My Last Long Distance Train Trip to Bangkok Hua Lamphong by Special Express 32 Thaksinarath

I’ve been telling myself that it would be my last time arriving at Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station since last year, but I finally went on my final journey by long distance train in to Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station on the second last day of long distance services to the classic terminal station. It was a bittersweet feeling to be boarding Special Express 32 Thaksinarath from Hat Yai Junction, knowing most definitely that this is my last trip in to in to Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station by long distance train.

This is a picture-intensive blog post. Please be aware if you are using mobile data.

Hat Yai Junction Railway Station

I got to Hat Yai Junction Railway Station at about 4.45pm, around 1 hour before the departure of Special Express 32 Thaksinarath, to get some trainspotting time and to settle down in my pre-berth seat with station snacks and drinks.

Heading in to Hat Yai Junction Railway Station.

Just before approaching the platform, I was approached by a security guard pointing to my camera hanging on my shoulder saying “no no no” while gesturing photo-taking and “safety”. However, while no camera photos are allowed, phone pictures are okay.

Due to this situation, I went up to the overhead bridge for shunting photos instead.

GEK 4022 shunting the rake of Special Express 32 Thaksinarath to Platform 1.

I got back to the platform without anyone stopping me with my camera this time.

Heading to my booked Car 12.

The second-last time seeing Bangkok on the destination sign of the Thaksinarath.

Boarding the Thaksinarath operating with CRRC coaches.

SRT CRRC ANS40CN (Air-Conditioned Second Class Day & Night Coach)

The interior of the SRT CRRC ANS40CN 2nd Class Sleeper coach.

My booked seat 18 for this trip, positioned in reverse on the northbound leg. However, the bed would be facing the correct way when made.

In the daytime configuration, the lower berth forms 2 facing seats, each seat for the respective lower berth and upper berth passenger.

The reading light, charging socket, and storage basket is positioned at the seat for Berth 17, but it will be mine facing the right direction once the seats are converted into berths.

A bottle holder and fold-up table is between the 2 seats.

There is a male urinal toilet in each coach.

There are also 2 unisex sitting toilets in each coach.

A wash basin area is available at the end of the gangway by the toilets.

SRT CRRC ARCCN (Air-Conditioned Restaurant Car)

The Restaurant Car is back on the Thaksinarath serving dinner and breakfast on this overnight journey.

Tables of 4 are available with condiments and hand sanitisers provided.

The ordering counter on the Restaurant Car.

CRRC Qishuyan CDA5B1 locomotive QSY 5207 leads my Special Express 32 Thaksinarath from Hat Yai Junction, my last journey with a direct long distance train in to Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station.

An almost-full tank of fuel is loaded for this journey.

The builder plate of CRRC Qishuyan Co., Ltd.

The station sign of Hat Yai Junction Railway Station.

Before departure, I headed to a platform stall to get a drink and Hat Yai fried chicken.

A variety of drinks and snacks are available including sandwiches, salabao, instant noodles, and of course Hat Yai fried chicken and sticky rice.

The Hat Yai fried chicken here was being freshly fried, probably in preparation for flash sales to the Thaksin Express coming in after my Special Express 32 Thaksinarath departure.

The doors to the closed at 5.45pm sharp, and the train departed right on time.

My ticket for the Special Express 32 Thaksinarath from Hat Yai Junction to Bangkok Hua Lamphong.

The conductor comes around to check for tickets immediately upon departure.

Departing from Hat Yai Junction at 5.45pm.

My checked ticket for the Special Express 32 Thaksinarath from Hat Yai Junction to Bangkok Hua Lamphong.

Heading out of Hat Yai Junction Railway Station.

A bottle of water was handed out by the coach attendant after tickets were checked.

Beds were made up also rather early when the sun was still out. The attendant converted the berths based on the manifest he had.

It was my turn to have my bed made in a few minutes, so here’s how it’s done swiftly and professionally.

The attendant uses a key to unlock the seats to draw them together to form the lower berth.

Folding down the upper berth.

Bedding for both berths are kept in the upper berth.

Laying the sheets on my mattress.

2 attendants converted the berths simultaneously in my coach.

Placing my pillow on the right side as the final touch to my berth.

