SRT boss says driver passed out

       The driver of the train which derailed in Prachuap Khiri Khan on Monday has admitted he passed out and caused the fatal accident, rail authorities say.
       Yuthana Thapcharoen, governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), yesterday said Roengsak Panthep, the driver of the train, had been located after disappearing when the train derailed early on Monday.
       The governor said Mr Roengsak insisted he did not run away.
       He suffered from a chronic illness which might have caused him to pass out while driving the express train from Trang to Bangkok, the governor said.
       Seven passengers died and 88 were injured when the speeding train jumped the rails at Khao Tao station in Hua Hin district in the early hours of Monday morning.
       Mr Yuthana said he was ready to listen to the driver's explanation and would guarantee justice for all parties.
       Uthai Raksakhet, a train attendant being treated at Hua Hin Hospital, yesterday said he was in the second carriage and felt the train approaching Khao Tao station too quickly.
       Radio communication from Wang Phong station, which the train had passed earlier, ordered the driver to stop but he did not respond. Seconds later, the train derailed, Mr Uthai said.
       It was reported staff at Khao Tao station tried to switch the express train on to another track to prevent a collision with an oncoming freight train.
       Meanwhile, the families of two of the seven dead victims called for action to prevent a repeat of the tragedy.
       Chatchai Wongtadlong, whose mother Oraphin Chaichit,44, and one-year-old cousin Kanoklak Thawornboonruang,were killed in the derailment, called at the funeral of the two victims yesterday on authorities to pay close attention to the problems besetting the country's railway operations
       Mr Chatchai said he could not be compensated for his loss with any amount of assistance money.