The State Railway of Thailand is relocating 52 train services from Hua Lampong Station to Bangkok‘s new central rail hub – Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (formerly Bang Sue Junction) – from January 19.
Passengers catching long-distance, rapid and express train services will depart from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district from this date onward. Inbound trains will also arrive at the new hub instead of Hua Lampong.
Relocated services include 14 train services to northern Thailand, 20 services to southern Thailand, and 18 to northeastern Thailand.
The first long-distance service to depart from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal on Thursday, January 19 will be Train No. 171, a rapid overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Sungai Kolok on the border of Malaysia in southernmost Thailand.
Northern and Isaan-bound trains will use the elevated railway track from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Don Mueang Station, which is also used by the Dark Red Line train service.
The change of track on these services means that services to the north and northeast will no longer stop at Nikhom Rotfai, Thung Song Hong, Bang Khen, Laksi, and Kan Kheha stations.
Southward-bound services departing from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal will use the elevated track to Bang Bamru Station.
Ordinary, suburban trains and special tourist routes will continue to operate from Hua Lampong Station in Bangkok’s Pathum Wan district.
Trains departing from Hua Lamphong will stop at Sam Sen and Krung Thep Aphiwat and then use the elevated railway. Although, southward-bound ordinary and suburban trains departing from Hua Lamphong will continue to use the ground-level track.
Passengers who have tickets for rapid, express, and ordinary trains – or monthly tickets – may use the Thani Ratthaya service to connect to Don Mueang Station free of charge for one year.
Long-distance train passengers may also use the Thani Ratthaya service free of charge if their desired station is no longer operating.
In September last year, HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn presented the idea to change the name of Bang Sue Junction to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, which means “Bangkok’s Prosperity.”
The SRT signed a contract approving 33 million baht to change the station’s name from Hua Lamphong to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal last week. The hefty sum left officials wondering if it really costs that much to replace a sign.
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob ordered the relevant agencies to investigate potential corruption in the budget within seven days.
Published by The Thaiger 6.January 2023