State Railway of Thailand

State Railway of Thailand (SRT) การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย (รฟท.)
Locale	Thailand
Dates of operation	1890–present
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) (Metre gauge)
Length	4,070 km
Headquarters	Bangkok

The State Railway of Thailand (Thai: การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย) is the state-owned rail operator in Thailand. The network sees around 50 million passengers per annum.

History

SRT was founded as the Royal State Railways of Siam (RSR) in 1890. Construction of the Bangkok-Ayutthaya railway (71 km or 44 mi), the first part of the Northern Line, was started in 1891 and completed on May 23, 1892. The Thonburi-Phetchaburi line (150 km or 93 mi), later the Southern Line, was opened on June 19, 1903.

The Northern Line was originally built as 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in) standard gauge, but in September 1919 it was decided to standardize on 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ³⁄₈ in) meter gauge and the Northern Line was regauged during the next ten years. On July 1, 1951, RSR changed its name to the present State Railway of Thailand.

In 2005 SRT had 4,070 km (2,530 mi) of track, all of it meter gauge. Nearly all is single-track, although some important sections around Bangkok are double or triple-tracked and there are plans to extend this.

Issues

The SRT has long been popularly perceived by the public as inefficient and resistant to change. Trains are usually late, and most of its equipment is old and poorly maintained. The worst financially performing state enterprise, the SRT consistently operates at a loss despite being endowed with large amounts of property and receiving large government budgets; it reported a preliminary loss of 7.58 billion baht in 2010. Recurring government attempts at restructuring and/or privatization throughout the 2000s have always been strongly opposed by the union and have not made any progress.

Network

State Railway of Thailand

Legend Thanaleng, Laos Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge Nong Khai Udon Thani Ubon Ratchathani Khon Kaen Sisaket Chiang Mai Surin Lamphun Ban Phai Khun Tan Tunnel Buriram Nakhon Lampang Bua Yai Junction Bua Yai Junction Thanon Chira Junction Uttaradit Thanon Chira Junction Chatturat Nakhon Ratchasima Ban Dara Junction Sawankhalok Royal Cambodian Railway Phitsanulok Aranyaprathet Phichit Prachin Buri Nakhon Sawan Kaeng Khoi Junction Lop Buri Saraburi Suphanburi Ayutthaya Nakhon Pathom Bang Sue Junction Thonburi Chachoengsao Junction Bangkok (Hua Lamphong) Kanchanaburi Wongwian Yai(MKR) Nam Tok Samut Sakhon(MKR) Nam Tok Sai Yok Noi Chonburi Burma Railway Samut Songkhram(MKR) Ratchaburi Si Racha Junction Phetchaburi Laem Chabang Port Hua Hin Bang Lamung Prachuap Khiri Khan Pattaya Bang Saphan Noi Khao Chi Chan Junction Chumphon Map Ta Phut Port Lang Suan Sattahip Port Lamae Chaiya Khiri Ratthanikhom Ban Thung Pho Junction Surat Thani Thung Song Junction Trang Khao Chum Thong Junction Kantang Nakhon Si Thammarat Phattalung U Taphao Junction Songkhla Hat Yai Hat Yai Junction Thai/Malaysian Border Yala Padang Besar, Malaysia Su-ngai Kolok Malaysian Railways Thai/Malaysian Border (Not in operation)  Woodlands, Singapore  Rantau Panjang, Malaysia  Gemas  Pasir Mas, Malaysia Malaysian Railways  Tumpat

The SRT operates all of Thailand's national rail lines. Hua Lamphong or Krungthep Station is the main terminus of all routes and start in Bangkok; Phahonyothin and ICD Ladkrabang are the main freight terminals.

Northern Line

Further information: SRT Northern Line route map

The Northern Line begins alongside the Northeastern Line up until Ban Phachi Junction. Here, it splits from the Northeastern Line and proceeds through Lopburi, Nakhon Sawan, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Denchai junction, Lampang, Lamphun, before finally reaching Chiang Mai 751 kilometers away from Bangkok. There is also a branch off the mainline from Ban Dara junction to Sawankhalok in Sukhothai Province.

