The Rail Transport Department has instructed Eastern Bangkok Monorail (EBM) to switch out all the bolts used to secure finger plates along the entire length of the Yellow Line track. This comes after it was found that some bolts were missing between the Rama 9 and Si Udom stations due to joint expansion, and ended up falling onto the walkway below.
The Yellow Line concessionaire was also told to hasten the removal of a train blocking a track, so that full service can resume. Pichet Kunadhamraks, head of the Rail Transport Department, mentioned that the removal could take 2-3 months.
Pichet and his team examined the Yellow Line yesterday as part of an investigation into the cause of debris falling from the track and to oversee the repairs.
He also instructed the company to increase the frequency of inspections of expansion joints, to ensure they are functioning properly.
Partial service restarted on Friday, following a one-day suspension. However, passengers traveling from Lat Phrao or from Samrong will need to transfer by shuttle bus to trains at Hua Mark station in one direction and at Si Iam station in the other.
The frequency of train service between Lat Phrao and Hua Mark stations is every ten minutes (five minutes during rush hours). From Si Iam station to Samrong station, it is every ten minutes.
From Hua Mark and Si Iam stations, however, only one track remains open due to the stranded train, so a train leaves every 25 minutes.
Passengers are advised to allow for additional travel time. Due to the inconvenience, passengers are being given a 20% discount until normal service is resumed.
