Southern Line (Thailand)

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Southern Line
Hua Hin railway station, one of the most important stations on the Southern Line
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	State Railway of Thailand
Locale	Bangkok Nakhon Pathom Province Suphanburi Province most provinces in Western Thailand, most provinces in Southern Thailand, and a small section in Malaysia
Termini	Hua Lamphong Thon Buri Su-ngai Kolok Suphanburi Nam Tok Khiri Rat Nikhom Kantang Nakhon Si Thammarat Padang Besar (Malaysia)
Connecting lines	Su-ngai Kolok Main Line Thon Buri Line Suphanburi Line (part of GBCR) Burma Railway (former links to Myanmar Railways) Khiri Rat Nikhom Line Kantang Line Nakhon Si Thammarat Line Padang Besar Line (links to KTM ETS & KTM Komuter)
Service
Type	Regional rail Freight rail
Operator(s)	State Railway of Thailand
Depot(s)	Thon Buri Chumphon Thung Song Hat Yai
History
Opened	1903
Technical
Line length	1,144.29 km (711.03 mi)
Number of tracks	1
Character	At-grade
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge
Route map Legend Bangkok (Hua Lamphong) Bangkok – Taling Chan Eastern Line ( Chachoengsao Junction) Yommarat Chitralada Ramathibodi Hospital Sam Sen Pradiphat Planned: Red Line commuter Bang Sue Junction N & NE lines ( Ban Phachi Junction) Sor Tor Lor 10+375 Bang Son Halt Rama VI Bridge (Chao Phraya River) Bang Bamru 0 km Thon Buri (old, formerly Bangkok Noi) 0.87 Thon Buri 1.54 Charansanitwong Halt 4.29 Bang Ramat Halt 6.08 Taling Chan Junction 8.64 Ban Chimphli Halt 11.47 Phuttamonthon Sai 2 Halt 14.05 Sala Thammasop 19.06 Salaya 23.46 Wat Suwan 27.05 Khlong Maha Sawat Halt 30.80 Wat Ngiu Rai 35.13 Nakhon Chai Si 40.02 Tha Chalaep 44.30 Ton Samrong 48.12 Nakhon Pathom 50.13 Sanam Chandra Palace Halt 55.36 Phrong Maduea 58.97 Khlong Bang Tan 64.19 Nong Pladuk Junction To Suphanburi 71.60 Yang Prasat Halt 80.50 Don Khun Wiset Halt 85.30 Kamphaeng Saen Halt 87.86 Thung Bua Halt 93.00 Nong Fak Halt 96.46 Aviation Academy (Rong Rien Kanbin) Halt 104.97 Nong Wan Priang Halt 113.30 118.97 Don Sa-nguan Halt 122.31 125.50 Nong Phakchi Halt 131.35 Ban Makham Lom Halt 135.35 Sakae Yang Mu Halt 141.60 Suphanburi Ma Lai Maen Halt To Nam Tok 67.90 73.65 77.43 85 Tha Maka Halt 89.77 96.68 100 Tha Muang Halt 102.71 107 Khao Din Halt 114.36 115.65 Thung Na Thale Halt 117.04 Kanchanaburi 120.26 121.55 129.69 Vittayalai Kaset Halt 132.70 136.46 140.15 144.80 148.17 151.95 156.80 161.95 167.03 172.35 173.87 178.10 183.66 185.35 188.90 191.25 194.24 Nam Tok Nam Tok Sai Yok Noi Halt (excursion trains only) Burma Railway-(defunct) 