Thaksin Express

Thaksin Express
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusOperational
LocaleThailand
First service2 January 1922; 104 years ago (1922-01-02) (as Southern Express)
Current operatorState Railway of Thailand
Route
TerminiKrung Thep Aphiwat
Su-ngai Kolok
Stops26
Distance travelled1,140
Line usedSu-ngai Kolok Main Line
On-board services
ClassesFirst class
Second class
Third class
Technical
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) meter gauge
Operating speed100 km/h (62 mph)

The Thaksin Express (Thai: รถด่วนพิเศษทักษิณ) is an express train run by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) between Bangkok and Su-ngai Kolok, a border town in Narathiwat Province and the end of the southern rail line. Thaksin is a Thai word for 'south' (from the Sanskrit word dakshin), thus this train is referred to as the "Southern Express". The train's passenger cars include 1st- and 2nd-class air conditioned sleepers, 2nd-class fan sleepers, 2nd-class fan seating coaches, 3rd class air conditioned and fan seating coaches, and a dining car.

Overview

The train passes through cities and towns along the western edge of the gulf coast of southern Thailand on the upper Malay Peninsula. These include Nakhon Pathom, Hua Hin, Surat Thani, Hat Yai, Yala, and Su-ngai Kolok. Although the rail line is connected to the Malaysian rail system towards Rantau Panjang Station, there is no cross-border service on this route.

Timetable

Train Number 37 Bangkok - Su-ngai Kolok (departure times)

Train Number 38 Su-ngai Kolok - Bangkok (departure times)

Current status

There are about 3-4 second class rakes plus one first class rake for the train between Hat Yai-Su-ngai Kolok.

For the local people in the southern provinces, the Southern Special Express 37/38 serves as a means of reassurance that the central government will not abandon the local people of the three southern provinces despite the ongoing insurgencies there.[citation needed]

References