My made lower berth for a good night’s sleep later.

Dinner

Towards sunset, I headed over to the Restaurant Car to have dinner.

The lunch and dinner menu on board the Restaurant Car. Orders are taken at the table with waiter service.

This menu offered differs greatly from my initial-spotted one on the very first day of operations of the Restaurant Car on 6 December 2022. I now wonder if the initial menu was just a gimmick on the first day of operations.

I ordered a Set E with Chicken Panang Curry for 190 Baht (~S$7.57). This set comes with steamed rice, spring rolls, a side soup, slices of pineapples, and a bottle of water.

Unfortunately, the Chicken Panang Curry colour differs greatly from the advertised picture in the menu, and the portion also looked smaller with more rice in its place. The taste was alright, but I felt that there wasn’t enough curry for the amount of rice provided.

190 Baht is 9.5 times the price of a cheap platform rice box at 20 Baht from Hua Hin, so I’m not sure if this pricing strategy is sustainable. I’m eating this set because I’m a railway fan wanting train food, but to a regular passenger? I’m not sure.

An at-seat service is also provided by the Restaurant Car with waiters taking orders when going through the cars.

Following dinner, it was time to rest in my berth for the night.

Hua Hin Railway Station

I woke up the next morning at Hua Hin Railway Station.

Platform vendors sell cheap breakfast at 20 Baht.

However, as I wanted to try the Restaurant Car food, I gave it a miss.

Departing from Hua Hin at 7.18am – 83 minutes delayed.

Breakfast

I ordered a Set 2 of “Eggs” for breakfast which consisted of eggs, ham, sausages (hidden below the toast), toast, coleslaw, pineapples, orange juice, and coffee or tea. This costs 180 Baht (~S$7.17), or 9 times the cost of platform food from Hua Hin.

The Breakfast Set 2 was as advertised on the menu picture, with additional seasoning sauce and pepper provided on the table.

Not surprisingly, the Restaurant Car was not full in the morning, with passengers opting for their own food or station hawkers instead.

For passengers in wheelchairs, there is a separate dining area behind the tables without the need for transferring out of the wheelchair.

Ratchaburi Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Ratchaburi, 59 minutes delayed. This was where passengers stood by to clamour out of the train doors to purchase Kway Teow. Hawkers don’t seem to be allowed to walk around on board trains using CRRC coaches, but door sales are fine.

After departure from Ratchaburi, the attendant came round to clear my sheets and convert my berth back into a seat.

Keeping the mattress and pillow back up on the upper berth.

Pushing my berth back to a seat.

Once in my seat, it’s time to enjoy Ratchaburi Kway Teow. This costs 10 Baht (~S$0.40) a box.

The Kway Teow is in a nice snacking portion with fish balls, fish cakes, and seasoning in it already. Mix it up before enjoying.

Nakhon Pathom Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Nakhon Pathom Railway Station, 49 minutes delayed.

Sala Ya Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Sala Ya Railway Station, 35 minutes delayed.

Passing by the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct.

Passing by the Taling Chan Civil Court.

Crossing the railway crossing at Suan Phak Road.

My last time splitting off on to the unelectrified alignment at Taling Chan Junction with a long distance train.

Passing through the unelectrified tracks at Taling Chan Junction for the last time on a long distance train.

Passing through the unelectrified tracks at Taling Chan Junction for the last time on a long distance train.

The line to Thonburi splits off at Taling Chan Junction.

Heading on the unelectrified tracks after Taling Chan Junction. With the opening of Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, all long distance trains will use the Red Line tracks to access Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.

Bang Bamru Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Bang Bamru, 32 minutes delayed.

Departing from the unelectrified tracks at Bang Bamru for the last time on a long distance train.

The Red Line viaduct ascends after Bang Bamru.

Approaching the Rama VI Bridge.

Crossing the Rama VI Bridge over the Chao Phraya River for the last time on a long-distance train.

Heading down from the Rama VI Bridge.

Passing under the MRT Purple Line tracks and crossing the Krungthep-Nonthaburi Road at Bang Son.

Passing by Bang Son Railway Station for the last time on a long distance train.

