Inside Bang Sue Grand Station: Thailand's new state of the art transportation hub

 

 

It is the most significant transportation or infrastructure project Thailand has undertaken since the opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport and is set to bring a much needed revitalisation to the country’s outdated railway network.

 

The Bang Sue Grand Station is now just months away from completion and is set to transform rail travel in Thailand.

 

Tipped to open to the public in July, before commercial trains will operate by November, the station will be the largest and most modern in ASEAN once it is fully operational.

 

The station, which is located near Bang Sue intersection on Thoet Damri road, will become the hub for Thailand’s high speed rail links, from Bangkok to Nong Khai and Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

 

It will consist of  26 platforms and will be able to accommodate Thailand’s existing diesel rolling stock, the new electric trains for which the new dual track railways are currently being constructed throughout Thailand and it will also be a hub for the new high speed trains. 

 

The high speed Eastern Economic Corridor rail line will link three airports – Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao in Rayong, and promises travel from Pattaya to Bangkok in less than one hour. High speed trains are also planned to connect Bangkok with Chiang Mai and Isaan. 

 

The station, which is spread over three floors and has a mezzanine area and retail space will also have an elevated walkway to the new Mo Chit Bus Terminal and an underground car parking that accommodate 1,600 cars. 

 

As well accommodating the high speed trains it will also be used for the new electric trains and the older diesel trains used in Thailand, and help to connect the current Airport Rail Link and numerous MRT lines.

 

It will also help cut commuter times for people in Bangkok, particularly for those living in Rangsit and other surrounding areas, as well (hopefully) helping to reduce the amount of smog in the Thai capital by reducing the amount of cars on the roads. 

 

Once opened 208,000 commuters are expected to pass through Bang Sue Central Station, each day with this number increasing to 396,000 per day by 2032.

 

The new station will eventually replace the iconic Hua Lamphong station, which has been Bangkok’s primary train station since it opened in 1916.

 

Last week rail officials announced plans to close the station for good in November - with (at the time of publishing) all services expected to be moved to the new Bang Sue Grand Station.

 

Earlier this month, Panod Srisinsuphya, a reporter with Thailand’s National News Bureau visited the station to get a glimpse inside prior to its eagerly anticipated opening later this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Looks okay. But why is everything gunmetal gray?

This could actually become a real hub, in contrast to  TATs countless fantasy hubs. 

All done up with no one to go.

11 minutes ago, onebir said:

All done up with no one to go.

Yep.  Thought it would be very underused before.  Now with talk of keeping Hua lamphong open.....

Beggars belief.

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

Looks okay. But why is everything gunmetal gray?

Sort of matches your avatar doesn't it. ????

 

2 hours ago, John Drake said:

Looks okay. But why is everything gunmetal gray?

Flammable cladding?

1 hour ago, onebir said:

All done up with no one to go.

And almost nowhere to go.

Or will the 4 hour (130 km) ride to Pattaya (2? times a day) start from there?

Will the shaky ever derailing narrow gauges go from there? Full night rides for 500 km?

I have almost given up that I will be able to use a proper modern railway from Khon Kaen before I go through the chimney.

 

To me it looks like a gigantic city railway station.

And that name As cosmopolitan as Suvarnabhumi.

An off topic deflection post about the airports has been removed.

1 hour ago, KhunBENQ said:

To me it looks like a gigantic city railway station.

Isn't that what it is?

I'm a bit envious of the younger folk who will get to use this exciting new network. I love train travel and have done many thousands of miles across the UK, France, India and even Ukraine. And I've done the Singapore to Kuala Lumpur journey. You can't do that one anymore. ????

 

Too late now for me though. By the time it's all ready to explore, I'll have gone up the chimney. Never mind. You can't win them all.

3 hours ago, greeneking said:

Yep.  Thought it would be very underused before.  Now with talk of keeping Hua lamphong open.....

Beggars belief.

 

4 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

The new station will eventually replace the iconic Hua Lamphong station, which has been Bangkok’s primary train station since it opened in 1916.

