Thai Mass Transport Systems: SRT: Cab Ride Mahachai Line: Bang Bon

Recently I revisited the Mahachai line however unlike the previous time I photographed this section of the Mahachai line this time I had access to the train’s driver cab and thus could film and photograph from the front. Thus resulting in much more interesting pictures and videos from this section of the Mahachai line. The section of the Mahachai line where the cab ride took place was from Bang Bon to Wong Wian Yai.

This line has been covered in great detail in earlier topics. Below are some links to these topics:

SRT Mahachai Train runs with the doors wide open.
SRT: The Maeklong line and Maeklong railway market.
SRT: The Mahachai line a trip from Bang Bon to Mahachai.
SRT: The Mahachai Rail Yard.
A Trip from Wong Wian Yai to Bang Bon on the SRT Mahachai line.

The future of this line and its counter part Maeklong seems uncertain at this stage as the upgrading projects have been endlessly delayed for either political or financial reasons. However the Mahachai line should not close as its use is very high at peak and reasonable during off peak.

But more could be done to improve the current services on the existing infrastructure. For example the peak hour service could be increased to every 15 minutes and off peak to every 30 minutes. This would fit in ok with the crossing loops that exist on the line. However this service increase would require full time use of Khlong Tan Sai loop.

The current timetable on the Mahachai Line is as follows:

Wong Wian Yai – Mahachai.

05.30, 06.25, 07.00, 07.40, 08.35, 09.40, 10.40, 12.15, 13.20, 14.25, 15.25, 16.30, 17.05, 17.35, 18.35, 19.10, 20.10.

Mahachai – Wong Wian Yai.

04.30, 05.20, 05.55, 06.25, 07.00, 08.00, 09.35, 10.40, 11.45, 13.15, 14.25, 15.25, 16.00, 16.30, 17.35, 18.10, 19.00.

The traveling time between Mahachai and Wong Wian Yai is approximately 60 minutes. The trains are normally arrive and depart close to the stated times.

However from 1st February 2009 SRT has announced it plans to cut 2 trips a day from the Mahachai line one in each direction. This is a move that I hope they don’t carry out as it will make the service worse and more crowded than it already is.

1. This is a short video showing a departure from Bang Bon station as the train powers toward Wong Wian Yai. Take note of the track side railway village and the section of 20 kph track which is subject to almost constant flooding during the rainy season. Also the grass along the track is kept short by the passing trains.

2. This is a shot of the rural nature of Mahachai line despite is mostly urban areas it runs through. Taken between Bang Bon and Wat Sing stations. Note the quality of the track and how the train keeps the grass short.

3. This is a shot of a typical fully staffed level crossing on the Mahachai line. Taken from the train cab note the smear on the image that is from the train window. This crossing is located between Bang Bon and Wat Sing stations.

4. This is another general shot of the view along the Mahachai line. Taken between Bang Bon and Wat Sing stations. Like most of this line road access is very limited.

5. This is an image of a small track side house between Bang Bon and Wat Sing stations. This house can only be access by walking down the railway tracks from a near by level crossing or station.

6. This is a shot of a small railway village just outside Wat Sing station. A large number of these buildings are only accessible from the railway track.

7. This is a shot of a steel rail bridge on the Mahachai line taken between Bang Bon and Wat Sing stations. The bridge is also used by people to access there homes. The trains operate at normal line speed of 60kph.

8. This is a video showing the approach to Wat Sing station. Filmed from the drivers cab of the DMU train. Note the level crossing and the staff member controlling the manual points for the Wat Sing loop. Also the track is very thin in this busy passing loop. Inbound trains always enter the loop.

9. This is a shot of the Wong Wian Yai end of Wat Sing station. Taken from the train cab as it was waiting for another train coming the other way. The people are waiting for the inbound train. This was the starting point for the former electrified section of the line.

10. This is an image of a Mahachai bound train passing though the points at the Wong Wian Yai end of the Wat Sing loop. This was the train we had to wait for before heading on. Train type DMU Hitachi. SRT unit number 1203.

11. This is another angle on the Mahachai bound train. This time taken as it was about to pass us. As soon as this train was clear of the points it was time for us to move. Note the very short rail lengths can be seen on the loop track.

