SRT Local 448 Train from Sungai Kolok to Hat Yai Junction

SRT Local 448 is the daily morning train from Sungai Kolok to Hat Yai Junction and onwards to Surat Thani. Continuing on my journey from KL to Hat Yai, I used SRT Local 448 as my mode of transport from Sungai Kolok to Hat Yai, immediately connecting after I had entered Thailand at Sungai Kolok Border Checkpoint on foot.

Sungai Kolok Railway Station

The façade of Sungai Kolok Railway Station. The middle door is used for exit only.

Entrance to Sungai Kolok Railway Station is by a side building where security checks are in place.

Heading out to the tracks after going through the entrance security building at Sungai Kolok Railway Station.

The main Sungai Kolok Railway Station building is across the tracks.

Queuing to buy my ticket for my Local 448 train from Sungai Kolok to Hat Yai Junction. Tickets for SRT Ordinary trains are only sold on the spot 2 hours before departure.

The station sign of Sungai Kolok Railway Station.

SRT Local 448

My SRT Local 448 train was headed by Alsthom ALS 4125.

The destination sign of the Local 448 train from Sungai Kolok to Surat Thani.

The first coach is an open-plan seating coach with full longitudinal seats, useful for those with bulky bags on local transport.

A full van for parcels and motorcycles follow behind this open-plan seating coach for courier services.

The rest of the train is made up of 3rd Class BTC76 seating coaches. No matter the external livery, seats are all wooden throughout the train.

The legroom on board the 3rd Class BTC76 seating coach. Being a wooden seat, the BTC76 coaches down south away from Bangkok are not as comfortable as those in the capital.

My ticket for the Local 448 from Sungai Kolok to Hat Yai junction. This costs 42 Baht for the 214  kilometer journey.

A squat toilet is available on board the BTC76 3rd Class coach.

An external sink area is also available.

My Local 448 train departed from Sungai Kolok on time at 6.30am.

Heading out of Sungai Kolok border town, and bidding goodbye to my Maxis data.

Do note that roaming is not allowed in Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat provinces due to restrictions set by the Thai Government. I would later on experience a wider area of restriction than Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat provinces.

Khok Sahya Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Khok Sahya Railway Station.

Sungai Padi Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Sungai Padi Railway Station.

To Deng Railway Station

Making a brief stop at To Deng Railway Station.

Ai Satia Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Ai Satia Railway Station.

Ticket checks are conducted after Ai Satia Railway Station with 4 armed soldiers guarding the conductor, while screening passengers visually.

Stations and trains in the deep south of Thailand are heavily guarded by armed soldiers with the on-going southern bombings, believed to be the work of southern insurgents.

My checked ticket, clipped on the right side of my ticket.

Bukit Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Bukit Railway Station.

Cho Ai Rong Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Cho Ai Rong Railway Station.

Pa Phai Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Pa Phai Railway Station.

Tanyong Mat Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Tanyong Mat Railway Station where many passengers alighted, but more passengers boarded.

Kadae Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Kadae Railway Station.

Marubo Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Marubo Railway Station.

Crossing with the Local 453 travelling from Yala to Sungai Kolok.

My Local 448 train filled up at Marubo Railway Station.

Lalo Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Lalo Railway Station.

Ban Salo Bukit Yuaerae Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Ban Salo Bukit Yuaerae Railway Station.

Ruso Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Ruso Railway Station.

Taking a nice curve after Ruso.

Balo Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Balo Railway Station.

Raman Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Raman Railway Station.

Ban Patae Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Ban Patae Railway Station.

Mai Kaen Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Mai Kaen Railway Station.

Yala Railway Station

Making a longer scheduled stop at Yala Railway Station.

Many passengers alighted and boarded at Yala, so while many passengers vacated seats, they were quickly filled up again.

Departing from Yala Railway Station.

Passing by Yala Morning Train Market.

Crossing over Khlong Ta Se.

Tase Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Tase Railway Station.

There was a second round of ticket checks after Tase Railway Station, and everyone including those who have had tickets checked before must be checked again.

My second ticket check, clipped on the bottom of my ticket.

Khlong Sai Railway Station

Crossing with a maintenance trolley set at Khlong Sai Railway Station.

Making a long stop at the loop line of Khlong Sai Railway Station for crossing with the delayed Rapid 171 from Bangkok Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Sungai Kolok.

The onward token for Rapid 171 was readied.

The Rapid 171 passes through Khlong Sai Railway Station at speed.

Departing from Khlong Sai Railway Station.

Pa Rai Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Pa Rai Railway Station.

