Eastern Line (Thailand)

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Eastern Line
Aranyaprathet Main Line near Sukhumvit 71 in Suan Luang district, Bangkok
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerGovernment of Thailand
LocaleCentral and Eastern Thailand
Termini
Connecting lines
  • Aranyaprathet Main Line
  • Chuk Samet Main Line
  • Phra Phutthachai Line
Service
Type
Operator(s)State Railway of Thailand
Depot(s)Makkasan
History
Opened24 January 1907; 117 years ago (1907-01-24)[1]
Last extension10 November 2023; 4 months ago (2023-11-10)
Completed14 July 1989; 34 years ago (1989-07-14)[2]
Technical
Line length255 km (158 mi)
Number of tracks1
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) metre gauge
Route map

Eastern Line
km
0.00
Bangkok (Bangkok (Hua Lamphong))
2.64
Urupong Halt
3.67
Phayathai Halt
4.59
Ratchaprarop
0km
5.17
Makkasan
Mae Nam
09.87
Tha Ruea Mai
14.00
6.98
Asok Halt
Mae Nam
Bang Chak oil refinery
22.00
9.85
Khlong Tan
11.14
Sukhumvit 71 Halt
15.18
Hua Mak
20.87
Ban Thap Chang
23.94
Soi Wat Lan Boon
26.75
Lat Krabang
30.33
Phra Chom Klao
33.86
Inland Container Depot
30.91
Hua Takhe
39.50
Khlong Luang Phaeng
43.43
Khlong Udom Chonlajorn
46.50
Preng
51.02
Khlong Khwaeng Klan
53.99
Khlong Bang Phra
57.10
Bang Toei Halt
60.99
Chachoengsao Junction
Paet Riu Halt
062.87
69.00
Wat Ko Chan Halt
Don Si Non
075.97
74.53
Phrong Akat Halt
Phan Thong
091.53
79.04
Bang Nam Prieo
Chon Buri
107.79
85.60
Khlong Sip Kao Junction
Bang Phra
121.31
Khao Phrabat Halt
125.35
115.00
Ongkharak
Si Racha Junction
130.60
138.40
Wihan Daeng
Phra Phutthachai Tunnel (1.197 km)
Laem Chabang
139.85
149.00
Bu Yai
Laem Chabang Port
162.81
Ban Phai Na Bun Junction
Bang Lamung
144.08
Pattaya
155.14
168.44
Kaeng Khoi Junction
Pattaya Tai Halt
158.82
Pattaya Floating Market Halt
163.28
89.42
Khlong Yi Sip Et Halt
Ban Huai Khwang
168.34
93.73
Yothaka
Yansangwararam
171.10
101.53
Ban Sang
Suan Nong Nuch Halt
174.09
109.49
Nong Nam Khao Halt
Khao Chi Chan Junction
180.00
115.28
Ban Pak Phli
121.78
Prachin Buri
Ban Phlu Ta Luang
184.03
126.25
Nong Krachap Halt
Jamboree
131.00
Khok Makok
Sattahip Commercial Port
137.65
Prachantakham
Ban Chang
192.25
143.41
Nong Saeng
Map Ta Phut
200.48
146.73
Ban Dong Bang
Map Ta Phut Port
148.91
Ban Nong Sriwichai Halt
km
151.85
Ban Phrom Saeng
156.15
Ban Ko Daeng Halt
161.26
Kabin Buri
165.50
Kabin Kao Halt
172.71
Nong Sang
183.76
Phra Prong Halt
190.06
Ban Kaeng
195.87
Sala Lamduan Halt
202.25
Sa Kaeo
212.94
Sa Kaeo Provincial Office Halt
216.28
Tha Kasem
223.40
Huai Chot Halt
233.86
Watthana Nakhon
240.32
Ban Pong Kom Halt
245.03
Huai Dua Halt
254.50
Aranyaprathet
259.00
Ban Klong Luk Border
260.44
261.20
Poipet (Cambodia)
km

Eastern Line is a railway line in Thailand, built and owned by State Railway of Thailand (SRT), located in Bangkok, Chachoengsao Province, Nakhon Nayok Province, Saraburi Province, Prachinburi Province, Sa Kaeo Province, Chonburi Province, and Rayong Province. It is the most important freight transport line in Thailand because there are many freight trains on the line. It was opened on 24 January 1907.[1]

There are plans to incorporate the line as part of the eastern branch line on the Kunming–Singapore railway.

