Southern Line (Thailand)
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Southern Line () is a
metre-gauge Metre-gauge railways ( US: meter-gauge railways) are narrow-gauge railways with track gauge of or 1 metre. Metre gauge is used in around of tracks around the world. It was used by several European colonial powers including France, Britain and ...
railway line Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel rails. Rail transport is one of the two primary means of land transport, next to road ...
in
Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
, operated by
State Railway of Thailand The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) (, abbrev. รฟท., ) is the state-owned rail operator under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport (Thailand), Ministry of Transport in Thailand. History The SRT was founded as the Royal State Rail ...
(SRT), which runs through most of the provinces in the Central,
Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...
, and Southern regions of Thailand. At 1,144.29
kilometre The kilometre (SI symbol: km; or ), spelt kilometer in American English, American and Philippine English, is a unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), equal to one thousand metres (kilo- being the SI prefix for ). It is the ...
s in length, it is Thailand's longest railway line.


History

In 1894, the Danish engineer Aage Westenholz (1859–1935), uncle of the writer
Karen Blixen Baroness Karen Christentze von Blixen-Finecke (born Dinesen; 17 April 1885 – 7 September 1962) was a Danish author who wrote in Danish and English. She is also known under her pen names Isak Dinesen, used in English-speaking countries; Ta ...
, was given the concession to build a route from
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...
to
Phetchaburi Phetchaburi (, ) or Phet Buri () is a town ('' thesaban mueang'') in southern Thailand, capital of Phetchaburi Province. In Thai, Phetchaburi means "city of diamonds" (''buri'' meaning "city" in Sanskrit). It is approximately 160 km south of ...
. 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 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 repurchased 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 Phetchaburi (, ) or Phet Buri () is a town ('' thesaban mueang'') in southern Thailand, capital of Phetchaburi Province. In Thai, Phetchaburi means "city of diamonds" (''buri'' meaning "city" in Sanskrit). It is approximately 160 km south of ...
. The construction work began in April 1900. Because of the length of the route, construction occurred simultaneously in three sections: # from Phetchaburi to the south # from the port Songkhla on the east coast # 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 1 April 1903, traffic on the first completed section between
Thonburi __NOTOC__ Thonburi () is an area of modern Bangkok. During the era of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, Kingdom of Ayutthaya, its location on the right (west) bank at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River had made it an important garrison town, which is ref ...
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 19 June 1903 by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V.) 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 Thailand, which until 1917 was neutral in the
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. 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 () over the
Chao Phraya River The Chao Phraya River is the major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand. Etymology Written evidence of the river being referred to by the ...
during the reign of
Rama VI Vajiravudh (1 January 188126 November 1925) was the sixth king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama VI. He reigned from 1910 until his death in 1925. King Vajiravudh is best known for his efforts to create and promote Siamese nationa ...
. Opened on 1 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 Bangkok (Hua Lamphong) railway station (, ) is a railway station in Pathum Wan, the former central passenger terminal in Bangkok and the former railway hub of Thailand. It is in the center of the city in the Pathum Wan district, and is operat ...
railway station. The original Thon Buri railway station was destroyed in the air raids in 1945. After
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, 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 Siriraj Hospital (; ) is the oldest and largest public hospital in Bangkok, Thailand on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, opposite Thammasat University's Tha Phrachan campus. It is the primary teaching hospital of the Faculty of Medicine S ...
. 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. On 15 December 2023, the double-track section opened between Ban Khu Bua and Saphli. On 13 August, the double-track section opened between Nakhon Pathom and Chumphon.


Timeline


Opened

* 19 June 1903: Bangkok Noi–Phetchaburi * 9 June 1911: Phetchaburi–Cha-am * 25 November 1911: Cha-am–Hua Hin * 1 January 1913: Phatthalung–U Taphao–Songkhla * 1 April 1913: Kantang–Huai Yot * 1 January 1914: Hua Hin–Wang Phong * 1 January 1914: Huai Yot–Thung Song * 1 June 1914: Wang Phong–Prachuap Khiri Khan * 1 October 1914: Khao Chum Thong–Nakhon Si Thammarat * 1 October 1914: Thung Song–Ron Phibun–Phatthalung * 14 February 1915: Ban Na–Thung Song * 15 March 1915: Ban Krut–Bang Saphan Yai * 1 December 1915: Prachuap Khiri Khan–Ban Krut * 17 July 1916: Chumphon–Ban Na * 1 September 1916: Bang Saphan Yai–Chumphon * 1 April 1917: U Taphao–Hat Yai–Khlong Sai * 1 July 1918: Hat Yai–Padang Besar * 1 March 1920: Balo–Tanyong Mat * 1 November 1920: Khlong Sai–Balo * 17 September 1921: Tanyong Mat–Su-ngai Kolok * 1 January 1927: Hua Lamphong–Taling Chan * 24 June 1949: Nong Pladuk–Kanchanaburi * 1 April 1952: Kanchanaburi–Wang Pho * 13 April 1956: Ban Thung Pho–Khiri Rat Nikhom * 1 July 1958: Wang Pho–Nam Tok * 16 June 1963: Nong Pladuk–Suphan Buri * 12 May 1995: Nam Tok–Nam Tok Sai Yok Noi


