The SEE TRUE news team visited the site of the "crane collapse on train" incident in Sikhio District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, revealing key clues that on the day of the incident, the crane showed abnormalities from 8:30 a.m., nearly an hour before the train passed.
Regarding the accident where a construction crane for the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project Phase 1 collapsed onto Express No. 21 running from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station to Ubon Ratchathani between Nong Nam Khun and Sikhio stations in Nakhon Ratchasima Province on 14 January 2026, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries,
The SEE TRUE news team investigated the cause of the crane collapse on the train in Sikhio District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, and found key clues that on the day of the incident, the crane malfunctioned from 8:30 a.m. but no notification was sent to railway officials as agreed. This allowed the train to pass and the accident occurred at 9:13 a.m., about 43 minutes or nearly an hour after the crane malfunction began.
Had a warning been issued earlier, the loss might have been avoided, because normally the construction company stations staff called flagmen at three points, with the first being at the crane construction site.
The second point is Ban Mai Samrong Railway Station in Sikhio District (coming from Pak Chong toward Korat, trains pass Ban Mai Samrong Station, then Nong Nam Khun Station, then reach the construction site where the accident occurred).
The third point is Kudjik Station in Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District (coming from Korat, trains pass Kudjik Station, then Sung Noen Sikhio Station, and then the accident site).
The purpose of having flagmen at all three points is to notify staff at the crane site that a train is approaching; if any abnormalities occur at the crane, the flagmen at those two stations would be alerted to hold the train and prevent it from passing during the problem period.
However, on the day of the incident, although the crane had problems starting at 8:30 a.m., the flagman at the construction site did not inform the flagmen at the two stations.