Hua Hin dual-track rail project to go ahead

[Ratsima]

Heading towards Cha Am and a km or 2 before you get to Thai Watsadu there’s a fairly major road on the left (1001) that heads to the main highway leading to Prachuab Kiri khan one way and Bangkok the other. They started building a flyover (up and over rather than the u shaped) before Covid struck, but it’s still nowhere near finished and looks almost abandoned. No idea what they plan for this crossing?

I cycle up 1001 frequently and have been amazed at the lackluster pace of the flyover construction. I think one thing that has slowed them is that this is a straight-on overpass rather than one of the u-turn style flyovers. As a result it affects quite a bit of ongoing traffic and required the construction of horribly built detours. (Cycling on these narrow rough "roads" is an uncomfortable nightmare.) I will be very grateful when, and if, it is finally finished.

[Dannie Boy]

There’s a post about the new station which reminded me to post this.

Where I live, the road just outside our house crosses the railway and was subject to one of the new flyovers being constructed. I can’t remember exactly when it opened but must be about 2-3 months ago. Not sure when it happened (could have been some time ago), but somebody has cut out one of the new wire fence panels so that motorcycles and pedestrians can continue crossing as before. Because most train drivers assume the new flyovers are in existence, I doubt that they’re as vigilant as they used to be, so I’m sure it’s just a mat of time before there’s the first accident!!

It wouldn’t surprise me if this has been repeated at more crossings?

[Big Boy]

I've also noticed the fence has been broached under the flyover at the Southern end of town. Whether its official or not, I don't know. I saw somebody struggling across with their motorcycle a couple of days ago.

[Nereus]

Dual tracks open along southern line
More upgrades to be completed by 2029

The double-track railway along the State Railway of Thailand's southern line, which stretches from Nakhon Pathom and Chumphon, is officially open, the agency announced on Monday.

According to the head of SRT governor's office, Ekarat Sri-arayanpong, the newly opened track will improve logistical operations along the 421-kilometre route.

It will also cut journey times on the southern line by up to 90 minutes, which will make rail travel more appealing to tourists. As trains going in opposite directions now won't have to wait to pass each other, the upgrade will also improve the overall safety of the system.

The line starts in Nakhon Pathom and heads through Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan before ending in Chumphon. It is mostly at ground level, except in urban areas, where they are elevated to prevent traffic congestion.

The line passes two major landmarks, the first being the bridge across the Mae Klong River in Ratchaburi, which the government intends to promote as the province's newest tourist attraction, and the new Hua Hin railway station, which retains the architectural style of the old station.

The SRT plans more dual-track stretches, including between Khon Kaen-Nong Khai and Nakhon Ratchasima-Ubon Ratchathani in the Northeast; Pak Nam Pho-Den Chai and Den Chai-Chiang Mai in the North; and Hat Yai-Padang Besar, Surat Thani-Songkhla and Chumphon-Surat Thani in the South.

By the time the upgrades are completed in 2029, Thailand will have 2,370 kilometres of dual-track railways, which will greatly improve the nation's logistic efficiency and appeal to tourists, Mr Ekarat said.

Mr Ekarat also said the Pha Sadet tunnel will reopen next month. The country's longest rail tunnel was shut the day after it opened on July 28 due to complaints about dust.

He said the decision was taken after a test on Aug 8 revealed excessive exhaust gases remained after a train went through.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... thern-line.

[Big Boy]

The line might be open, and in theory the trains are faster, but they have not really altered the scheduling. Connecting trains at Bangkok always seem to to involve long delays, which still make me look for alternative means of travel.

[buksida]

The trains are no faster, they're just a little closer to their scheduled arrival times (though still delayed frequently especially when coming from the south). My son uses them often, and it still took him nearly four hours to get from BKK to HH by rail on Friday.

[Big Boy]

That is why I said, "In theory." Soon after it was announced the fastest connection ever between Bangkok and Hua Hin, a Japanese friend, who was coming to see us booked it. Of course, Japanese trains are perfect. You can imagine his reaction when the train was 30 minutes late arriving in Hua Hin.

[buksida]

Right, you can travel all the way across Japan in less time than it takes to travel 200 km from Hua Hin to Bangkok, and the trains are spotless and bang on time ... all the time.

Thailand has a lot to learn when it comes to transport links. If anything, the HH < > BKK route now takes longer by road or rail than it did a decade ago.

[Ratsima]

My wife and I travel by car from Korat to Cha Am every month. It takes about six hours including lunch and pit stops. I thought it might be nice to take a train. The best connection leaves Korat just after 10:00AM. You arrive in Cha Am about 8:00PM. And then you don’t have a car when you arrive. Not for us.

That said, I traveled from Korat to Suvarnabhumi by train a couple of weeks ago. That worked out OK except for the fact that the window next to my seat was so filthy that I could see nothing. I ended up sitting on a some sacks of laundry that were stacked next to an almost-clean window. At least I could enjoy the scenery.

On my return I took a bus back to Korat. A hundred baht less, almost an hour faster, nicer seats and clean windows all around.

[derek60]

Are trains ever cancelled? Or just delayed? What is a typical delay? 10 minutes? 30 minutes? Longer?

[Dannie Boy]

Well of course trains do get cancelled but most people have complained about the punctuality with HH-BKK services typically being an hour + longer than scheduled. Hopefully the new double track system will reduce the delay to some extent, unless they introduce more modern trains to speed up the service!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Big Boy]

Back when I used to use the train, a 2 hour delay from Bangkok to Hua Hin was about the norm.

The last time I used the train Hua Hin to Padang Basar (probably spelt wrong), the train was over 3 hours late into Hua Hin, but he made up time and was only 1 hour late into Padang Basar.

As I mentioned earlier, my Japanese friend's train was only 30 minutes late into Hua Hin. I think I can honestly say that every train I have caught in Thailand has been late, but never cancelled.

[Bamboo Grove]

During my HH days and to some extent my BKK days as well, I'd take the night train to Hat Yai and then take a bus or taxi to Sadau or take the train to Sungai Kolok and then cross the border there. It really didn't matter whether the train was late or not as I had no particular time table to be in the south or back. Quite relaxed visa runs, in a way, compared to the Ranong one.

[HHTel]

I've only ever taken the train once after a visa run to Penang.
It arrived in HH in the early hours of the morning and was TWO hours early!!

[Big Boy]

That sounds worse than being late, or as good as cancelling the train. All of those poor people turning up to catch the train between Penang and Hua Hin, but it had already gone.