The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) was yesterday rushing to repair the stretch of track damaged in Sunday's bomb attack in Narathiwat which left three dead and 36 others wounded.
Train services on the southern route should return to normal by today, said Preecha Promthungkor, an engineer with SRT's regional office in Hat Yai district of Songkhla.
Mr Preecha yesterday led a team to repair the 300-metre stretch of track in Rueso district.
The three train carriages which derailed as a result of the bomb attack had still not been salvaged.
Security would have to be tightened to assure passengers they would be safe travelling by train in the deep South, Mr Preecha said.
Transport Minister Chadchat Sittipunt said the ministry was considering using unmanned aircraft with infrared cameras to patrol the southern railways.
In several areas, railway tracks run through densely forested areas where traditional security measures were impossible, he said.
Lt Gen Paradorn Pattanathabut, secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC), said the council had obtained information about the people behind the attack.
He said violence tended to flare up at this time of the year.
Dr Wiroon Pornpatkul, director of Narathiwat's Ratchanakharin Hospital, said the hospital was running short of donated blood, especially O-type.
The large number of people treated at the hospital following the attacks resulted in a shortage of blood, he said, urging donors to come forward.