Ordinary 259 Train from Bangkok Charan Sanitwong to Kanchanaburi River Kwae Bridge

Ordinary 259 is the afternoon train departing from Bangkok Thonburi Railway Station to Kanchanaburi and Nam Tok. Heading to Kanchanaburi for a night, I used Ordinary 259 to get from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi. However, instead of the typical tourist journey from Thonburi to Kanchanaburi, I’m using halts convenient for my access.

Bang Khun Non MRT Station

Bang Khun Non MRT Station is on the MRT Blue Line and is an interchange station with the Thonburi branch line. Instead of originating at Thonburi, I decided to just catch Ordinary 259 from Charan Sanitwong Railway Halt instead.

Heading down to Charan Sanitwong Railway Halt via Exit 2 of Bang Khun Non MRT Station.

Heading to the level crossing where Charan Sanitwong Railway Halt is.

Charan Sanitwong Railway Halt

Charan Sanitwong Railway Halt is right at the railway crossing under Bang Khun Non MRT Station, offering an easy transfer.

Heading to the platform of Charan Sanitwong Railway Halt.

GEK 4036 leads my Ordinary 259 from Charan Sanitwong to River Kwae Bridge. That’s right – I’m not stopping at Kanchanaburi Railway Station to get to Kanchanaburi.

Boarding the Ordinary 259 at Charan Sanitwong Railway Halt.

The last car is reserved for staff, monks, disabled, and senior citizens.

Departing from Charan Sanitwong Railway Halt.

I found a seat in one of the other 3rd class cars just as the conductor came round to sell tickets.

Trains on the Kanchanaburi line operate with different prices for local Thais and tourists, with tourists paying a flat fare of 100 Baht regardless of distance. I tried my best Saphan Kwae Yai pronunciation in Thai hoping to pay the regular 3rd Class care of 25 Baht, but the conductor still saw through my foreignness and said in English “100 Baht”. Oh well, I tried my best.

If you are a foreigner, do note that this 100 Baht flat fare applies even on the main sector between Thonburi and Nong Pla Duk Junction.

My 100 Baht ticket to Saphan Kwae Yai Railway Halt, printed from the handheld device.

Approaching Taling Chan Junction with the line from Bang Sue Junction and Hua Lamphong.

Taling Chan Junction Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Taling Chan Junction Railway Station.

The interior of the Bogie Third Class Carriage (BTC). All Ordinary trains on the Kanchanaburi line are formed of 3rd Class coaches only, aside from the weekend excursion train.

Toilets are available on board the Bogie Third Class Carriage (BTC).

Ban Chimphli Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Ban Chimphli Railway Station.

Sala Thammasop Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Sala Thammasop Railway Station.

Sala Ya Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Sala Ya Railway Station.

The Ordinary 259 makes stops at all stations and halts along the line including Wat Suwan, Khlong Maha Sawat, Wat Ngiu Rai, Nakhon Chaisi, Tha Chalaep, and Ton Samrong.

Ton Samrong Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Ton Samrong Railway Station.

Nakhon Pathom Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Nakhon Pathom Railway Station.

The new Nakhon Pathom Railway Station with high platforms is taking shape.

As at Nakhon Pathom, I bought myself some Kway Teow. This costs 10 Baht (~S$0.40) a packet.

Phrong Madua Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Phrong Madua Railway Station.

More vendors came round the train with more snacks and drinks option. However, I was saving a bit of space for Nong Pla Duk Junction.

Khlong Bang Tan Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Khlong Bang Tan Railway Station.

Passing by the new Khlong Bang Tan Railway Station.

The double track project to Chumphon is taking shape here over at Nong Pla Duk Junction.

Nong Pla Duk Junction Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Nong Pla Duk Junction Railway Station.

Nong Pla Duk Junction Railway Station is the junction station for the Kanchanburi and Suphan Buri branch lines, but is most notably the starting point for the Death Railway.

Passing by the new Nong Pla Duk Junction Railway Station taking shape.

Nong Pla Duk Junction Railway Station has a vendor selling small rice dishes in banana leaf bowls, which was what I was looking forward to. There are also some tapioca dumplings (Saku) on sale.