203 Tanchan 211 Tampi 219 Hin Tok 230 Kanu 232 Sai Yoku 236 Saiyok Yai 245 Lin Thin 254 Kuei 262 Hin Dat 272 Prang Kasi 282 Takunun 293 Namuchonyai 301 Tamazyo 308 Tamuronpato 314 Kreung Krai 322 Kurikonta 326 Konkuita 337 Timontar 346 Nikhe 358 Songkalia Thailand–Burma border ( To Thanbyuzayat) 68.22 Ban Pong 73.69 Nakhon Chum 77.29 Khlong Ta Khot 81.80 Photharam 88.87 Chet Samian 94.64 Ban Kluay 100.29 Saphan Chulalongkorn Halt 101.31 Ratchaburi 105.46 Ban Khu Bua 111.20 Bo Takhro 114.50 Ban Pa Kai Halt 118.62 Pak Tho 120 Khao Lao Halt 122.77 Huai Rong Halt 127.18 Bang Khem 133.77 Khao Yoi 139.44 Nong Pla Lai 143.90 Bang Chak 150.49 Phetchaburi 158 Huai Sua Halt 160.32 Khao Thamon 164.21 Nong Mai Luang 169.90 Nong Chok 175.40 Nong Sala 183 Nong Taphot Halt 187.06 Cha-am 193 Bo Khaem Halt 197.86 Huai Sai Nua 201.64 Huai Sai Tai 207 Bo Fai Halt 212.99 Hua Hin 216.96 Nong Kae 221.03 Suan Son Pradiphat Halt 225.04 Khao Tao 232.85 Wang Phong 235.85 Pran Buri 241.83 Huai Khwang Halt 246.94 Nong Khang 254.99 Sam Roi Yot 261.15 Sam Krathai 271.33 Kui Buri 278.85 Bo Nok 288.88 Thung Mamao 294.76 Khan Kradai 302.33 Prachuap Khiri Khan 310.37 Nong Hin 313.42 Whagor Halt 318.22 Wang Duan 329.07 Huai Yang 338.60 Thung Pradu 342.06 Thap Sakae 347.00 Don Sai 353.04 Khok Ta Hom Halt 360.53 Ban Krut 365.85 Nong Mongkhon Halt 371.04 Na Phak Khuang 376.52 Bang Saphan Yai 383.58 Hin Gong Halt 385.92 Cha Muang 392.66 Bang Saphan Noi 399.92 Huai Sak 404.30 Ban Sai Thong Halt 409.65 Khao Chaiyarat 420.59 Map Ammarit 427.66 Ban Sap Somboon Halt 434.29 Khlong Wang Chang 439.34 Pathio 447.46 Ban Khok Ma 453.80 Saphli 458.38 Nong Nian Halt 463.20 Na Cha-ang 468.53 Chumphon 472.54 Saeng Daet 480.91 Thung Kha 489.97 Wisai 495.75 Ban Khron Halt 500.76 Sawi 508.51 Khao Suan Thurian 512.02 Khao Pip Halt 516.81 Pak Tako 522.35 Tha Thong Halt 526.08 Khuan Hin Mui 533.30 Lang Suan 538 Khao Wor Halt 541.03 Khlong Khanan 546.53 Hua Mat Halt 553.70 Lamae 560.14 Ban Duat 566.37 Khanthuli 570.05 Don Thup 577.78 Tha Chana 584.06 Ban Ko Muk Halt 588.40 Khao Phanom Baek 597.71 Chaiya 607 Bang Nam Jued Halt 610.53 Tha Chang 614.00 Khlong Khut Halt 618.87 Khlong Sye 623.92 Maluan 626 Hua Toei Halt 628 Ban Don Ri Halt 631.00 Ban Thung Pho Junction To Khiri Rat Nikhom 634.35 636.70 Ban Nong Khli Halt 640.75 644.55 649.35 652.60 655.58 658.00 662.00 Khiri Rat Nikhom 635.02 Surat Thani 641.51 Khao Hua Khwai 647.23 Bo Krang Halt 652.46 Khao Phlu 657.76 Khlong Ya Halt 662.34 Ban Na 669.68 Huai Mut 673.70 Na San 679.90 Khlong Prap Halt 684.03 Phruphi 687.72 Khlong Sun Halt 692.73 Ban Song 699.78 Ban Phru Krachaeng 704.61 