• Bang Sue Junction - The largest freight yard in Thailand and hence the main freight terminal. It is also a locomotive depot.
• Ayutthaya Station - Northern Bangkok suburban station. High passenger revenue, second only to Bangkok station.
• Ban Phachi Junction - A major junction, where the Northern and Northeastern lines separate.
• Lop Buri Station - The end of northern Bangkok suburbab service; a military town.
• Nakhon Sawan Station - Nong Pling station until 1956.
• Phitsanulok Station - Provincial station
• Ban Dara Junction - Junction for Sawankhaloke line
• Sila At Station - Depot on the Northern Line. Refueling station and up trains will be cut at this station
• Denchai Station - the dropping point for Phrae with a proposal for a junction for Denchai - Chiang Rai route
• Nakhon Lampang Station - Depot on the Northern Line. Train will be cut further if going North to Chiang Mai.
• Chiang Mai Station - Terminus.

Northeastern Line

Further information: SRT Northeastern Line route map

The Northeastern Line begins on the same route as the Northern Line, splitting at Ban Phachi Junction towards Nakhon Ratchasima. Then at Thanon Chira Junction, the line splits with one route passing Khon Kaen and Udon Thani before terminating at Nong Khai 624 kilometers from Bangkok. The other route passes through Buriram, Surin, Si Sa Ket to reach Ubon Ratchathani, 575 kilometers from Bangkok.

There is also another branch route originating from Kaeng Khoi Junction in Saraburi Province passing through Lamnarai in Lopburi Province, Chaturat in Chaiyaphum Province, before joining the mainline heading towards Nong Khai at Bua Yai Junction in Nakhon Ratchasima Province.

• Saraburi Station - Provincial station, Pak Priaw station until 1934.
• Kaeng Khoi Junction - The Bua Yai Line and Khlong Sip Kao line diverge from the mainline here. Main Depot with refueling facility. The point for dividing freight trains into two trains to pass difficult section of Dong Phraya Yen (Kaeng Khoi - Pak Chong) or combining divided freight trains back into one train
• Pak Chong Station - The gateway to Nakhon Ratchasima and the point for dividing freight trains into two to pass difficult section of Dong Phraya Yen (Kaeng Khoi - Pak Chong) or combining divided freight trains back into one train
• Nakhon Ratchasima Station - Main depot of the Northeastern Line with refueling facility and a branch line to 2nd Army Support Command.
• Thanon Chira Junction - Junction for Nong Khai line close to Fort Suranaree (2nd Army Region HQ)
• Buri Ram Station - provincial station with a branch line to a quarry at Khao Kradong
• Surin Station - provincial station
• Si Sa Ket Station - provincial station
• Ubon Ratchathani Station in town of Warin - Terminus of South Isaan Line (also known as Ubon Line) with Depot and refueling facility. Varindr station until 1942-1943.
• Bua Yai Junction - junction with refueling facility
• Khon Kaen Station - provincial station
• Udon Thani Station - provincial station with refueling facility.
• Nong Khai Station in town of Nong Khai - Terminus of North Isaan Line (also known as Nong Khai Line), provides a connection to Thanaleng Station in Vientiane, Laos

Southern Line

Further information: SRT Southern Line route map

The Southern Line begins in Bangkok and heads west towards Nakhon Pathom before splitting into 3 different routes. One route heads west towards Kanchanaburi Province (km 210) while another heads north towards Suphan Buri (km 157). The Southern Line itself continues southbound through Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Chumphon, to Surat Thani 678 kilometers away. From Surat Thani, there is a westerly branch towards Khiri Ratnikhom while the main line continues south to Thung Song Junction in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province where another branch reaches Kantang in Trang Province. The main line from Nakhon Sri Thammarat continues through Phatthalung before reaching Hatyai Junction in Songkhla Province. From here, the line branches to connect with the Malaysian railway at Padang Besar and Sungai Golok passing through Yala Province in the process.

