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The rest of the story It answers your questions

You can learn a lot from the headline, lead and photos Commuters trapped in train again Subway commuters were briefly trapped inside a train after it stopped short of the platform at Rama IX station yesterday morning, halting services.

Here is what we learned from the headline, lead and photo: • Subway commuters were trapped inside a train. • They were only trapped a short time (briefly). • The train stopped short of the platform. • The incident occurred at the Rama IX station. • It occurred the morning before. • It stopped services. • It was not the first time the subway had problems (i.e., it was trappedagain.) • If you didn’t know the word commuter, you can guess fromthe photo which shows a group of commuters in a subway car.

But there is more to the story • How long were passengers trapped? • Why couldn’t they get out? • What happened to them? • Why did the train stop short of the platform? • What happened to the train? • Where was the train going? • When did subway services begin again? • What other problems has the subway had?

The body of the story should answer all or most of these questions. The passengers were evacuated and the train was then towed to Hua Lamphong station for inspection. Normal services resumed after 30 minutes. Reports said the train, bound for Hua Lamphong, stopped suddenly as it entered the station. • How long were passengers trapped? • Why couldn’t they get out? • What happened to them? • Why did the train stop short of the platform? • What happened to the train? • Where was the train going? • When did subway services begin again? • What other problems has the subway had?

All the lights went out and the automatic doors did not work. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrung-reangkit said Siemens Thailand, which controls the train system, reported electrical sparks near Rama IX station and was looking into the cause. • How long were passengers trapped? • Why couldn’t they get out? • What happened to them? • Why did the train stop short of the platform? • What happened to the train? • Where was the train going? • When did subway services begin again? • What other problems has the subway had?

He said the problem was not caused by a computer software failure. It was the fourth time the service has come to sudden halt this year. The other stoppages were caused by a crash, a power failure and a signals failure. • How long were passengers trapped? • Why couldn’t they get out? • What happened to them? • Why did the train stop short of the platform? • What happened to the train? • Where was the train going? • When did subway services begin again? • What other problems has the subway had?

Notice that the last paragraph gave us some background It was the fourth time the service has come to sudden halt this year. The other stoppages were caused by a crash, a power failure and a signals failure.

Actually the body contained some more background Mr Suriya said the number of subway passengers had increased to nearly 200,000 a day since the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) cut fares to 10 and 15 baht, but the latest problem might erode commuters’ confidence.

Here are things you can now expect from a news story • The headline and lead will give you the main facts. • The body will answer many or all of your remaining questions. • The body will also give you some useful background to the story.

Now try a story or two from today’s Bangkok Post

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