Northeastern Line (Thailand)

Northeastern Line
Northeastern Line
	Street running RHN1036 train across the First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge.
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Government of Thailand
Locale	Isan; Central Thailand; Vientiane Prefecture;
Termini	Bangkok (Hua Lamphong) ; Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal; Ubon Ratchathani ; Thanaleng (Laos);
Connecting lines	Ubon Ratchathani Main Line; Nong Khai Main Line; Lam Narai Branch Line;
Service
Type	Inter-city rail; Regional rail; Commuter rail; Freight rail;
Operator(s)	State Railway of Thailand
Depot(s)	Bang Sue; Kaeng Khoi; Nakhon Ratchasima; Ubon Ratchathani;
History
Commenced	9 March 1891
Opened	26 March 1897
Last extension	5 March 2009
Completed	19 August 1967
Technical
Line length	575 km (357 mi) (Ubon Ratchathani Main Line); 627.5 km (389.9 mi) (Nong Khai Main Line);
Number of tracks	2–1
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge
Route map
	Eastern Line
	to Chachoengsao Junction
	Eastern Line
	to Khlong Sip Kao Junction
	Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge
	across Mekong River

Northeastern Line is a railway line in Thailand that connects the capital Bangkok with the northeast region of Isan. The section from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima is Thailand's first line that opened for passenger service.[1] The line is also a key section on the central route of the Kunming–Singapore railway.

Route description

Ubon Ratchathani railway station, terminal station of Ubon Ratchathani Main Line

Khamsavath railway station, which is currently under construction. It will be the future terminus for the Northeastern Line in Laos.

The Northeastern Line shares tracks with Northern Line between Bangkok and Ban Phachi Junction. It has three main branches:

Ubon Ratchathani Main Line, between Bangkok and Ubon Ratchathani
Nong Khai Main Line, between Bangkok and Nong Khai, branching off after Nakhon Ratchasima. The line also crosses the Thai-Lao border into Thanaleng. An extension is currently being constructed to the new Khamsavath railway station.
Lam Narai Branch Line

Timeline

Ubon Ratchathani Main Line[2]

9 March 1891 - started construction
26 March 1897 - opened Bangkok – Ayutthaya
1 November 1897 - Ayutthaya – Kaeng Khoi
21 December 1900 - opened Kaeng Khoi – Nakhon Ratchasima
1 November 1922 - opened Nakhon Ratchasima–Tha Chang near a pier on Mun river that allowed boat service between Tha Chang and Ubon Ratchathani along Mun river
1 April 1925 - opened Tha Chang – Buriram
1 August 1928 - opened Buriram – Sisaket
1 April 1930 - opened Sisaket – Ubon Ratchathani

SRT also built a short railway line from Bung Wai to Ban Pho Mun which was opened on 1 August 1930,[3] but the line was closed on 1 December 1954 due to the construction of Seri Prachathippatai bridge (officially opened in 1955) that allowed the connection between Ubon Ratchathani city and Ubon Ratchathani without the need for ferry across Mun river.

Nong Khai Main Line

1 April 1933 - opened Nakhon Ratchasima – Khon Kaen
24 June 1941 - Khon Kaen – Udon Thani
13 September 1955 - Udon Thani – Na Tha (first Nong Khai station)
31 July 1958 - Na Tha – Nong Khai (Talat Nong Khai, second Nong Khai station)[1]
2008 - Nong Khai (new, third and current Nong Khai station) – Talat Nong Khai section closed.
5 March 2009 - Nong Khai – Thanaleng (Vientiane Prefecture)

An extension from Thanaleng to Vientiane is currently under construction.

Kaeng Khoi–Bua Yai (Lam Narai) Branch Line

19 August 1967 - entire line opened Kaeng Khoi Junction–Bua Yai Junction.[1]

References

History of Thai Railway (in Thai)
งานฉลองรถไฟหลวง ครบ 50 ปี, กรมรถไฟ, 2490
Annual Report of Royal State Railway BE2473, published in 1932

External links

SRT route map

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[rftdotcom-1] History of Thai Railway (in Thai)

[2] งานฉลองรถไฟหลวง ครบ 50 ปี, กรมรถไฟ, 2490

[3] Annual Report of Royal State Railway BE2473, published in 1932