• Bang Sue Junction - Main junction and freight terminal with main Diesel Locomotive Depot and Refueling facility
• Thon Buri Station - Former terminus of Southern Line.
• Nakhon Pathom Station - main southern suburban station
• Nong Pladuk Junction - Junction for Namtok Branch Line and Suphanburi Branch Line
• Ban Pong Station - Interchange to Kanchanaburi for those who did not travel along Nam Tok branch line
• Rajburi Station - Terminal for southern suburban service, also Provincial station
• Phetburi Station - Provincial Station
• Hua Hin Station - station with beautiful architecture, crew changing station
• Chumphon Station - Provincial station, locomotive depot with refueling facility
• Ban Thung Pho Junction - Southern Container Yard and Khiri Ratthanikhom Branch.
• Surat Thani Station - crew changing station and provincial station
• Thung Song Junction - Locomotive Depot, refueling facility and junction for Kantang Branch.
• Trang Station - Provincial Station
• Kantang Station - Terminus of Kantang Branch.
• Khao Chumthong Junction - Junction for Nakhon Si Thammarat Branch.
• Nakhon Si Thammarat Station - Terminus of Nakhon Si Thammarat Branch.
• Patthalung Station - Provincial station, crew changing station
• Hat Yai Junction - Main junction in Southern Line, Locomotive Depot and refueling facility
• Padang Besar Station - International KTM station in Malaysia.
• Pattani Station - former Khok Pho station
• Yala Station - Provincial station, crew changingw station
• Tanyong Mas station - for Ra Nga district and Narathiwat
• Sungai Kolok Station - Terminus of Southern Line. Used to be an international station until the termination of cross border services.

Namtok Branch

• Thon Buri Station - Terminus of Western Line
• Taling Chan Junction - Junction for Bangsue - Taling Chan link (also known as Rama 6 Line), the connection between south and north SRT systems opened with the building of the only rail bridge across the Chao Phraya River in 1925.
• Salaya Station - Bangkok suburban station close to Mahidol University (Salaya Campus)
• Nakhon Pathom Station - Provincial station
• Nong Pla Duk Junction - Junction for Suphanburi and Kanchanaburi.
• Suphanburi Station - A 2-car DMU operates to Bangkok in the early morning and from Bangkok in the evening.
• Kanchanaburi Station - Provincial station
• Nam Tok Station - Terminus of Western Line.

On local trains, several cars may be reserved for school children's transportation, much like a school bus elsewhere. Children board a Pattaya-Bangkok train at an improvised between-stations stop

Eastern Line

Further information: SRT Eastern Line route map

The Eastern Line begins at Bangkok before heading through Chacheongsao, Prachinburi to terminate at Aranyaprathet station in Sa Kaew Province 255 kilometers later. There is an unused rail link to Cambodia from Aranyaprathet. A branch line also connects Khlong 19 to the Northeastern Line at Kaeng Khoi Junction. At Chacheongsao station, there is another branch to Sattahip from which there is also another branch to Sriracha Junction 139 kilometers from Bangkok. From Sriracha Junction, there is yet another branch towards Laem Chabang deep sea port and Mapthaphut.

• Makkasan Station - the main depot of SRT (Makkasan Works), and City Air Terminal Station for Suvarnabhumi Airport Express Train (closer to Asok Halt than to Makkasan station)
• Hua Mak Station - Bangkok suburban station
• Hua Ta Khe Station - Junction for ICD.
• Chachoengsao Junction - Junction for Laem Chabang (double track opened January 2012) and Aranyaprathet Line.
• Aranyaprathet Station - Terminus of North Eastern Line.
• Si Racha Junction - Junction for Laem Chabang Deep Sea Port.
• Map Taphut Station - Terminus of East Coast Line - freight trains only.

