Crane Collapse on Thai Passenger Train Kills 22
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A construction crane collapsed onto a passenger train in northeastern Thailand early Wednesday, killing at least 22 people and injuring 55 others, in a fatal accident linked to the country’s delayed high-speed railway project.
The accident occurred in Nakhon Ratchasima province, a key junction to Thailand’s northeast region, as Express Train No. 21 was passing through a construction zone between Si Khio and Non Sung stations. The train, en route from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani, was struck by a crane that fell from an elevated section of the Thai-Chinese joint high-speed rail project under development.
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- A construction crane collapsed onto a passenger train in northeastern Thailand, killing at least 22 and injuring 55, during a high-speed rail project.
- The affected section, 99.45% complete, is part of a $5.5 billion Thai-Chinese rail linking Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima.
- Investigations are underway; the contractor, Italian-Thai Development, has faced past safety issues, including a building collapse in March 2025 that killed 95.
- Italian-Thai Development Public Co. Ltd.
- Italian-Thai Development Public Co. Ltd. is a contractor involved in the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project. It is one of Thailand's largest infrastructure firms. The company is under scrutiny after a crane it operated collapsed onto a train, killing 22 people. This firm also faced criticism for a building collapse in March 2025.
- China Railway Group
- China Railway Group, in a joint venture with Italian-Thai Development, was involved in the construction of a government building that collapsed in March 2025 due to seismic activity from a Myanmar earthquake. This incident resulted in 95 fatalities. The article does not provide further details about China Railway Group.
- Late 2021：
- The China-Laos railway, part of the same network as the Thai-Chinese railway, became operational.
- March 2025：
- A government building jointly constructed by Italian-Thai Development and China Railway Group collapsed amid seismic activity from a Myanmar earthquake, killing 95 people.
- By January 2026：
- The 23-mile construction section involved in the accident was 99.45% complete.
- Early Wednesday, January 13, 2026：
- A construction crane collapsed onto a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, killing at least 22 people and injuring 55 others.
- January 2026：
- Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the site of the accident and promised a thorough investigation.
- January 2026：
- Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn directed the State Railway of Thailand to launch a full investigation.
- As of January 2026：
- The investigation into the cause of the crane collapse was ongoing.
- As of 2026：
- The Thai portion of the high-speed railway project was only halfway done.
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