The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is to provide extra carriages for trains to Khon Kaen between Jan 23-29 for those those who want to pay their last respects to revered abbot Luang Por Koon Parisutho.
Large crowds are expected to attend his royally sponsored cremation at Buddhamonthon in Khon Kaen's Muang district on Jan 29.
Luang Phor Koon, a former abbot of Wat Ban Rai in Nakhon Ratchasima province's Dan Khun Thod district, died in 2015 at the age of 91. He donated his body to Khon Kaen University for its medical students to study.
Acting SRT governor, Worawut Mala, said extra carriages will be available to take the monk's followers from Bangkok to Khon Kaen and back to the capital.
Currently there are 14 daily round-trips between Bangkok and Khon Kaen, he said.
In Khon Kaen, taxi drivers at the airport and bus terminal are offering free rides to those attending the funeral rites and the cremation.
Natthawan Chandachote, who supervises the airport taxi service, said there are 125 airport taxis available along with shuttle buses arranged by provincial authorities.
Thaweechoke Sasai, a taxi driver at the bus terminal, said he has offered free rides since Monday, the first day of funeral rites for the monk.
More than 1,000 people from one Nakhon Ratchasima didtrict yesterday travelled to Khon Kaen to pay their last respects to the late monk.
