In 1894, the Danish engineer Aage Westenholz (1859–1935), uncle of the writer Karen Blixen, was given the 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:
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 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.)
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
1 January 1914: Songkhla–Phatthalung
1 January 1914: Hua Hin–Wang Phong
1 October 1914: The sections driven by Kantang and Songkhla were merged.
1 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 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 railway station.
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.
The Southern Line consists of the Su-ngai Kolok Main Line which stretches from BangkokHua 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:
Hat Chao Samran Railway (1921-23): South of Phetchaburi consisted of a 12km 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 29km 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.
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. Trains operate only during the day between 06:00 and 18:00.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is the state-owned rail operator under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport in Thailand.
Surat Thani railway station is the main railway station in Surat Thani Province, Thailand. It is on the State Railway of Thailand's Southern Line, located 635.106 km from Thon Buri railway station. The station is on the eastern bank of the Tapi River in Tha Kham town, Phun Phin District. Surat Thani Station first opened in 1915, and was originally named Phun Phin Station. The name was later changed to "Surat Thani railway station".
Salaya railway station is a railway station located in Salaya Subdistrict, Phutthamonthon District, Nakhon Pathom Province and is a class 1 railway station. It is located 19.081 kilometres (11.9 mi) from Thonburi railway station. Salaya railway station is close to Mahidol University and Mahidol Witthayanusorn School and therefore the station also serves these two institutes.
Nakhon Pathom railway station is a railway station located in Phra Pathom Chedi subdistrict, Mueang Nakhon Pathom district, and is located 48.126 km (29.9 mi) from Thon Buri railway station. It is a class 1 railway station and is the main railway station of Nakhon Pathom province. The station is not far from Phra Pathom Chedi which is a famous landmark of the province. The station opened in June 1903 as part of the first phase of the Southern Line construction between Thon Buri Station to Phetchaburi Station and was originally named "Phra Pathom" station.
Ratchaburi railway station is a railway station in Na Mueang Subdistrict, Ratchaburi Province, 101.315 km (63.0 mi) from Thon Buri railway station. It is a class 1 railway station. It opened in 1903 along with the opening of the first phase of the Southern Line from Thon Buri railway station to Phetchaburi railway station. In the past it was a water and wood refueling station for steam locomotives and a terminus for some services, therefore a water tank, water cranes and a turntable remain as monuments to the station's past.
Phetchaburi railway station is a railway station located in Khlong Krachaeng Subdistrict, Phetchaburi City. It is a class 1 railway station.
Prachuap Khiri Khan railway station is a railway station located in Prachuap Khiri Khan Subdistrict, Prachuap Khiri Khan City. It is located 302.339 km (187.9 mi) from Thon Buri railway station, and is a class 1 railway station.
Bang Saphan Yai station is a railway station located in Kamnoet Nopphakhun Subdistrict, Bang Saphan District, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand. It is a class 1 railway station, located 376.525 km (234.0 mi) from Thon Buri railway station.
Chumphon railway station is a railway station in Tha Taphao Subdistrict, Chumphon City, and is the main railway station for Chumphon Province. It is a class 1 railway station, 468.534 km (291.1 mi) from Thon Buri railway station. It is the first fueling station from Bangkok, and thus all trains going further south must stop here. Chumphon is also the site of a locomotive depot.
Lang Suan railway station is a railway station located in Khan Ngoen Subdistrict, Lang Suan District, Chumphon. It is a class 1 railway station, located 533.3 km (331.4 mi) from Thon Buri railway station. Train services from Thon Buri railway station reach the furthest extent here. The station opened in July 1917.
Khao Chum Thong Junction railway station is a railway station located in Khuan Koei Subdistrict, Ron Phibun District, Nakhon Si Thammarat. The station is a class 2 railway station, located 781.018 km (485.3 mi) from Thon Buri railway station. This station is the junction for the Southern Line mainline and the Nakhon Si Thammarat Branch Line.
Phatthalung railway station is a railway station located in Khuha Sawan Subdistrict, Phatthalung City, Phatthalung. it is a class 1 railway station, located 846.01 km (525.7 mi) from Thon Buri railway station. Phatthalung station opened in January 1913, as part of the Phatthalung-U Taphao Junction section of the Southern Line.
Pattani railway station or Pattani railway station is a railway station located in Khok Pho Subdistrict, Khok Pho District, Pattani. It is a class 1 railway station located 1,009.209 km (627.1 mi) from Thon Buri Railway Station. The station opened in April 1917 as Khok Pho Station, as part of the Southern Line section between U Taphao Junction -Khlong Sai. The line extended further south, terminating at Su-ngai Kolok in September 1921, where it linked up with the Malaysian railway.
Sawi railway station is a railway station located in Na Pho Subdistrict, Sawi District, Chumphon. It is a class 2 railway station located 500.769 km (311.2 mi) from Bangkok railway station. It is the railway station with the shortest name in Thailand.
Ban Ko Yai station is a railway station located in Bang Riang Subdistrict, Khuan Niang District, Songkhla. It is a class 3 railway station located 909.5 km (565.1 mi) from Thon Buri railway station.
Khuan Niang railway station is a railway station located in Rattaphum Subdistrict, Khuan Niang District, Songkhla. It is a class 2 railway station located 902.974 km (561.1 mi) from Thon Buri railway station
Chana station is a railway station located in Ban Na Subdistrict, Chana District, Songkhla. It is a class 1 railway station located 964.503 km (599.3 mi) from Thon Buri railway station.
Thepha railway station is a railway station located in Thepha Subdistrict, Thepha District, Songkhla, Thailand. It is a class 1 railway station located 992 km (616.4 mi) from Thon Buri railway station.
Na San railway station is a railway station located in Ban Na San Subdistrict, Ban Na San District, Surat Thani. It is a class 1 railway station located 673.75 km (418.6 mi) from Thon Buri railway station.
Chawang station is a railway station located in Chawang Subdistrict, Chawang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat. It is a class 2 railway station located 722.417 km (448.9 mi) from Thon Buri railway station.
Ho Chi Minh City–Phnom Penh: section planned, not operational or disused
§: standard-gauge railway
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
