Eastern Line (Thailand)
| Eastern Line | |
|---|---|
 Hua Mak Railway Station, one of some stations that can be interchanged to Airport Rail Link (Bangkok) | |
| Overview | |
| Owner | State Railway of Thailand |
| Locale | Bangkok, Chachoengsao Province, Nakhon Nayok Province, Saraburi Province, Prachinburi Province, Sa Kaeo Province, Chonburi Province, and Rayong Province |
| Termini |
|
| Service | |
| Type | Inter-city rail |
| Services | 3: |
| Depot(s) | Makkasan depot |
| History | |
| Opened | 24 January 1907[1] |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 255 km (158 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm |
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]
Timeline
- 24 January 1907: Hua Lamphong-Chachoengsao Junction
- 1 January 1924: Chachoengsao Junction-Kabin Buri
- 8 November 1926: Kabin Buri-Aranyaprathet
In 1941, SRT had built 17-kilometer railway line into Cambodia, but five years later, that line was removed because of World War II ending.[1] In 1953, Cambodia had asked SRT to build rail line linking again, so SRT built 6-kilometer rail line into Cambodia again and opened it on 22 April 1955.[1] However, in 1961, Cambodia-Thailand relations have a problem, so the linking line has been defunct since 25 October 1961 and now there are no train services between two countries.[1] Terminal station is still Aranyaprathet.
Services
The lines is divided into three main line:
- Aranyaprathet Main Line: from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo Province
- Ban Phlu Ta Luang Main Line: from Bangkok to Sattahip District, Chonburi Province, there is only one passenger trains per day.
- Phra Phutthachai Line: shortcut linking Eastern Line and Northeastern Line (Thailand), there are only freight trains on this line, and there is one tunnel, Phra Phutthachai Tunnel.
Other branch line:
- Makkasan-Maenam
- Lat Krabang-ICD
- Sriracha Junction-Laem Chabang Deep Sea Port
- Khao Chi Chan Junction-Map Taphut
Notable railway stations
The Eastern Line begins at Bangkok before heading through Chacheongsao, Prachinburi to terminate at Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaew Province, 255 kilometers from Bangkok. There is an unused rail link to Cambodia from Aranyaprathet, currently being rebuilt. 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 Taphut Port, in Rayong.
- Makkasan Station - the main depot of SRT (Makkasan Works)
- Hua Mak Station - Bangkok suburban station
- Hua Takhe Station - Junction for ICD.
- Chachoengsao Junction - Junction for Laem Chabang and Aranyaprathet Line. Main Chachoengsao station.
- Khlong Sip Kao Junction- Junction for the Aranyaprathet Line and the Cargo Link to Kaeng Khoi Junction.
- Prachin Buri Station- Main Prachin Buri Province Rail Station.
- Kabin Buri Station- Half of long-distance Aranyaprathet Line services terminate here. In Prachin Buri Province.
- Sa Kaeo Station - Main Sa Kaeo station
- Aranyaprathet Station - Terminus of Aranyaprathet Main Line.
- Chon Buri Station- Main Chon Buri station
- Si Racha Junction - Junction for Laem Chabang Deep Sea Port.
- Pattaya Station - Railway station for Pattaya City.
- Khao Chi Chan Junction- Junction for Sattahip Commercial Port and Map Taphut Freight Line
- Ban Phlu Ta Luang Station -Terminus for current, operational, ordinary train from Bangkok.
- Map Taphut Station - Terminus of East Coast Line - freight trains only.
See also
- Northern Line (Thailand)
- Northeastern Line (Thailand)
- Southern Line (Thailand)
- Airport Rail Link (Bangkok)
