SRT: The Main System (Hualamphong Station and rail yard).

Last weekend I took a trip into the inner city to photograph some of the trains and infrastructure at Hualamphong station in Bangkok. This station is the largest SRT station in all of Thailand. It is the starting point for most commuter trains and long distance trains run by SRT. On an average weekday 130 trains a day arrive and depart from Hualamphong station.

The station was built in a very European styling that can be seen from the huge arched roof over most of the station. The station and the main north line to Ayutthaya opened in 1910 by King Chulalongkorn (Rama 5). When the station was built the local area was considered the outer suburbs of Bangkok. Today things are very different its now very much in the congested inner city of Bangkok.

Hualamphong station is considered a full terminus that means there are no tracks running south of the station. Therefore all trains head northward to leave the station even if the eventual destination is in the south or east. Recently there are plans for a new underground line to head south west and link up with an upgraded Mahachai line in Thonburi. The new line is part of the red line commuter project. Further upgrades and extensions to the lines beyond Mahachai will allow new main south line to be created. Thus shortening the traveling time for travelers to the south by around 2 hours.

Hualamphong also is connected to the MRT subway line that allows a traffic free route into the inner city areas of Bangkok. However this is only a recent change between 1958 and 2004 there was no rail connection at Hualamphong station. Before 1958 there was an electrified train service along Rama 4 road to Paknam at the mouth of the Chao Praya River. Today there is no rail link to Paknam and bus traveling times are around 3 hours a peak.

Hualamphong station is home to a very large passenger carriage yard and workshop that is located directly north of the platform roads. The workshop is to the north west of the station behind platform 12. The workshop is housed in a rather old concrete building with a loco and DMU siding in front of it.

1. This is a shot of the European styled station building. Taken from Rama 4 road.

2. This is an image of the MRT entrance to SRT’s Hualamphong station. The MRT entrance was styled to match that of Hualamphong station.

3. This is a shot of the waiting room at ticketing hall inside the station. Taken looking towards the ticket office. Note the blue signs in the middle of the station are for the passing of the Thai kings sister.

4. This is a close up image of the ticket counters at Humlamphong. The painting above the middle of the ticket counters is of King Rama 5.

5. This is a picture of the waiting room facing back towards the Rama 4 road entrance. Unlike most of SRTs trains and stations this part of Hualamphong is air conditioned.

6. This is a shot of the main platforms just after you pass though from the ticket office. There are 12 platforms at Hualamphong and all are very long.

7. This is shot of the haze that often hangs over the platform roads at Hualamphong due to locos, powered carriages and DMUs left running inside the covered area.

8. This is a shot looking back towards the cool ticketing hall taken from platform 5.

9. This is a shot of the SRT commuter train counters at Hualamphong.

10. This is another close up image of the ticket counters during super-peak periods the lines for tickets can end up outside in the street. Also during super peak periods there are never enough tickets for all that want to travel due to very high demand.

11. This is a picture of the special train notice board just inside the entrance to the platforms at Hualamphong. The hand written signs are for Songkaran (Thai new year) extra trains for the north and northeast lines. This period is the largest single super peak period for intercity travel in Thailand. It’s not uncommon to have to stand for 12 hours in sardine can like conditions.

Now for some pictures of the actual trains at Hualamphong. Please excuse me about not having the technical details on the locos and DMUs shown in the following pictures.

12. This is a shot of a series 1 sprinter air-conditioned DMU. Waiting to depart on a 10.50am intercity special express service to Sawan Khalok. Note cleaning staff are giving it the once over just before departing. SRT DMU unit number 2509. Also note on the lower right corner of the DMU is a rather crappy repair job mostly likely as a result of hitting something.

13. This is an inside shot of an air conditioned 1^st class sleeper car commonly used on very long distance trains to the Deep South, Chang Mai and Issan (North East). These are the best carriages that SRT have.

14. The seat inside the 1^st class sleeper cars fold down to form a comfortable bed and above it another bed folds down to allow a second person to sleep in the same cabin.

15. Each 2-berth 1^st class cabin comes with a washbasin and mirror. Above the mirror is a box fan and on the roof is the control for the aircond temp .The toilets are shared and are located at the end of the 1^st class carriage.

16. This is a shot of the 2^nd class aircond sleeper car. Note unlike 1^st class there are no cabins. On each side of the carriage are 2 bunks with privacy curtains for night time. Its shown in day layout.

17. This is a picture of a mixed class wooden bodied carriage. The blue seats are 2^nd class non aircond. The wooden seats behind are 3^rd class non aircond. These are used on long distance rapid and some express trains.