Maeklong Line

Maeklong Railway

Legend Khlong San Wongwian Yai Talat Phlu Khlong Ton Sai Chom Thong Wat Sai Wat Sing Bang Bon Khan Keha Rang Sakae Klong Ratchmontri Bridge Rang Pho Sam Yaek Phrom Daen Thung Si Thong Bang Nam Jyed Khok Khwai Klong Krabue Bridge Ban Khom Khlong Chak Mahachai Tha Chin River Ban Laem Tha Chalom Ban Chi Pakhao Khlong Nok Lek Bang Si Kot Bang Krachao Ban Bo Bang Thorat Ban Ka Long Ban Na Khwang Ban Na Khok Ket Muang Lad Yai Bang Krabun Mae Klong

The Maeklong Railway, also operated by the SRT, is independent of the national rail network and is split into two sections. The line begins at Wongwian Yai in Bangkok before terminating at Mahachai where a ferry is used by passengers to cross the Tha Chin River. The line starts again across the river towards Mae Klong.

Services

Intercity services

SRT operates intercity passenger services on the following lines:

Northern Line

• Bangkok-Ayutthaya-Lopburi-Nakhon Sawan-Phitsanulok-Lampang-Chiang Mai

See also: Nakhon Phing Express

Northeastern Line

• Bangkok-Ayutthaya-Saraburi-Nakhon Ratchasima-Khon Kaen-Udon Thani-Nong Khai
• Bangkok-Ayutthaya-Saraburi-Nakhon Ratchasima-Buriram-Surin-Sisaket-Ubon Ratchathani

Eastern Line

• Bangkok-Chachoengsao-Prachinburi-Kabin Buri-Sa Kaeo-Aranyaprathet
• Bangkok-Chachoengsao-Chon Buri-Pattaya-Ban Phlu Ta Luang

Southern Line

• Bangkok-Nakhon Pathom-Hua Hin-Surat Thani-Hat Yai-Butterworth (Malaysia)(International Express)
• Bangkok-Nakhon Pathom-Hua Hin-Surat Thani-Hat Yai-Sungei Kolok
• Bangkok-Nakhon Pathom-Hua Hin-Surat Thani-Thung Song-Nakhon Si Thammarat
• Bangkok-Nakhon Pathom-Hua Hin-Surat Thani-Thung Song-Kantang
• Bangkok-Nakhon Pathom-Kanchanaburi-Nam Tok

See also: International Express and Thaksin Express

International services

SRT operates international services to Butterworth in Penang, Malaysia, in conjunction with Malaysian state operator KTM.

A link across the First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge to Thanaleng Railway Station, near Vientiane, opened in March 2009.

There are plans to re-open rail links to Cambodia via Poipet from the railhead at Aranyaprathet. Railway connections to Myanmar (Burma), notably the infamous Death Railway, are defunct.

In December 2010, following Chinese plans to extend their (standard gauge) network to Xishuangbanna on the China-Laos border and further into Laos, the Thai government agreed to start negotiations on building a standard-gauge network. This would initially involve two lines: from Bangkok to the Lao border, and a longer line from Bangkok along the peninsula to the Malay border.

Rail links to adjacent countries

• Malaysia - same 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ³⁄₈ in) gauge
• Laos - 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ³⁄₈ in) gauge across Mekong River on Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge
• Cambodia - disused (being rebuilt)
• Myanmar - defunct - (see Death Railway).But projected extension will rebuild the route.
• Proposed link from Kanchanaburi to Port Tavoy (2011)

Commuter trains

The SRT operates commuter rail services from Bangkok along the Northern and Northeastern Lines up to Ayutthaya, Ban Phachi Junction, Lopburi and Kaeng Khoi Junction. Ten trains run along the route on a daily basis. A new service serving between Thonburi and Sala Ya was launched on 22 October 2010.

