March 17, 2008
BANGKOK - The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans to suspend some of its express train services from Bangkok for two weeks to make carriages bedbug-free.
The decision came after a number of passengers complained about bedbugs and demanded transport authorities clean up bug-infested carriages, said Pairat Rojaroen-ngam, a spokesman for the SRT.
"We need to solve this problem once and for all," Pairat told AFP, adding the 14-day suspension from Monday would cost the operator 14 million baht (45,000 dollars).
The suspended services include from Bangkok to Thailand's northern city of Chiang Mai and to southern cities of Surat Thani and Yala.
Passengers in some northeastern provinces such as Ubon Ratcha Thani had to return their tickets as well.
