The Railways of Thailand

The current metre gauge system radiating from Bangkok has a more interesting history than a glance at the map might suggest. Historically, it can be divided into two sections, northern and southern.

The railways were developed under the rule of King Chulalongkorn who deserves much credit for developing the country in the late 19th century without succumbing to colonisation. The first line, built to standard gauge, was designed to run north from Bangkok through Ayuthaya to the present Nakhon Ratchasima, with the intention of extending it with a branch northwards to Chiengmai. Work started in 1893, the line being opened to Ayuthaya in 1896, finally reaching Chiengmai in 1919. Initially, it was under British control but management was transferred into German hands in 1896, no doubt because the country had no direct colonial interests in the area.

Meanwhile, separately, a second southern line (from Thonburi on the opposite bank of the Chao Phraya river from Bangkok) was built to metre gauge to connect with similar systems in Malaya (now Malaysia) and Burma (now Myanmar). When it ran short of funds, it came under British control, finally reaching the Malayan border at Padang Besar in 1918, although the (temporary) connection to Burma had to wait till the Second World War. Other international connections exist; firstly to Cambodia (via Aranyaprathet) although the line has been severed for many years, secondly to Laos (via the Freedom Bridge near Nong Khai) although the Lao section to Vientiane has never been completed.

After the First World War, German management came to an end, thereafter there were no direct European influences on the railway. Dual gauge had no long term future and the standard gauge was converted to metre gauge in the 1920s. As for locomotives and rolling stock, it would seem that a deliberate policy of diversification was followed as can be seen from the Locomotive Gallery section. By 1970, the date of the earliest pictures here, Thai railways had a distinctive style which was a successful blend of the various influences on it. Since then, as the country has developed rapidly, the railway has suffered from under-investment and has declined in importance although it is still a great way to travel.