Route description[edit]

The lines are divided into three main lines:

Other branch lines:

  • Makkasan – Mae Nam – Bang Chak Oil Refinery
  • Lat Krabang – Inland Container Deport (ICD)
  • Si Racha Junction – Laem Chabang Port
  • Khao Chi Chan Junction – Map Ta Phut Port

Timeline[edit]

Aranyaprathet Main Line[edit]

In 1941, SRT built a 17-kilometer railway line into Cambodia, but five years later, that line was removed because of World War II ending.[1] In 1953, the SRT rebuilt the 6-kilometer rail line into Cambodia upon Cambodia's request and opened it on 22 April 1955, though it was closed again in 1961 due to strained Cambodia-Thailand relations.[1] The cross-border link between Aranyaprathet briefly Poipet briefly opened in April 2019,[4] but closed again in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] In 2023, the border was reopened for freight transport.[6]

Chuk Samet Main Line[edit]

In July 1989, the Eastern Line Chachoengsao JunctionSattahip Commercial Port section opened. Freight trains continued to end of the line to Sattahip Commercial Port (Chuk Samet) until the early 2000s when the port's commercial role decreased. This resulted in passenger services terminating at Ban Phlu Ta Luang railway station and freight trains stopped operating on the line entirely. In 2002–2003, some services continued down the line to Jamboree Station, built specially for the 20th World Scout Jamboree held in Sattahip. In the 2010s, Samae San railway halt was constructed with some weekend tourist rail services terminating here, but this was short-lived.

On 10 November 2023, the line between Ban Phlu Ta Luang and Chuk Samet reopened, in the hopes of boosting tourism by providing closer access to U-Tapao International Airport, as well as direct rail access to HTMS Chakri Naruebet located at Sattahip Naval Base.[3][7]

Notable railway stations[edit]

Nameboard of Pattaya station, in July 2023.

The Eastern Line begins at Bangkok before heading through Chachoengsao, Prachinburi to terminate at Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaew Province, 255 kilometers from Bangkok. There is a reopened rail link to Cambodia from Aranyaprathet. A branch line also connects Khlong Sip Kao Junction to the Northeastern Line at Kaeng Khoi Junction. At Chachoengsao Junction, there is another branch to Sattahip. Along the route to Sattahip, at Si Racha Junction, there is yet another branch towards Laem Chabang Deep Sea Port and further at Khao Chi Chan Junction for Map Ta Phut Port, in Rayong.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d History of Thai railway (in Thai)
  2. ^ a b "Thai Railway Travel" p.339
  3. ^ a b "เปิด 2 สถานีรถไฟใหม่ภาคตะวันออก สถานีอู่ตะเภา และ จุกเสม็ด".
  4. ^ Cambodia and Thailand reconnected by rail after 45 years; The Straits Times, 22 April 2019
  5. ^ "Border checkpoints with Cambodia in Sa Kaeo to close". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  6. ^ "ไทย-กัมพูชาเปิดขบวนรถไฟรอบปฐมฤกษ์ เส้นทางมาบตาพุด-คลองลึก-ปอยเปต-พนมเปญ". Manager Online. 27 July 2023.
  7. ^ "เปิดแล้วรถไฟสายตะวันออก หัวลำโพงปลายทางจุกเสม็ด ตู้โดยสารชั้น 3 วันละ 1 เที่ยว".
  8. ^ New Eastern rail line gets on track, The Bangkok Post, 13/01/2012