Floodwaters recede in Narathiwat, trains set to resume
Floodwaters in Narathiwat have receded, returning life to normal and allowing local train services to resume. The border checkpoint between Thailand and Malaysia reopened as of yesterday, December 1, with the railway expected to be operational tomorrow.
Heavy flooding in Narathiwat had previously inundated low-lying areas, roads, and railway tracks, leading to the closure of transportation routes and train services. Today, residents are relieved as the water levels have subsided, returning to normal conditions.
The local railway line, which had been closed due to flood damage between Mai Kaen and Raman stations, is now set to resume operations. Officials from the Tanyongmas Maintenance Section of the State Railway of Thailand have completed repairs, and checks are underway on the Yala to Sungai Kolok route to ensure no further damage.
The first local train services are expected to run tomorrow, December 3.
The railway services will include Ttain 452 from Sungai Kolok to Yala, departing at 9am as the first trip, and train 447 from Yala to Sungai Kolok, departing at 3.27pm. Official announcements regarding other train operations will be made in due course.
Flooding in neighbouring Malaysia, which borders Thailand, also led to service disruptions. However, Narathiwat’s Immigration Chief, Poolsak Kaewsikhao, confirmed that all three immigration checkpoints in the province have returned to normal operations.
The Rantau Panjang Immigration Checkpoint in Kelantan, Malaysia, which borders Thailand, is now open. However, some roads in Rantau Panjang are still flooded in certain areas, making them impassable for smaller vehicles.
The Kalang Kubor Immigration Checkpoint has reopened, but due to high water levels in the Golok River at the Tak Bai checkpoint, ferry services remain suspended. Meanwhile, the Bukit Bunga Immigration Checkpoint has been operating normally throughout the flooding period, reported KhaoSod.
In similar news, the Government of Thailand is set to provide financial relief to families impacted by the recent floods in the southern region, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced.