I bought a braised egg and beancurd puffs rice and a green curry and pig’s blood rice. This costs 10 Baht (~S$0.40) a bowl.

Splitting off from the main Southern Line after Nong Pla Duk Junction near Ban Pong.

Taking the curve northwest towards Kanchanaburi.

Crossing Ban Don Toom Road.

Tanon Songpol Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Tanon Songpol Railway Station. Tanon Songpol Railway Station is located in Ban Pong but on the Kanchanaburi line.

Sa Kosi Narai Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Sa Kosi Narai Railway Station.

Luk Kae Railway Station

Entering the loop line of Luk Kae Railway Station.

Making a brief stop at Luk Kae Railway Station. The food and drinks vendors also hop off here, catching the oncoming Ordinary 258 to return back to wherever they came from.

Crossing with the Ordinary 258 at Luk Kae Railway Station, heading back to Thonburi.

The Ordinary 258 departed from Luk Kae Railway Station first.

Departing from Luk Kae Railway Station.

Tha Rua Noi Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Tha Rua Noi Railway Station.

Thung Thong Railway Halt

Making a brief stop at Thung Thong Railway Halt.

Approaching Kanchanaburi Railway Station while passing the former tourist train running across The Bridge over the River Kwai.

Kanchanaburi Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Kanchanaburi Railway Station. Most tourists alighted at Kanchanaburi Railway Station even though it’s not near the tourist strip. To get closer to my hotel without the need to transfer to a taxi or motorbike, I bought my ticket to the next station, Saphan Kwae Yai.

Departing from Kanchanaburi Railway Station.

JNR C56 Steam Locomotives were standing by at Kanchanaburi Railway Station for the River Kwai Bridge Week Light and Sound Show.

GEK 4048 stands by to haul the train as well.

The line starts to get scenic after Kanchanaburi, but unfortunately I’m alighting in a few minutes.

Most tourists mistake the scenic line as from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, but it is actually the next section from Kanchanaburi to Nam Tok which offers fantastic views and is where the construction of the Death Railway got rough.

Taking the curve towards the famous River Kwai Bridge.

Crossing the main Sangchuto Road.

Lots of tents and market stalls were set up as part of the River Kwai Bridge Week.

Approaching Saphan Kwae Yai Railway Halt.

Saphan Kwae Yai (River Kwai Bridge) Railway Halt

My Ordinary 259 arrived at Saphan Kwae Yai (River Kwai Bridge) Railway Halt at 4.37pm – 5 minutes delayed.

After a quick drop-off, the Ordinary 259 continues on its way to Nam Tok, crawling slowly to and across the River Kwai Bridge.

The Ordinary 259 instantly becomes a tourist attraction even though it’s just a 3rd Class Ordinary train.

The Bridge on the River Kwai

Tourists crowd the line to get a shot of the Ordinary 259 going across the River Kwai Bridge.

Being a tourist, here are some obligatory shots of the River Kwai Bridge.

The area for the River Kwai Bridge Week Light and Sound Show is just beside the River Kwai Bridge.

Saphan Kwae Yai (River Kwai Bridge) Railway Halt has an information counter (no tickets on sale aside from tourist coaches on the Ordinary 257), and also a timetable specific to Saphan Kwae Yai (River Kwai Bridge) Railway Halt.

Key stations and halts helpful to tourists are highlighted on the timetable.

The entrance to the River Kwai Bridge Week Light and Sound Show is just beside Saphan Kwae Yai (River Kwai Bridge) Railway Halt.

From here, I headed over to my hotel to check-in before attending the River Kwai Bridge Week Light and Sound Show.

Conclusion

The Ordinary 259 is a regular ordinary train which goes on the Kanchanaburi line, and because Kanchanaburi is popular with tourists, a tourist fare is charged which is around 4 times the regular price of a 3rd Class ticket. However, it is still cheaper than the bus from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi. While there is no air-conditioning, toilets, food, and drinks are available. Whether or not this tourist fare is okay is debatable.

Do note that the schedule of Ordinary 259 only works if you are staying overnight in Kanchanaburi.