The Red Line project is a new commuter rail system also owned by the SRT. It is currently under construction and will replace portions of rail lines running through Bangkok, eliminating at-grade crossings.

Other services

SRT operates the Airport Link to Suvarnabhumi Airport which opened in 2010. It is medium speed (160 km/h) and links with BTS Skytrain at Phaya Thai Station and MRT at Phetchaburi Station,and a new transit center at Makkasan allows airline passengers to check-in.

Active Locomotives & Multiple Units

Diesel Electric Locomotives

Type	Manufacturer	Numbers	Year(s) built	Quantity built	Power (horsepower)	Max Speed (km/h)	Image	Note
UM12C (GE)	General Electric	4001-4050	1964 (4001-4040) 1966 (4041-4050)	50	1320 (2 × 660)	90		Will be refurbished around 2010-2011.
AD24C (ALS)	Alstom	4101-4154	1974–1975	54	2400	90		First batch of AD24C locomotives.
AD24C (AHK)	Alstom, Henschel and Krupp	4201-4230	1980	30	2400	100		Second batch of AD24C, built under licence by Henschel and Krupp.
AD24C (ALD)	Alstom	4301-4309	1983	9	2400	100		Third batch of AD24C.
AD24C (ADD)	Alstom	4401-4420	1985	20	2400	100		Fourth and last batch of AD24C.
8FA-36C (HID)	Hitachi	4501-4522	1993	22	2860 (2 × 1430)	100		First batch of Main Line Locomotive Programme, used MAN B&W Diesel engine in short term[citation needed], then replaced by Cummins KTTA-50L engine, later modified to KTA-50L.
CM22-7i (GEA)	General Electric	4523-4560	1995–1996	38	2860 (2 × 1430)	100		Second batch of Main Line Locomotive Programme, use Cummins KTA-50L engine.

Diesel hydraulic locomotives

Type	Manufacturer	Numbers	Year built	Quantity built	Power (horsepower)	Max Speed (km/h)	Image	Note
DH1200BB	Henschel	3001-3027	1964	27	1200	90		All locomotives except #3015 are withdrawn. #3026 preserved. Some of them were sold to Italian-Thai construction and rebuilt by Vossloh, rest were scrapped.
M1500BB	Krupp and Krauss-Maffei	3101-3130	1969	30	1500	90

Diesel Multiple Units

Type	Manufacturer	Numbers	Year built	Quantity built	Power (horsepower)	Max Speed (km/h)	Image	Note
RHN	Hitachi	1011-1048 (power cars) 11-48 (trailer cars)	1967	38+38	220	90
RTS	Tokyu	D9-D16 (power cars) TS4-TS7 (center/trailer cars)	1971	8+4	220	70		Ex-Mahachai railways, to be refurbished. Similar bodyshell of THN and NKF but with different formation (power car-2 trailer cars).
THN	Tokyu, Hitachi and Nippon Sharyo	1101–1140	1983	40	235	105		Similar to NKF.
NKF	Nippon Sharyo, Hitachi, Fuji Heavy Industries,Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Niigata Tekkousho, and Kinki Sharyo	1201–1264, (center) 2101-2112	1985	64+12	235	105		Similar to THN, but with plastic chairs.
ASR (Class 158 Express Sprinter)	BREL, Derby Works	2501–2512, (center) 2113-2120	1991	12+8	285	120		Metre gauge version of British Rail Class 158, with different gangways and couplers. 3-car set. Will be refurbished with new seats, vinyl floor, on-board entertainment and new livery, and converted to 4-car sets in 2011 for intercity services.
APD .20	Daewoo Heavy Industries	2513-2524 (center) 2121-2128	1995	10+8	298	120		First batch, narrow body.
APD .60	Daewoo Heavy Industries	2525-2544 (center) 1101-1140	1996	20+40	298	120		Second batch, wide body.

See also

• Rail transport in Thailand

External links

• State Railway of Thailand
• The Official Online Ticketing from the State Railway of Thailand