Largest train station in Southeast Asia to open in Bangkok

[bluesofa]

4 hours ago, damian said:

4 platform tracks will remain at Hua Lamphong when the red line electric trains are extened there from Bang Sue in the next phase of the project (not awarded yet) along with an eastern extension (renewal of the existing line) to Hua Mak possibly further. 

 

Whats left of Hua Lamphong would be great as a railway museum site. Regular steam excursions to Kanchanaburi,  Ayutthaya or Hua Hin would be great. 

 

Bang Sue Grand is a fantastic structure and with 24 platforms over 2 floors will cater to the rail growth in Thailand for years to come. There is plenty of undergound parking incorporated, its served by the MRT and has tollway access. The only issue in my mind is that they are giving it to SRT to run. They managed to convince MoT  that they can do it so lets see. The ARL will be taken away from them when the EEC comes on line meaning their ARL staff are going to move to red line. This does not fill me with confidence but anyway.......

I know this isn't exactly regular, but does the annual steam excursion that used to go to Kanchanaburi around December time still run?

I went on it more than twenty-five years ago, and knowing the way the train timetable doesn't tend to change much, thought perhaps it still might be running!

I went around the maintenance works located to one side just outside the station, there were some steam trains in there.

 

[observer90210]

What would also be nice to oneday see a high speed rail link from Suvarnabhumi southbound and why not, upto Phuket !

 

Well done for the station...this is a good 4.0 venture !

[StreetCowboy]

On 6/2/2018 at 6:33 PM, HHTel said:

Which has already been lowered to 180 kph (108 mph) to save costs.  Hardly 'high speed'.  The 'Intercity 125' in the UK has been operating for donkey's years and not considered 'High Speed'.

 

 

The HSTs were considered sufficiently quick to call them HSTs; tremendous trains, and in my view, amongst the best I have been in.  200 kph, on conventional lines without wires, and still running well 40 years on.

[digbeth]

Back in Australia when they covered up Spencer St. Station in Melbourne and turned it into brand new Southern Cross Station, there're lots of issue with diesel fumes being trapped under the roof, and that was design with western health and safety standard.

 

Electrified rail will only still be a small part of this new station where most are still diesel trains, the exhaust of fumes is a solvable problem and probably has been designed it be capable architect and engineer. But looking at how much of a bungled mess Suvarnabhumi Airport has been, and how State Railway of Thailand has managed to run the Airport Link into the ground.... one could only be hopeful

[digbeth]

2 hours ago, bluesofa said:

I know this isn't exactly regular, but does the annual steam excursion that used to go to Kanchanaburi around December time still run?

 

Steam Trains usually run on the big holidays, the December one is on Father's Day 5th December

There might be one on 23 October for King Rama V day going to Bang Pa In Palace in Ayutthaya

 

Some steam train rides goes east to Chachoengsao 

[damian]

3 hours ago, scorecard said:

Just wondering is most / all of the lines will terminate at the new station, or is it planned to be more like a junction with many trains stopping there briefly and then continuing their journeys?

 

 

 

The plan is for all long distance trains (and HSR eventually) to terminate at Bang Sue Grand. Red line commuters will also until the next phase is built and they will then run through likewise the ARL/EEC when its built. Have a look at google eaeth and you can see the station is double ended with the south bit as the start of the next phase. 

[Jazzbass]

On 6/2/2018 at 2:56 PM, NextStationBangkok said:

It is Chinese investment, finally China will take over for unpaid dept like in other countries who lost their properties to China.

 

Recent one is Malaysia, now spending 80% of its tax revenue is for paying loans.

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/douglasbulloch/2018/05/31/while-china-is-facing-its-own-debt-crisis-it-is-also-exacerbating-others/#4ddf2ddf3fc3

The Project is funded by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)

[HerbalEd]

On 6/2/2018 at 12:56 AM, hobobo said:

and then the train drivers high on yaba, or lao khao, or those who insist that the brakes failed...

If you really think Thailand is that bad, no need for the hyperbole. 

[Lakegeneve]

23 hours ago, damian said:

4 platform tracks will remain at Hua Lamphong when the red line electric trains are extened there from Bang Sue in the next phase of the project (not awarded yet) along with an eastern extension (renewal of the existing line) to Hua Mak possibly further. 