 

Last week rail officials announced plans to close the station for good in November - with (at the time of publishing) all services expected to be moved to the new Bang Sue Grand Station.

 

 

Meanwhile in 99% of the rest of Thailand...

 

I think it's great that Bangkok transportation is catching up with 1970s Europe. Now, as well as integrating trains in one hub, how about the long long l o n g promise of integrating all the forms of transport into one ticket?

7 hours ago, John Drake said:

Looks okay. But why is everything gunmetal gray?

What colour would you like it to be?  Maybe you could have emailed them before they started.

I never conplain about Thai trains. It was an adventure and I feel fortunate to have been on eighties style trains where I could smoke in the open as I was going, between conpartments. Noisy as hell but still a dream. The supermodern overnight train to Chiamg Mai is really fast but there's nothing to do besides sleeping as it almost feels as if you're inside a fridge -ok, I m exaggerating.

10 hours ago, John Drake said:

Looks okay. But why is everything gunmetal gray?

used missing Navy paint

Bang Sue station January 2015.

 

I wonder what they will use it for, between opening to the public in July and trains starting to call in November?

12 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

And almost nowhere to go.

Or will the 4 hour (130 km) ride to Pattaya (2? times a day) start from there?

Will the shaky ever derailing narrow gauges go from there? Full night rides for 500 km?

I have almost given up that I will be able to use a proper modern railway from Khon Kaen before I go through the chimney.

 

To me it looks like a gigantic city railway station.

And that name As cosmopolitan as Suvarnabhumi.

You've been in KK too long!.....It actually is a gigantic city railways station....that's why it looks like that and that's what trains use!

I think it is a good idea to have a city station such as this. I always felt that while Thailand was building new roads, under/overpass the rail system was being left behind. At some point the faster trains will be the norm and this looks as though this station is set up for that.

15 hours ago, John Drake said:

Looks okay. But why is everything gunmetal gray?

Saves the cost of paint.

15 hours ago, greeneking said:

Yep.  Thought it would be very underused before.  Now with talk of keeping Hua lamphong open.....

Beggars belief.

Hope the authorities are NOT saying (before it even opens) that it's not big enough so have to keep Hua Lampong station open.

5 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

used missing Navy paint

Maybe stolen from the submarine factory.

24 minutes ago, TKDfella said:

I think it is a good idea to have a city station such as this. I always felt that while Thailand was building new roads, under/overpass the rail system was being left behind. At some point the faster trains will be the norm and this looks as though this station is set up for that.

Yes the rail network has certainly been ignored over the years. A lot of catching up is required but looks like they plan to get on with it and this is certainly a good start.

I have seen similar stations in China, operating very much like an airport. Unfortunately I do not have long enough left to see the benefit here.

14 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

To me it looks like a gigantic city railway station.

A bit like where trains would come to from all over the country just to drop off and pick up people and their luggage. 

Great station shame there are no trains. I could walk to Bangkok quicker than their train.

9 hours ago, altayvan said:

I never conplain about Thai trains. It was an adventure and I feel fortunate to have been on eighties style trains where I could smoke in the open as I was going, between conpartments. Noisy as hell but still a dream. The supermodern overnight train to Chiamg Mai is really fast but there's nothing to do besides sleeping as it almost feels as if you're inside a fridge -ok, I m exaggerating.

I wish they would have a day time supermodern train to Chiang Mai. I would love to sit for hours watching the Thai countryside flow by the window.  

2 hours ago, sandyf said:

Yes the rail network has certainly been ignored over the years. A lot of catching up is required but looks like they plan to get on with it and this is certainly a good start.

I have seen similar stations in China, operating very much like an airport. Unfortunately I do not have long enough left to see the benefit here.

True....but don't forget...."we" have submarines on the way.....much more useful than any integrated, high speed travel infrastructure.......I think anyone would agree.

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

Hope the authorities are NOT saying (before it even opens) that it's not big enough so have to keep Hua Lampong station open.

No, they are not.

Bang Sue Central has 26 platforms - it is plenty big enough for all current and future needs.