Runaway train smashes into Hua Lamphong leaves four dead

Four people were killed and four others injured when a runaway train rammed through the barriers at the central Hua Lamphong Railway Station.

The unmanned locomotive, travelling at around 50km per hour, careened into the barriers and was flung upwards onto the elevated platform, skidding onto its side across the floor and stopping just five metres short of the station entrance.

Most of the victims were hurt or killed by two giant timetable boards that were knocked over by the careening locomotives. A book stall, info booth, a soft drink stand and a Bangkok Bank exchange service booth were also demolished.

The driverless train, towing six other locomotives hit the terminus at 8.55am after leaving Bang Sue station, some eight kilometres away, where it had just been repaired.

Hua Lamphong Station was alerted and hundreds of waiting passengers were evacuated just seconds before the train slammed into the platform.