Abolished

* 1 July 1978: Hat Yai–Songkhla * 4 October 2003: Bangkok Noi–Thon Buri


Route description

The Southern Line consists of the Su-ngai Kolok Main Line which stretches from
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...
Hua Lamphong Bangkok (Hua Lamphong) railway station (, ) is a railway station in Pathum Wan, the former central passenger terminal in Bangkok and the former railway hub of Thailand. It is in the center of the city in the Pathum Wan district, and is operat ...
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: # Thon Buri Line # Suphanburi Line which is also the part of Greater Bangkok Commuter rail #
Burma Railway The Burma Railway, also known as the Siam–Burma Railway, Thai–Burma Railway and similar names, or as the Death Railway, is a railway between Ban Pong, Thailand, and Thanbyuzayat, Burma (now called Myanmar). It was built from 1940 to 1943 ...
(or Nam Tok Line): from
Ban Pong Ban Pong (, ) is a district (''amphoe'') of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. It is in the northeast of the province. Geography Neighbouring districts are (from the north clockwise) Tha Muang district, Tha Muang and Tha Maka district, Tha Maka of Ka ...
to
Kanchanaburi Province Kanchanaburi (, ) is the largest of the western Provinces of Thailand, provinces (''changwat'') of Thailand. The neighboring provinces are (clockwise, from the north) Tak province, Tak, Uthai Thani province, Uthai Thani, Suphan Buri province, Sup ...
# Khiri Rat Nikhom Line: from Surat Thani to Khiri Rat Nikhom # Kantang Line: from Thung Song District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province to Kantang District,
Trang Province Trang (, ; ), also called ''Mueang Thap Thiang'', is one of the southern Provinces of Thailand, provinces (''changwat'') of Thailand, on the west side of the Malay Peninsula facing the Strait of Malacca. Neighboring provinces are (from north clo ...
# Nakhon Si Thammarat Line: 35.01 km line from Khao Chum Thong Junction to
Nakhon Si Thammarat Nakhon Si Thammarat (, ; from ) is a city municipality (''thesaban nakhon'') located in Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat, the capital of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. Nakhon Si Thammarat Province is situated in the South of Thailand. It is about s ...
(km 816.02). # Padang Besar Line: from Hat Yai Junction Station to Padang Besar railway station where it meets the
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) (; Jawi: ) or colloquially referred to simply as KTM, is the main rail operator in Peninsular Malaysia. The railway system dates back to the British colonial era, when it was first built to transport tin. ...
(KTM) It begins at Bangkok
Hua Lamphong Bangkok (Hua Lamphong) railway station (, ) is a railway station in Pathum Wan, the former central passenger terminal in Bangkok and the former railway hub of Thailand. It is in the center of the city in the Pathum Wan district, and is operat ...
railway station and heads west towards
Nakhon Pathom Nakhon Pathom (, ) is a city (''thesaban nakhon'') in central Thailand, the former capital of Nakhon Pathom province. One of the most important landmarks is the giant Phra Pathommachedi. The city is also home to Thailand's only Bhikkhuni temple W ...
. At Nong Pladuk Junction, there are two branches. The first is the Suphanburi Line which heads north towards
Suphan Buri Suphan Buri () is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in central Thailand. It covers ''tambon'' Tha Philiang and parts of ''tambons'' Rua Yai and Tha Rahat, all within the Mueang Suphan Buri District. As of 2006 it had a population of 26,656. The town ...
(km 157). It is part of the Greater Bangkok Commuter rail. The second is the Nam Tok Branch also known as the
Burma Railway The Burma Railway, also known as the Siam–Burma Railway, Thai–Burma Railway and similar names, or as the Death Railway, is a railway between Ban Pong, Thailand, and Thanbyuzayat, Burma (now called Myanmar). It was built from 1940 to 1943 ...
or the
Kanchanaburi Kanchanaburi (, ) is a town municipality ('' thesaban mueang'') in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. The town of lies to the southeast of Erawan National Park within Kanchanaburi Province, approximately 120km west of Bangkok. In 2006 it had a po ...
railway or the
Death Railway The Burma Railway, also known as the Siam–Burma Railway, Thai–Burma Railway and similar names, or as the Death Railway, is a railway between Ban Pong, Thailand, and Thanbyuzayat, Burma (now called Myanmar). It was built from 1940 to 1943 b ...
which runs west towards
Kanchanaburi Province Kanchanaburi (, ) is the largest of the western Provinces of Thailand, provinces (''changwat'') of Thailand. The neighboring provinces are (clockwise, from the north) Tak province, Tak, Uthai Thani province, Uthai Thani, Suphan Buri province, Sup ...
(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 Ratchaburi (, ) or Rajburi, Rat Buri) is a town ('' thesaban mueang'') in western Thailand, capital of Ratchaburi Province. Ratchaburi town covers the entire ''tambon'' Na Mueang (หน้าเมือง) of Mueang Ratchaburi District. As o ...
,
Phetchaburi Phetchaburi (, ) or Phet Buri () is a town ('' thesaban mueang'') in southern Thailand, capital of Phetchaburi Province. In Thai, Phetchaburi means "city of diamonds" (''buri'' meaning "city" in Sanskrit). It is approximately 160 km south of ...
,
Hua Hin Hua Hin (, ) is one of eight districts (''amphoe'') of Prachuap Khiri Khan province in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula in Thailand. Its seat of government, also named Hua Hin, is a beach resort town. The district's population was estim ...
,
Prachuap Khiri Khan Province Prachuap Khiri Khan (, ) is one of the western Provinces of Thailand, provinces (''changwat'') of Thailand. It is in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, some south of Bangkok. Neighboring provinces include Phetchaburi province, Phetchabu ...
,
Chumphon Chumphon (, ) is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in southern Thailand, capital of the Chumphon Province and Mueang Chumphon District. The city is about 463 kilometers (288 miles) from Bangkok. As of 2018 it had a population of around 33,600. The t ...
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 Trang (, ; ), also called ''Mueang Thap Thiang'', is one of the southern Provinces of Thailand, provinces (''changwat'') of Thailand, on the west side of the Malay Peninsula facing the Strait of Malacca. Neighboring provinces are (from north clo ...
. At Khao Chum Thong Junction, another 35 km-long branch separates from the mainline heading to
Nakhon Si Thammarat Nakhon Si Thammarat (, ; from ) is a city municipality (''thesaban nakhon'') located in Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat, the capital of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. Nakhon Si Thammarat Province is situated in the South of Thailand. It is about s ...
(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.