Wat Chang Hai Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Wat Chang Hai Railway Station.

A car park with a small market after Wat Chang Hai Railway Station serves Wat Chang Hai located opposite the railway tracks.

And finally, here comes the highlight of taking local trains in Thailand where food vendors come on board with food and drinks for sale.

My first Thai breakfast on this trip was Thai Basil Chicken (Pad Krapow Gai) with rice and a small slice of omelette. This costs 30 Baht.

I also bought an iced chocolate for 20 Baht.

Na Pradu Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Na Pradu Railway Station.

Pattani Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Pattani Railway Station. Many passengers alighted and boarded at Pattani, so while many passengers vacated seats, they were quickly filled up again.

Crossing over Khlong Toei, the border of Pattani and Songkhla.

Entering the loop line of Ta Paet Railway Station.

Ta Paet Railway Station

Making a longer stop at Ta Paet Railway Station for crossing with Local 463 from Phatthalung to Sungai Kolok.

While the train was in Songkhla already, I still could not get any roaming signal.

Crossing with Local 463 from Phatthalung to Sungai Kolok, which also made a brief stop at Ta Paet Railway Station.

Food vendors alight from Local 463 at Ta Paet Railway Station to cross over to my train, Local 448.

This means more varieties of food on board.

Thepha Railway Station

Crossing with the SRT Express 986 parcel train from Bangkok Hua Lamphong to Sungai Kolok and making a brief stop at Thepha Railway Station.

Ko Saba Railway Station

Making a longer stop at Ko Saba Railway Station for crossing with Special Express 37 from Bangkok Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Sungai Kolok.

The Special Express 37 passes through Khlong Sai Railway Station at speed.

Departing from Ko Saba Railway Station.

Tha Maenglak Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Tha Maenglak Railway Station.

Chana Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Chana Railway Station.

Wat Khuan Mit Railway Station

Making a longer stop at Wat Khuan Mit Railway Station for crossing with Rapid 169 from Bangkok Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Yala.

The Rapid 169 passes through Khlong Sai Railway Station at speed.

Departing from Khlong Sai Railway Station.

Na Muang Railway Station

Crossing with the Local 451 from Nakhon Si Thammarat to Sungai Kolok and making a brief stop at Thepha Railway Station.

I could only get roaming data at Na Muang, near Hat Yai already, which is very inland Songkhla away from the neighbouring affected Pattani province. Looks like the roaming ban has gone quite a bit wider.

The conductor announced that this coach is only travelling up to Hat Yai Junction Railway Station, and passengers travelling further on from Hat Yai Junction Railway Station start to change to front coaches.

The nature scenery gives way to buildings nearing Hat Yai.

Crossing over Sripoovanart Road with the line from Padang Besar merging as well.

Entering the fences of Hat Yai Junction Railway Station.

Merging with the line from Padang Besar at Hat Yai Junction.

Hat Yai Junction Railway Station

Entering Hat Yai Junction Railway Station.

My SRT Local 448 train arrived at Hat Yai Junction Railway Station at 11.08am – 13 minutes delayed.

The locomotive had already decoupled from my SRT Local 448 train by the time I tried going to the front.

The rake of my SRT Local 448 train at Hat Yai Junction Railway Station.

There was a bit of shunting around Hat Yai Junction Railway Station of the rake of SRT Local 448, even with passengers on board, to prepare it for the next stretch of the journey to Surat Thani. I didn’t stay for the full shunting process.

The façade of Hat Yai Junction Railway Station.

Conclusion

The SRT Local 448 train was cheap and reasonably fast with only a 13-minute delay, which is pretty good for Thai local train standards where they hold less priority on the tracks as compared with Rapid and above trains. While I understand fares are heavily subsidised for local trains, with this 214 kilometer journey costing only 42 baht, the quality of subsidised trains in Southern Thailand greatly differs from those in other parts of Thailand with lights and cushioned seats.

The quality of the BTC76 3rd Class carriages in the deep south of Thailand is providing much discomfort for passengers with windows that cannot be opened, fans that do not work, and even toilets without light. Some windows are opaque which means passengers must use the toilet in complete darkness, if they so wish to proceed. Water is also lacking in some coaches. And of course, the elephant in the room, seats are still solid wood, instead of cushioned like 3rd Class trains in other parts of Thailand.

Some tourists see this lack of upgrades in the deep southern line of Thailand as an attraction since tourists only ride the train occasionally, but I see it as unfair social services provided to the people in the southern provinces of Thailand, especially to those who rely on Local train services for daily transport.