Ploytale, Deputy Government Spokesperson, responded to Prit's criticism of the idea to keep trains from entering the city center, urging him to think carefully before speaking. She stressed that the Ministry of Transport has ordered a study to organize freight and passenger train transport, aiming to eliminate level railway crossings, not to shift the burden onto the public.
On 20 May 2026, Ms. Ploytale Laksamee Sangchan, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, clarified the remarks of Mr. Prit Watcharasindu, party-list MP of the Prachachon Party. He had commented on the shocking accident of a train colliding with a city bus, saying the government's approach of preventing trains from entering the city center was "shallow thinking," lacking thoroughness and shifting all the burden onto citizens. The government, through the Ministry of Transport, clarified that this understanding is mistaken. It reiterated that the government immediately ordered a study of systematic route management for both freight and passenger trains, with the ultimate goal of reducing and eliminating level railway crossings in Bangkok.
The solution is not a blanket ban on all trains entering the city, as the opposition has misunderstood. Instead, it focuses on management to ensure society and all parties understand the correct approach by distinctly separating management into two main parts as follows.
Part 1: Separate management systems for freight trains and passenger trains.
The solution is not an all-encompassing ban on all trains entering the city as the opposition mistakenly believes. The Ministry of Transport is organizing measures by usage type, with a phased implementation plan as follows.
1. Freight Trains: In the urgent phase, the Ministry of Transport has assigned the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to study using stations outside Bangkok, such as Lat Krabang, Ban Phachi, and Nakhon Pathom, as transfer points for goods. This would immediately reduce train entries into the city by 10 trains per day. If freight trains must enter inner city areas, train operations will be scheduled exclusively during nighttime hours, coordinated with level crossing barriers and traffic signals. In the long term, development of the third Bangkok ring road will be accelerated to allow freight trains with destinations outside Bangkok to bypass inner city areas. Additionally, modal shift centers will be established to transfer freight from rail to other modes like road and waterways along the ring road routes.
2. Passenger Trains: The Ministry of Transport's ultimate goal is to eliminate all level railway crossings in Bangkok. While awaiting completion of grade-separated structures, the Ministry has set the following measures.
Urgent phase: Strict enforcement of the rule that "if the crossing barriers have not lowered, the train will not move." Traffic officers are coordinating to ensure traffic lights stop vehicles before the crossing. The public is earnestly requested to "stop behind the yellow line" when train warning signals are active so the barriers can function properly.
Medium term: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has ordered the SRT to spend three months studying two key points: 1. Improving level crossing management efficiency by using technology and AI to control traffic barriers (e.g., automated gates) alongside traffic signals; 2. Establishing long-distance train stops at suburban stations (e.g., Taling Chan, Lat Krabang) before entering Bangkok. The Ministry will ensure that integrated fare systems do not increase costs, with government subsidies focused on vulnerable and low-income groups to provide targeted, cost-effective assistance.
Long term: Expedite construction of elevated railway segments for the Missing Link (Phaya Thai–Yommarat–Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station) to permanently eliminate level crossings in inner Bangkok.
Part 2: Government response to Prit Watcharasindu's three proposals.
1. Strict enforcement of traffic laws (opposition calls for serious penalties for violators): The government agrees and has taken immediate action. CCTV coverage at level crossings is fully operational. The Ministry of Transport is coordinating with the Royal Thai Police to issue fines and strictly punish lawbreakers. Additionally, the Ministry will increase field staff to oversee enforcement and campaign to raise public awareness of the severe dangers of violating traffic laws (e.g., stopping over the yellow line or ignoring crossing barriers).
2. Redesign and engineering of level crossings (opposition suggests physical solutions): The Ministry has coordinated with relevant agencies (such as Bangkok Metropolitan Administration) to adjust traffic signals at crossings to align with train schedules. Beyond engineering fixes, the Ministry enforces the measure "no train movement if the barrier is not down" — train operators are prohibited from passing crossings if barriers malfunction. This risk elimination measure has immediate effect.
3. Accelerate infrastructure to reduce level crossings (opposition suggests rapid construction of overpasses/tunnels throughout Bangkok): While the goal to remove level crossings aligns, management approaches differ. Rapid construction of overpasses or tunnels simultaneously across all remaining crossings would inevitably involve road closures, causing massive and prolonged traffic congestion, severely impacting the public. The Ministry uses a macro approach with a sustainable master plan, pushing Missing Link and third ring road projects alongside route adjustments (rerouting) to change behavior, implement integrated ticketing systems, and relocate freight and passenger transfer points. This will gradually reduce and eventually eliminate train crossings in the city without adding construction-related road disruptions, providing a more sustainable and permanent solution than piecemeal fixes.
The government, through the Ministry of Transport, aims to solve problems through systematic analysis and management of routes and resources to reduce level crossings as quickly as possible while avoiding construction that disrupts road traffic. The government welcomes constructive proposals for all parties' development. It emphasizes policies covering all dimensions—safety, speed, and minimizing impacts on citizens. Regarding Mr. Prit's comment that the government's approach may be "shallow thinking," he is urged to reconsider before speaking. The government's approach focuses on sustainable solutions, not shifting the entire burden onto the public.