The Deputy Spokesperson of the Democrat Party pointed out that the train-bus collision occurred because the safety system was riddled with holes like "Swiss cheese," waiting only for mega projects and failing to take any action. He warned that unless a decisive fix is made, this will not be the last time lives are lost.
17 May 2026 GMT+7 Mr. Jirawat Changwat, Deputy Spokesperson of the Democrat Party, revealed details about the collision between a freight train and a passenger bus at the Makkasan railway crossing beneath the Airport Rail Link on the evening of 16 May. He expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and sent wishes for the speedy recovery of all injured. He emphasized that society should not view this accident simply as the immediate fault of any one individual because, in reality, such major transportation tragedies usually result from multiple layers of safety system failures coinciding perfectly, known internationally as the "Swiss Cheese Model." According to this principle, a safe transportation system must have five layers of safeguards, which include:
Layer 1: Traffic rules prohibiting any vehicle from stopping on the tracks. This is enforced by yellow diagonal lines indicating a no-stop zone, as it is not a waiting area.
Layer 2: Fully functional barriers and warning signals. The incident video clearly shows audible warnings.
Layer 3: Train signaling system. If the barrier fails to lower or the crossing is not clear, trains should not be allowed to proceed.
Layer 4: Traffic control. Makkasan is a congestion bottleneck and should have surveillance cameras or standby personnel to manage traffic.
Layer 5: Structural solutions, such as fully separating trains from roads by demolition, elevated tracks, or underpasses.
The problem today is that our system is broken. These holes are left unattended, making city residents accustomed to traffic jams on train tracks, broken barriers, and freight trains passing through the city center, turning complacency into a risk no one dares to address.
"The Makkasan crossing already has a structural solution that could end this classic problem: the Missing Link project of the Red Line electric train from Hua Mak to Makkasan to Phaya Thai to Bang Sue, which would eliminate ground-level crossings in the inner city. However, this project is delayed because it is tied to the high-speed rail project connecting three airports. This has made urban safety hostage to the delays of a multi-billion mega project. Moreover, the Bangkok railway ring projects, such as the Suphanburi-Ban Phachi segment meant to divert freight trains outside the city, remain incomplete, forcing freight trains to continue running through the city center."
At the end, Mr. Jirawat stated that the Makkasan incident is not just about blaming careless individuals. The question should be raised about why a problem that has been loudly discussed for 20 years remains unaddressed. The tendency to wait and bundle projects together has meant that when one project fails, everything collapses. He proposed three urgent measures:
1. Short-term patch: Link traffic signals with the train system (Interlocking) to clear vehicles off tracks before trains arrive.
2. Accelerate the Missing Link Red Line project by separating safety work to proceed first without waiting for the three-airport high-speed rail.
3. Push forward the Bangkok railway ring to finally divert freight trains outside the city.
"If there is no firm commitment to fix these issues, today will not be the last time lives are sacrificed. If state structures cannot be relied upon, safety must start with individual awareness—at least then, we can ensure our own safety."