Maeklong Railway
|
Maeklong station | |
| Locale | Bangkok, Samut Sakhon Province and Samut Songkhram Province |
|---|---|
| Dates of operation | 1904–Present |
| Predecessor | Thachin Railway |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) (Metre gauge) |
| Length | 66.9 kilometres (41.6 mi) |
| Headquarters | Bangkok |
The Maeklong Railway (also known as the Mae Klong Railway) is a 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) (Metre gauge) railway that runs for nearly 67 kilometres (42 mi)[1] between Wongwian Yai, Bangkok, and Samut Songkhram in central Thailand. The line consists of two sections: the eastern Mahachai Line, which runs between Samut Sakhon and Wongwian Yai with 18 stations; and the Ban Laem Line, which runs between Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkhram with 15 stations. The two stretches are separated by the Tha Chin River at Samut Sakhon. The only way to connect between the stations on the opposite sides of the river is by boat.[2]
History
The Mae Klong Railway was built in two separate stages. The Tachin Railway Ltd, founded in 1901 with a concession from the crown of Thailand to construct a line to Samut Sakhon from Bangkok,[1] built the 33 kilometer Mahachai Line; it opened in 1904 with eight stations. A year later, The Maeklong Railway Company opened the 34 kilometer Ban Laem Line.[2] The lines merged in 1907 to form the Maeklong Railway Ltd. It was originally opened as a goods line, transporting produce from the fishing ports of Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkram to the Bangkok markets.[3] The Thai military gained control of the railway in 1942, during World War II, and the line was nationalised by the Thai Government in 1946.[4] The line was operated by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) from 1952 and was fully merged into the SRT in 1955.[2] In 1961 the line's original terminus at Khlong San was closed and replaced with a bus stop, to ease traffic congestion in Bangkok. Wongwian Yai became the new terminus.[2]
Market
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The railway became famous for its route through the Maeklong Railway Market, nicknamed (Thai: ตลาดร่มหุบ; rtgs: Talat Rom Hup), meaning the "umbrella pulldown market".[5] It is one of the largest fresh seafood markets in Thailand, and is centred on the Maeklong Railway's track.[3] Whenever a train approaches, the awnings and shop fronts are moved back from the rails, to be replaced once the train has passed.[6]
Services
Seventeen trains run daily in each direction between Samut Sakhon and Wongwian Yai.[7] Four trains run daily between Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkhram.[8] The railway is one of the slowest in Thailand, and the average speed for the whole line is only 30 km/hr.[9] There are no signals on the line.[9]
In May 2015, the Ban Laem-Maeklong section closed for renovations and is scheduled to re-open in November 2015, with a new depot at Ban Na Khwang.
Stations
| English Name | Thai Name | Code | Distance in km |
Class | Thai abbr. | Note | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pak Khlong San | ปากคลองสาน | Closed since 1961 | Bangkok | ||||
| Wongwian Yai | วงเวียนใหญ่ | 5001 | 0.00 | 2 | งญ. | ||
| Talat Phlu | ตลาดพลู | 5003 | 1.78 | 4 | ลู. | ||
| Khlong Ton Sai | คลองต้นไทร | 5004 | 3.35 | Halt | ไซ. | ||
| Chom Thong | จอมทอง | 5005 | 4.13 | Halt | ทจ. | ||
| Wat Sai | วัดไทร | 5007 | 5.76 | Halt | วซ. | ||
| Wat Sing | วัดสิงห์ | 5008 | 7.15 | 4 | สิ. | ||
| Bang Bon | บางบอน | 5009 | 9.76 กม. | Halt | าา. | ||
| Khan Keha | การเคหะธนบุรี | 5010 | 10.23 | Halt | เค. | ||
| Rang Sakae | รางสะแก | 5011 | 10.53 | Halt | รแ. | ||
| Rang Pho | รางโพธิ์ | 5012 | 14.25 | 4 | รโ. | ||
| Sam Yaek | สามแยก | 5013 | 15.83 | Halt | แย. | ||
| Phrom Daen | พรมแดน | 5014 | 17.29 | Halt | พแ. | Samut Sakhon | |
| Thung Si Thong | ทุ่งสีทอง | 5034 | 18.76 | Halt | |||
| Bang Nam Jued | บางน้ำจืด | 5015 | 19.97 | Halt | นจ. | ||
| Khok Khwai | คอกควาย | 5016 | 22.99 | Halt | วา. | ||
| Ban Khom | บ้านขอม | 5017 | 26.76 | Halt | ขม. | ||
| Khlong Chak | คลองจาก | 5033 | 29.76 | Halt | |||
| Maha Chai | มหาชัย | 5018 | 31.22 กม. | 1 | ชั. | ||
| Tha Chin River | |||||||
| Ban Laem | บ้านแหลม | 5019 | 0.180 | 4 | แห. | Samut Sakhon | |
| Tha Chalom | ท่าฉลอม | 5020 | 1.240 | Halt | ฉอ. | ||
| Ban Chi Phakhao | บ้านชีผ้าขาว | 5021 | 3.890 | Halt | ผา. | ||
| Khlong Nok Lek | คลองนกเล็ก | 5035 | 5.950 | Halt | ลเ. | ||
| Bang Si Kot | บางสีคต | 5022 | 6.900 | Halt | บ ี. | ||
| Bang Krachao | บางกระเจ้า | 5023 | 8.860 | Halt | ะจ. | ||
| Ban Bo | บ้านบ่อ | 5024 | 10.900 | Halt | บ ่. | ||
| Bang Thorat | บางโทรัด | 5025 | 13.320 | Halt | งโ. | ||
| Ban Kalong | บ้านกาหลง | 5026 | 15.780 | Halt | กห. | ||
| Ban Na Khwang | บ้านนาขวาง | 5027 | 17.940 | Halt | บ ้. | ||
| Ban Na Khok | บ้านนาโคก | 5028 | 19.970 | Halt | าโ. | ||
| Ket Muang | เขตเมือง | 5029 | 23.730 | Halt | ดเ. | Samut Songkhram | |
| Lad Yai | ลาดใหญ่ | 5030 | 27.660 | Halt | ลญ. | ||
| Bang Krabun | บางกระบูน | 5031 | 30.160 | Halt | ก ู. | Closed | |
| Maeklong | แม่กลอง | 5032 | 33.750 | 4 | แอ. | ||
References
- 1 2 Nielsen, Flemming. "The Tachin Railway". ScandAsia. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 Pass, Mike. "Thai Steam Today & Yesteryear" (PDF). 2Bangkok. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- 1 2 "The Mae Khlong Mahachai Railway". Thailand by Train. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ↑ "Transit history notes: Seizing the Maeklong Railway". 2Bangkok. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ↑ "Maeklong Railway Market: Marketplace With a Railway Track Through it". Amusing Planet. Retrieved 12 Mar 2013.
- ↑ Cunningham, Susan. "The Market Where a Train Runs Through". Southeast Asia Traveler. Retrieved 12 Mar 2013.
- ↑ "Wongwian Yai - Maha Chai Timetable" (PDF). State Railway of Thailand. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 May 2013. Retrieved 12 Mar 2013.
- ↑ "Ban Laem - Mae Klong Timetable" (PDF). State Railway of Thailand. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 May 2013. Retrieved 12 Mar 2013.
- 1 2 "SRT: The Maeklong line and Maeklong railway market". Thai Mass Transport Systems. Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 12 Mar 2013.