Huai Prik 709.87 Krabiat 716.66 Than Pho 722.41 Chawang 727.95 Khlong Chandi 734.71 Lak Chang 738.98 Khlong Kui Halt 743.01 Na Bon 747.03 Khlong Chang 751.03 Ban Ko Pring Halt 757.08 Thung Song Junction To Kantang 765.57 Thi Wang 773.08 Ban Phun Halt 776.33 Kapang Halt 780.97 Khuan Mao Halt 789.49 Khlong Muan Halt 795.43 Yang Yuan Halt 800.82 Huai Yot 814.51 Lam Phura Halt 819.87 Khlong Teng Halt 823.00 Suan Mun Halt 829.28 Trang 832.67 Na Po Halt 835.86 Phru Yai Halt 843.25 Ban Pa Ko Halt 846.12 Pa Tiao Halt 850.08 Kantang 762.00 Sai Yai 767.78 Chong Khao 769.82 Chong Khao Tunnel 776.33 Ron Phibun 781.01 Khao Chum Thong Junction Nakhon Si Thammarat 786.15 790.59 Ban Thung Lo 794.67 Khok Khram 798.72 803.40 806.35 810.88 816.02 Nakhon Si Thammarat 789.38 Khuan Nong Khwa 794.94 Ban Tun 802.85 Ban Thung Khai Halt 806.06 Cha-uat 810.69 Nong Jik Halt 813.47 Ban Nang Long 816.35 Ban Trok Kae Halt 818.95 Ban Khon Hat 824.06 Laem Tanot 828.03 Ban Sunthra Halt 833.11 Pak Khlong 837.05 Ban Makok Tai Halt 839.97 Chai Buri Halt 846.01 Phatthalung 847.07 Na Prue Halt 853.19 Ban Khai Thai Halt 856.28 Ban Ton Don 859.25 Ban Huai Taen Halt 865.01 Khao Chaison 870.17 Bang Kaeo 876.50 Khuan Phra Halt 881.15 Khuan Khiam 885.35 Han Kong Halt 888.68 Han Thao 893.49 Wat Khuan Phayer Halt 896.24 Khok Sai 902.97 Khuan Niang 909.50 Ban Ko Yai 917.02 Bang Klam 921.84 Ban Din Lan U Taphao Junction 928.58 Hat Yai Junction To Songkhla- (defunct) Talat Hat Yai Khlong Hae Khlong Ple Ban Ko Mi Khao Bandai Nang Talat Nam Noi Nam Noi Ban Klang Na Khuan Hin Talat Phawong Nam Krachai Ban Bang Dan Wat Uthai Songkhla 934.68 Ban Phru 945.15 Sala Thung Lung 952.64 Khlong Ngae 961.14 Khlong Ram 967.79 Ban Tha Khoi 972 Padang Besar (Thai) 973.31 Sor Tor Lor 973.316 973.54 Thailand–Malaysia border 973.84 Padang Besar Malaysian railway ( Butterworth) 931 Khlong Rian Halt 936 Khuan Jong Halt 940.26 Na Muang 953.75 Wat Khuan Mit 961 Khuan Pa Ching Halt 964.50 Chana 972.10 Tha Maenglak 980.79 Ko Saba 991.99 Thepha 999.91 Ta Paet 1003.27 Ban Nikhom Halt 1009.21 Pattani (Khok Pho) 1016.73 Na Pradu 1020.09 Wat Chang Hai 1021.29 Pa Rai Halt 1026.07 Khlong Sai 1031.59 Tase 1034.88 Ban Yupo Halt 1038.74 Yala 1048.80 Mai Kaen 1051.95 Ban Patae Halt 1056.82 Raman 1061.70 Balo 1071.19 Rueso 1075.98 Ban Salo Bukit Yuaerae Halt 1081.77 Lalo 1089.46 Maruebo 1093.96 Kadae Halt 1099.50 Tanyong Mat 1105.45 Pa Phai 1111.15 Cho-airong 1115.83 Bukit 1119.62 Ai Satia Halt 1125.65 To Deng 1130.10 Su-ngai Padi 1137.14 Khok Saya Halt 1142.99 Su-ngai Kolok 1144.29 Thailand–Malaysia border 1146.00 Rantau Panjang Malaysian railway ( Pasir Mas)