 

Whats left of Hua Lamphong would be great as a railway museum site. Regular steam excursions to Kanchanaburi,  Ayutthaya or Hua Hin would be great. 

This is incorrect with respect.

 

The Dark Red Line (currently under construction from Bang Sue to Rangit) will be extended south to Wong Wian Yai via Hua lamphong and onto Mahachai - it will be 87kms long when completed. (Once the 10km north extension to Thammasat Uni from Rangsit is done first). The Dark Red Line is planned to be elevated when it passes through Hua Lumphong bult on the western side of the station so it won't use existing platforms (save for ground access)

 

Also, the planned Light Red line extension from Bang Sue to Hua Mark via Phaya Thai & Makkasan DOES NOT run via Hua Lumphong. 

 

Lastly, it should be noted that the SRT and Finance department plan to build a mix of offices and condos on the north part of the station site once the station closes - there was a render of the proposal 3 years ago. The station itself will be retained but there is significant pressure for the SRT to commercialise the land. That makes sense as the SRT needs extra revenue streams if it is done right......

Edited June 4, 2018 by Lakegeneve

[NextStationBangkok]

4 hours ago, Jazzbass said:

The Project is funded by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)

Thank God!

[Wang Lalker]

Quote

schedule to open in 2020.

all well and good but by that time there wont be any train riders left in thailand at all. given that by current trends the junta will still be in control then and the only staff they can get to work for them are from the vile and obnoxious thai sector. i once enjoyed train rides prejunta these days the vile obnoxious staff make it an unpleasant experience to say the least

not only that cheaper to fly to say udon thani than to catch a train in most classes. trains are mostly empty

 

vile obnoxious train staff  yeah somewhat on par with the emmigration department and vying for the title of who can get the most foreigners to leave thailand permanently

 

if need be will switch to bus travel never had and issue with the khon song bus company staff, but these days spending much more time outside of thailand in neighbouring countries than in it

Edited June 6, 2018 by Wang Lalker

[bluesofa]

24 minutes ago, Wang Lalker said:

all well and good but by that time there wont be any train riders left in thailand at all. given that by current trends the junta will still be in control then and the only staff they can get to work for them are from the vile and obnoxious thai sector. i once enjoyed train rides prejunta these days the vile obnoxious staff make it an unpleasant experience to say the least

not only that cheaper to fly to say udon thani than to catch a train in most classes. trains are mostly empty

 

vile obnoxious train staff  yeah somewhat on par with the emmigration department and vying for the title of who can get the most foreigners to leave thailand permanently

 

if need be will switch to bus travel never had and issue with the khon song bus company staff, but these days spending much more time outside of thailand in neighbouring countries than in it

 

I'd be interested to know why you say it has changed so much recently, and why you think it's the junta has done it?

 

For me, I was pretty annoyed we weren't allowed to drink beer, after one incident with a drunk, drug-taking, temporary SRT staff member, very sad though the teenage girl's death was, I couldn't follow the logic of banning alcohol for everyone.

It used to be good when the staff brought your meal to your seat and delivered beer there too.

 

[Wang Lalker]

well i have to admit removing all the drunks for around the train stations and from on board is indeed a positive step.

no longer have to play dodge the drunk while waiting for the train, being a farang was like  being a magnet for them, non stop harassment. have to involuntarily move a number of times before the late train comes

Edited June 6, 2018 by Wang Lalker

[thaibeachlovers]

On ‎6‎/‎2‎/‎2018 at 12:54 PM, Denim said:

Drove past this last week. It really is huge.

 

Wonder what they will do with Hualampong .......... a real landmark. Be a shame to see it go to seed or close.

I understand Hua Lampong is to become a railway museum, which will be brilliant if it happens and run properly.

I'd hate to see it become another shopping mall or expensive condo block.

 

I had to laugh at the reference to high speed trains for all the usual reasons.

 

They now have decent sleeper trains, so they just need to start cleaning the locos and lay a double line from Chiang Mai to the Malaysian border. If they do that, it might be as good as the Malaysian rail network, which is excellent.