12. This is a video showing the departure from Wat Sing station. Filmed from the front of the train. Note the quality of the track and the number of zero visibility minor unprotected motorbike/pedestrian level crossings as the train passes though the Wat Sing railway village.

13. This is a shot of the line between Wat Sing and Wat Sai stations. This section was once electrified around 50 years ago. Also this section has a separate foot path for access to houses along the railway.

14. This is an image showing a small khlong bridge on the Mahachai line between Wat Sing and Wat Sai stations. Note this bridge is also used for foot and motorbike traffic as well as the trains. The planks on the bridge are to fill in the huge gaps in the bridge deck.

15. This is a video showing the approach to Wat Sai station. Note the very small bridge on the curve before the station. Also note the very old railway village at this station. At the Wong Wian Yai end of the station a motorbike crossing can be seen. The platform sign at this station has been missing for about 2 years now.

16. This is an image of the Wong Wian Yai end of Wat Sai station. This station has a floating market behind the shophouses to the right of the image. Like most major stations on the Mahachai line a market is present along with the railway village.

17. This is a short video of the track between Wat Sai station and Chom Thong stations. Note how this section has foot paths both sides of the railway track for access to the large number of track side homes of the railway villages. Also a very nice temple can be seen close to the track.

18. This is a shot of the curve in the Mahachai line just after the Ekkachai road level crossing. This curve makes the train lurch violently to one side.

19. This is a shot of Chom Thong station. Taken from the train cab as the train approached the station. This platform is for outbound only trains a separate inbound platform is located on the other side of a large khlong bridge. In the past this station serviced as a transfer point to khlong boat services. Note not all trains stop at this station.

20. This is a movie of passing over the Khlong Bridge at Chomthong station. Note the inbound platforms just after the bridge. Also there is a busy level crossing just after the station which uses a full road with powered wire gate barrier. The track is very bad in this section with a really bad lurch to one side as the train struggles to keep on the track. Again there is a large railway village in this section.

21. This is a shot of the very rarely used Khlong Ton Sai loop. Taken as the train approached the loop. The staff member can be seen manning the loop. This loop is the shortest loop on the Mahachai line and is in very poor condition.

22. This is a short movie of passing thought Khlong Ton Sai loop and station. This station is used at peak hour only. The track is very rough in this section with really bad up and down movement making it hard to keep the camera still. Note the tunnel of trees effect in this section.

23. This is a shot of the BTS track crossing the SRT Mahachai line between Khlong Ton Sai and Talat Phu stations. This location may have a future interchange station. However the BTS track is not currently operating due to endless politics. If this interchange is built it will massively increase demand for Mahachai line services.

24. This is a video of the approach to Talat Phu station. The track in this section is poor quality and the final curves before Talat Phu has an uneven 10% tilt on it which is the worst for the whole line. You can feel the train straining to stay on the track in this curve. Again a large and well built up railway village exists before the station.

25. This is a shot of the Wong Wian Yai end of Talat Phu station. This station is the 3rd most used station on the Mahachai line. Transfers to about 20 different bus services and a peak hour only khlong boat service to inner Bangkok are possible here.

26. This is a shot of a very old platform building at Talat Phu. This may have once been the station office when the line opened but today is a men’s hairdressing shop.

27. This is a movie filmed between Talat Phu and Wong Wian Yai stations. Note the different levels of the road and Rail Bridge and the quality of the track. Plus the numerous unprotected poor visibility level crossings. Also the Masjid “Surao Suan Phlu” at Wong Wian Yai can be seen as the train passes.

28. This is a movie of the final approach to Wong Wian Yai station. The current terminus on the Mahachai line. Note the large track side market on approach to Wong Wian Yai station. This is the busiest station on the Mahachai line.

29. This is a general view of Wong Wian Yai station and market. Taken as the train approached the end of the platform. This station is a single platform terminus. Originally the railway extended another 2 km east to Khlong San on the Chao Phraya River.

30. The end of the line at Wong Wian Yai. Note the passengers are waiting on both the platform and non platform side of the train to board in hope to get a seat. The Wong Wian Yai area is the oldest part of Bangkok with a history going back over 300 years. However much of the history has been lost in the post WW2 period.

31. This is a rather poor image of SRT DMU unit number 1255 the train I rode and filmed from to create this topic. Taken looking west at close to sunset. Note the cracked windows on the front of this train. This didn’t help to make clear images but little can be done about it.