Southern Line is a metre-gauge railway line in Thailand, owned by State Railway of Thailand (SRT), which runs through most of the provinces in the Central, Western, and Southern regions of Thailand. At 1,144.29 kilometres in length, it is Thailand's longest railway line.

It consists of the which stretches from Bangkok Hua Lamphong to Su-ngai Kolok District, Narathiwat Province, in the far south of Thailand, 1,140 kilometres from Bangkok. There are seven branch lines off this main line:

2. Suphanburi Line which is also the part of Greater Bangkok Commuter rail
3. Burma Railway (or Nam Tok Line): from Ban Pong to Kanchanaburi Province
4. : from Surat Thani to Khiri Rat Nikhom
5. : from Thung Song District , Nakhon Si Thammarat Province to Kantang District, Trang Province
6. : 35.01km line from Khao Chum Thong Junction to Nakhon Si Thammarat (km 816.02).
7. : from Hat Yai Junction Station to Padang Besar railway station where it meets the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) (Malayan Railways Limited)

History[]

In 1894, the Danish engineer Aage Westenholz (1859-1935), uncle of the writer Karen Blixen, was given a concession to build a route from Bangkok to Phetchaburi. The project failed due to the difficulty of raising sufficient capital. As a result, the Thai state decided in 1898 to build the main rail lines itself and bought back the concession. Other concession requests made by railroad entrepreneurs in the Thai part of the Malay Peninsula were all rejected.

After the Thai state had bought back the West timber concession, the Royal Railway Department (RRD) in the Ministry of Public Works planned a route, under Karl Bethge from the Krupp Company, to Phetchaburi. The construction work began in April 1900.

Because of the length of the route, construction occurred simultaneously in three sections:

1. from Phetchaburi to the south
2. from the port Songkhla on the east coast
3. from Kantang port on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula.

In contrast to the rest of the Thai railway network, which was built in standard gauge, the Royal State Railways of Siam chose the metre gauge to allow for a seamless connection to the metre gauge railways of Burma and Malaya.

The Southern Railway was isolated from the rest of the network, starting from a terminus in Thonburi, on the west side of the Chao Phraya river as there was no bridge across the river. Thonburi station was accessible by ferry from the east side of the Chao Phraya river. The building was designed in the style of brick expressionism by the German architect Karl Döhring, engineer with the Royal State Railways of Siam. It is now a Medical Museum.

On 1st April, 1903, traffic on the first completed section between Thonburi and Phetchaburi was operated with makeshift carriages, as delivery of a significant portion of the rail vehicles was delayed. When these had arrived, the official opening was held on 19th June, 1903 by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V.)

More sections followed successively from 1911. The opening dates are as follows:

• 1911: Phetchaburi–Hua Hin in two sections,
• 1913: Kantang–Huai Yot
• 1 January 1914: Kantang–Thung Song Junction
• 1st January 1914: Songkhla–Phatthalung
• 1st January 1914: Hua Hin–Wang Phong
• 1st October 1914: The sections driven by Kantang and Songkhla were merged.
• 1st October 1914 Nakhon Si Thammarat branch opened
• 1st October 1916: The southern and the northern parts of the line were merged at Chumphon and continuous operation could occur.

On 1 July, 1918, trains were able to operate from Thon Buri Railway station to Malaysia via Padang Besar. The initial service was two trains per week and the journey time took 60 hours.

An official opening ceremony did not take place because of World War One. Long-distance trips were interrupted for overnight stays with the Royal State Railways of Siam providing hotels at major train stations. In 1922, night traffic and sleeping cars were introduced and the travel time from Bangkok to Penang reduced to just over 30 hours

The Railway was forced to relinquish the metre gauge line, already built under its direction from Bangkok Thonburi to Phetchaburi to the Southern State Railway. This was not only technically reasonable, because it provided a uniform administration for each of the two gauges operated by the state, but also a political balancing act of the Thailand, which until 1917 was neutral in the First World War. The northern RRD worked under the German director Karl Bethgen, the southern under the British Henry Gittens, whose countries of origin were now enemies of the war.

After Thailand's entry into the war on the British and French sides on July 22, 1917, the connection of the Malay and the Thai railway network received high priority. Initially, it was planned to establish the connection via the east coast of Malaysia following route. The construction progress of the track in Malaysia was slow. So the authorities decided to establish a connection with the Malay West Railway. This was put into operation in 1918. The route over the eastern border crossing Sungai Kolok could only go into operation on 1 November 1921.