Crossing the Pracha Chuen Road. The Red Line tracks eliminates these level crossings with Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.

Passing over Khlong Prapa.

Passing by the spaghetti of viaducts leading to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.

Passing under the Red Line (West) tracks to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.

There are additional viaducts leading out of Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in preparation for standard gauge lines.

Passing by Bang Sue Diesel Locomotive Depot.

Approaching Bang Sue Junction Railway Station for the last time on a long distance train, with a view of Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.

Making a brief stop at Bang Sue Junction Railway Station, 34 minutes delayed.

A last look at the then-future Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal and the now-Ordinary-and-Commuter-only Bang Sue Junction Railway Station from on board the Thaksinarath long distance train.

Departing from Bang Sue Junction Railway Station and the then-future Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.

Passing by the current turnback sidings of the Red Lines, which will be the future lines to the central section of the Red Lines and beyond.

Sam Sen Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Sam Sen Railway Station for the last time on a long distance train, 37 minutes delayed.

Queuing up to cross the road for the last time on a long distance train. Bangkok is probably the only city in the world where road traffic has priority over trains at a train level crossing. This will be eliminated for long distance trains with the opening of Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.

Crossing Ratchawithi Road.

Passing through Ramathibodi Hospital Railway Halt.

Passing through Chitralada Royal Railway Station.

Stopping after Chitralada Royal Railway Station to wait for road traffic and another train to cross at the same time.

Crossing Si Ayutthaya Road.

Passing by the wye junction to the SRT Eastern Line.

Crossing Petchaburi Road.

Crossing over Khlong Saen Saep.

The time data had not been updated on the screens around the coach, which still shows the original arrival time instead of the predicted arrival time.

Approaching Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station.

Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station

Entering Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station for the last time on a long distance train.

Passing by the monument commemorating the first railway in Thailand between Bangkok and Ayutthaya. The journey between Bangkok and Ayutthaya with be shortened for long distance trains from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, and will no longer pass by this monument after every departure and before every arrival.

My Special Express 32 Thaksinarath from Hat Yai Junction arrived at Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station at 12.11pm – 41 minutes delayed.

Heading down by steps for the last time in Bangkok at Hua Lamphong Railway Station. The steps will not be lowered at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal as it will use high platforms for level boarding and alighting.

My last step-down into Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station by long distance train.

For the second-last time, Bangkok is on the destination sign.

This is also my last time watching used sheets being thrown off a long distance train at Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station. Housekeeping will be done in the depot at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, and passengers won’t be seeing this behind-the-scenes sight any more in Bangkok.

Walking up to the terminal building.

More workers sorting out sheets from the Thaksinarath.

CRRC Qishuyan CDA5B1 locomotive QSY 5207 completing her duty with Special Express 32 Thaksinarath at Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station.

Additional pictures of my Special Express 32 Thaksinarath since this is my very last trip by long distance train in to Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station.

My Special Express 32 Thaksinarath got shunted out fairly quickly, probably due to the late arrival.

A relatively-new station sign at Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station for souvenir photos.

Heading into the Hua Lamphong Railway Station terminal building with King Chulalongkorn looking out to the platforms. King Chulalongkorn brought modernisation to Siam including the construction of the railway throughout Thailand.

On the reverse side in the waiting hall, there are King Chulalongkorn, King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit, and King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida looking out to passengers above the passageway to the platforms.

The arrival screen lists my delayed Special Express 32 Thaksinarath arrival time as 12.10pm instead of the actual 12.11pm.

Heading out of Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station through the exit at Platform 8.

Passing by the taxi stand and MRT entrance.

The façade of Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station.

Conclusion

Overall, it was a pleasant ride on Special Express 32 Thaksinarath from Hat Yai Junction to Bangkok Hua Lamphong. What could have been a routine train ride to Bangkok was bittersweet knowing that it is indeed my last long distance train into the classic Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station, with long distance trains moving to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.

It’s also good to finally have the Restaurant Car back on board the Thaksinarath for convenience of food and drinks on a long train ride, though the price and quality is not matching just about yet. Hopefully, the Restaurant Car will be added to more trains too, not only on trains operating with CRRC coaches.

The purpose of this trip to Bangkok is also to experience Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal on its first day, so stay tuned for those content coming up.