Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, and Mr. Siripong Angkasunkitkit, Deputy Minister of Transport, held a press conference to clarify the facts regardingthe accident in which a train collided with a Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) busat the Makkasan railway crossing last Saturday, resulting in 8 deaths and 32 injuries. Present were Mr. Chayatham Promsorn, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport; Mr. Anan Phonnimdaeng, Acting Governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT); Mr. KittikanJomduang Charuworapolkul, Director of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority; Mr. JiraroSukonrat, Director of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP);Mr. Jiraro Sukonrat, Director ofthe Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP).
Mr. Phiphat, representing the government and Ministry of Transport, expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased and the injured, and unveiled compensation measures along with a safety enhancement plan to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
The Ministry of Transport outlined key points covering compensation, legal action, and both short- and long-term solutions as follows.
Information from the Ministry of Transport details integrated compensation measures involving multiple agencies as follows.
In cases of death: initial compensation totaling 2,090,000 baht per victim, comprising
BMTA: paying 1,750,000 baht (including 1.5 million baht from insurance and compulsory motor insurance within 7 days, 50,000 baht from partner networks, and full funeral expenses).
SRT: paying 340,000 baht (80,000 baht for assistance and funeral expenses, plus an additional 260,000 baht after verifying heirs).
Additionally, a special contribution of 300,000 baht from the Department of Rights and Liberties Protection.
In cases of injury, BMTA covers actual medical expenses ranging from 80,000 to 1,000,000 baht, plus additional aid totaling 50,000 baht. SRT provides an initial 5,000 baht and further compensation up to 50,000 baht depending on injury severity (up to ICU cases).
Ongoing care and support: BMTA assumes responsibility for property damage to third parties (such as nearby cars and motorcycles) and deploys teams to provide daily psychological support to the injured until hospital discharge.The Prime Ministerhas ordered that supplementary funds from the Department of Rail Transport and the Disaster Relief Fund under the Prime Minister’s Office be allocated for special additional assistance.
Mr. Siripong Angkasunkitkit, Deputy Minister of Transport, affirmed that the ministry will not shield wrongdoers. Actions will be divided into three parts:
Criminal offenses, SRT will file criminal charges against the train driver for negligence causing death.
Disciplinary offenses, SRT and BMTA will establish investigation committees at all levels; supervisors found negligent will be suspended immediately.
Enhancing safety measures, Implementing aviation-equivalent standards as of 20 April 2026, shifting from random tests to blanket 100% alcohol and drug screening of all public transport drivers before duty.
Currently, railway crossings on the Northern and Northeastern lines (8 points) have been addressed with the Red Line elevated tracks, leaving only the Eastern line (16 points) and Western/Southern lines (3 points) awaiting Missing Link construction to prevent future incidents. The Ministry of Transport has set urgent and long-term measures by transport type as follows.
1. Passenger trains (people transport)
Urgent measures: Enforce the strict rule "If the barrier doesn't lower, the train will not proceed," synchronized with traffic signals.
Medium-term measures: Adjust plans to prohibit long-distance and suburban trains from entering inner Bangkok. Western/Southern lines will terminate at Taling Chan Station; Eastern line at Lat Krabang Station. BMTA buses will provide connecting services with integrated ticketing to manage fares.
Long-term measures: Accelerate construction of elevated railway sections at Missing Links (Phayathai–Yommarat–Bangkok Central Station), promote Bangkok Central Station as the main hub, and prepare to close Hua Lamphong Station.
2. Freight trains (goods transport)
Urgent measures: Suspend freight trains entering the city (reducing 10 trains per day), require transshipment at outer stations, ban oil trains from entering Bangkok, and allow essential freight only at night combined with barrier use.
Long-term measures: Develop the Third Ring Road (MR10) for freight to bypass the city and build multimodal transport centers.
Mr. Phiphat concluded by orderingthe State Railway of Thailandto implement these directives urgently with immediate tangible results and to study comprehensive measures within 3 months,including plans to addresspotential impacts, and to report progress to him monthly to expedite follow-up and reassure the public that such tragic losses will not recur.
Read more news " Government Policy "