18. This is an image of a 2^nd class non aircond sleeper car the layout is similar to that of a 2^nd class aircond sleeper car. These are not recommended for long travel as its very hard to sleep due to the noise of the train.

19. This is a shot of a typical wooden bodied non aircond 3^rd class commuter carriage. These are often used of shorter commuter trains but can appear on long distance trains at times.

20. This is a shot of a typical steel bodied non aircond 3^rd class intercity carriage. These are used on most long distance trains often on trips lasting 15 to 20 hours. Sometimes these carriages end up on commuter trains.

21. This is an inside shot of an imported Japanese 3^rd class commuter carriage. These trains used to be air conditioned but it failed long ago so they are now un air conditioned. These trains are odd in that windows can be both opened from the top and from the bottom.

22. This is an outside shot of the 3^rd class imported Japanese carriage. Note the different window style.

23. This is an image of a very old General Electric Locomotive. This loco is stabled at the northern end of the Hualamphong rail yard. These locos are used on everything from cargo to passenger trains. SRT Loco number 4045.

24. This is a shot of a more modern General Electric locomotive stabled in one of the platform roads at Hualamphong. SRT Loco Number 4539.

25. This is a shot of one of two very old SRT yard shunters going about its work at the very northern extreme of the Hualamphong yard. Unit number unknown. Taken from rear of a passing train.

26. This is a general view of the Hualamphong yard looking back towards the platforms. Taken from rear of a passing train.

27. This is a side on shot of a newer General Electric Locomotive stabled in the enclosed part of Hualamphong station. SRT Loco Number 4529.

28. This is another angle on SRT Loco 4529. Taken as it sits in Platform 3 at Hualamphong station.

29. This is an image of one of many train cleaning crews going about their work on a newly arrived passenger train. There are no automatic train washes in Thailand. All cleaning is down by hand as shown in this image.

30. This is a shot of a loco running down a platform road to couple up to a commuter train. Make unknown but is older than the newer GE Locos. SRT Loco number 4147.

31. This is an image of one of a number of locations where carriage side destination signs are kept. Every single carriage has a sign on each side.

32. This is a close up of the carriage side destination signs. Note they are bi lingual a lot of tourists use the SRT trains to see the country areas of Thailand.

33. This is a general view of the Hualamphong rail yard taken from the end of the platform the gray concrete building on the left is the workshop. The main system uses a simple system of traffic light style LED railway signals.

34. This is an image of a Japanese DMU commuter train arriving at Hualamphong. These DMUs are of the same type as on the Mahachai line. But they can be used on long distance trains as well as commuter.

35. This is a shot of platform 10 at hualamphong station. Note how long the platforms are and that the roof covers 90 to 95% of the platform.

36. This is a picture of the small garden next to the workshops and loco yard. Note the non-operational steam train on display. This garden appears to be a shrine and is closed off by a low fence and hedge.

37. This is shot of a series 1 sprinter DMU stabled in the DMU/Loco yard in front of the workshop. SRT DMU unit number 2510.

38. This is an image of a very old non aircond 3^rd class Japanese DMU normally used on rural commuter trains. It might be at hualamphong for repairs. Unit number unknown.

39. This is a shot of Loco 4206 just about to leave the workshop. The guy in the black shirt appears to be directing the driver where to go via the radio. Loco make Unknown.

40. This is a picture of SRT Loco 4415 taken from within the loco yard. Loco make Unknown. The sprinter DMU to the left appears to no longer be in working order as it is full of engine parts.

41. This is a shot of SRT Loco 4147 entering the loco sidings. Inside this yard there is a refueling point for the locos and DMUs.

42. This is another angle on SRT Loco 4415 taken looking towards the workshop. As with all SRT railway yards the tracks are black from all the oil and fuel that leaks out of the locos and DMUs.

43. This is another shot of a SRT yard shunter going about its work in the Hualamphong rail yard. Type Unknown.

44. This is an image of some series one sprinter DMUs and old cargo vans stored at the back of the Loco/DMU yard. Note the huge pile of used brake blocks.

45. This is a shot of the refueling point at the back of the Loco/DMU yard at Hualamphong. The Fuel is provided via the blue PTT pumps. Also shown is SRT loco 4121.

46. This is a shot of SRT loco 4151 just after it arrived with a commuter train from Rangsit. Taken from the end of platform 2 at Hualamphong station.

I hope you find the pictures and vehicles shown to be of interest if you view this please post some comments and feelings about the pictures.