Construction started in December 1922 of the Rama VI Bridge (Thai: สะพานพระราม 6) over the Chao Phraya River during the reign of Rama VI. Opened on 1st January 1927 it linked the Northern and Eastern rail lines with the Southern railway and allowed Southern Railway trains to operate into Bangkok Hua Lamphong railway station.

The original Thon Buri railway station was destroyed in the air raids in 1945. After World War II, General Philbul Songkhram had the Thon Buri Station Building rebuilt in the original style.

In 2003, the terminus of the line westward to the previous station Bangkok Noi, was relocated and the vacated railway area was utilised for the extension of Siriraj Hospital. The Bangkok Noi station reverted to the name Thon Buri railway station.

In 2015, the Siriraj Phimukhsthan Museum was opened in what was the original Thon Buri railway station.

Route description[]

The Southern Line begins at Bangkok Hua Lamphong railway station and heads west towards Nakhon Pathom.

At Nong Pladuk Junction, there are two branches. The first is the Suphanburi Line which heads north towards Suphan Buri (km 157). It is part of the Greater Bangkok Commuter rail. The second is the Nam Tok Branch also known as the Burma Railway or the Kanchanaburi railway or the Death Railway which runs west towards Kanchanaburi Province (km 117.046) finishing at Nam Tok (km 194.24)

The Southern Main Line continues southbound from Nong Pladuk Junction through the provinces of Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Chumphon to Surat Thani, 678 kilometres away.

From Ban Thung Pho Junction, a station before Surat Thani, there is a westerly branch towards Khiri Rat Nikhom.

The main line continues south to Thung Song Junction (km 757.8) in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. There a branch extends to Kantang in Trang Province.

At Khao Chum Thong Junction, another 35 km-long branch separates from the mainline heading to Nakhon Si Thammarat (km 816)

The main line continues through to Phatthalung (km 861.01) before reaching Hat Yai Junction in Songkhla Province (km 928.58). From here, the line branches to connect with the Malaysian railway at Padang Besar (km 973.84).

The main line continues to Sungai Kolok (km 1142.99) passing through Yala Province in the process.

Security Issues[]

The Southern Line has been the target of terrorist attacks of the South Thailand Insurgency especially between the Hat Yai-Sungai Kolok section. All stations and halts between Hat Yai Junction and Sungai Kolok have been fenced off and gates are opened and closed only during operating hours.

Closed Lines[]

There are two lines that are defunct:

• Hat Chao Samran Railway (1921-23): South of Phetchaburi consisted of a 12 km long "siding" on the beach of Hat Chao Samran, which served only that 1921-1923 King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) and his court could travel by special train directly to the local summer palace. The branch station for this connection was called Phra Ram Ratchaniwet and was abandoned as well as the track to Hat Chao Samran when the king did not go there in summer.
• Songkhla Branch Line (1914-1978): The section south of Songkhla, is 29 km long and was opened on 1 January 1914. The branch station was initially U-Taphao Junction (925.80km from Bangkok). The location of the branch station was a poor choice as it was located in the flood area of Khlong U-Taphao. TAs a result the branch was relocated in 1922 to the newly built Hat Yai Junction (km 928.58). The Songkhla branch line was shut down on July 1, 1978.

Closed Stations^[1][]

Main Line[]

Khiri Rat Nikhom Branch Line[]

Kantang Branch Line[]

Padang Besar Branch Line[]

• 

  Commuter train no. 356 passed defunct Nong Fak Railway Halt on the Suphanburi Line.

• 

  The defunct at Nam Noi Station

Gallery[]

• 

  Hua Hin railway station, a beautiful station on the

• 

  Charansanitwong Halt on the short

• 

  Kra Sae Cave Railway Viaduct on the Burma Railway

• 

  Ban Thung Pho Junction, a station of the Su-ngai Kolok Main Line and

• 

  Kantang railway station, terminal station of the

• 

  Nakhon Si Thammarat railway station, terminal station of the

Station List[]