Black Box Results Released: Train Driver Applied Emergency Brake 100 Meters Before Impact with Bus
The train driver applied emergency brakes just 100 meters before hitting a passenger bus at a Bangkok railway crossing on May 16, killing 8 people, but couldn't stop the freight train in time. Black box data shows the train was traveling at
The black box data from the freight train involved in the collision with an air-conditioned bus has been released, showing that the driver applied emergency brakes 100 meters before impact but was unable to stop in time. The freight train struck Route 206 passenger bus at the Makkasan railway crossing on Asoke-Din Daeng Road, resulting in 8 deaths and numerous injuries on May 16th.
On May 17th, Dr. Pichet Kunathammarak, Director-General of the State Railway of Thailand, revealed the black box findings: "The train was traveling at 35 kilometers per hour when it struck the bus. The driver engaged the emergency brake approximately 100 meters before impact, meaning braking began at that distance. The driver attempted every possible method to stop the train, but the braking was too slow to prevent the collision."
Dr. Pichet confirmed that the warning signal system was functioning normally and the crossing gates were not defective. The train driver should have stopped but did so too late. He noted that stopping a freight train carrying heavy containers, which can weigh thousands of tons, typically requires nearly 2 kilometers of braking distance. Therefore, stopping within just 100 meters was impossible.
Police are currently questioning the train driver. The State Railway of Thailand has suspended the driver's operating license.
