ID cards needed for rail travel in risk areas

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is requiring passengers from five high Covid infection provinces to present their identification cards and travel permits to buy tickets.

SRT governor, Niruj Maneepun, said yesterday the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has banned inter-provincial travel to and from Samut Sakhon, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat, which were declared maximum and strict Covid19 control areas.

If people from these places need to travel outside their province they must carry an identification card and travel permit and provide reasons for travelling when buying train tickets.

Mr Niruj said the SRT has also imposed stricter health measures at nine stations in Chon Buri — Phan Thong, Chon Buri, Bang Phra, Sri Racha junction, Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Ban Huai Khwang, Khao Chi Chan junction and Ban Phlu Ta Luang — while passengers travelling between Bangkok and Phlu Ta Luang will also have to follow the new travel regulations.

The SRT has also set up health checkpoints for passengers as they enter stations, to ensure face masks are worn, hands are washed with sanitisers and passengers’ identities digitally logged for tracing.

Passengers can also enter their names in a book.

Rail staff are ordered to wear masks and gloves while selling tickets and ticket sale booths, chairs and handrails will be sanitised every two hours.

Meanwhile, the SRT has announced the cancellation a number of commercial train services as well as some scenic routes until the end of February as a result of Covid-19.

Services on 12 tourist-orientated lines, which generally operate at weekends, and 30 commercial routes ceased last week until at least Feb 28.