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 (925.80 km 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.


Security Issues

The Southern Line, especially the section between Hat Yai to Sungai Kolok, has been the target of terrorist attacks of the
South Thailand Insurgency The Southern Thailand Insurgency (; ) is an ongoing conflict centered in southern Thailand. It originated in 1948 as an ethnic and religious separatist insurgency in the historical Malays (ethnic group), Malay Patani (historical region), Patani ...
. 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. Trains operate only during the day between 06:00 and 18:00.


Gallery

File:Hua Hin Railway Station Thailand.JPG, Hua Hin railway station, a beautiful station on the ''Su-ngai Kolok Main Line'' File:Charan Sanit Wong Railway Station.jpg, Charansanitwong Halt on the short ''Thon Buri Line'' File:Thailand Burma Railway Bridge.jpg, Kra Sae Cave Railway Viaduct on the ''
Burma Railway The Burma Railway, also known as the Siam–Burma Railway, Thai–Burma Railway and similar names, or as the Death Railway, is a railway between Ban Pong, Thailand, and Thanbyuzayat, Burma (now called Myanmar). It was built from 1940 to 1943 ...
'' File:Ban Thung Pho Railway Station.JPG, Ban Thung Pho Junction, a station of the ''Su-ngai Kolok Main Line'' and ''Khiri Rat Nikhom Line'' File:Kantang railway 20061231 PB230139.JPG, Kantang railway station, terminal station of the ''Kantang Line'' File:Nakhon Si Thammarat Railway Station.JPG, Nakhon Si Thammarat railway station, terminal station of the ''Nakhon Si Thammarat Line'' File:Nongfak280552.jpg, Commuter train no. 356 passed defunct Nong Fak Railway Halt on the '' Suphanburi Line''. File:Namnoi station.jpg, The defunct ''Songkhla Line'' at Nam Noi Station


See also

* List of Southern Line (Thailand) stations * Northern Line (Thailand) *
Northeastern Line (Thailand) The Northeastern Line () is a railway line in Thailand that connects the capital Bangkok with the northeast region of Isan. The section from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima is Thailand's first line that opened for passenger service.Eastern Line (Thailand) 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 Provin ...
* KTM West Coast railway line


References


External links


ตำนานแห่งรถไฟไทย
{{Kunming–Singapore railway Railway lines in Thailand Railway lines opened in 1903 Metre-gauge railways in Thailand International railway lines