Thaksin Express

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." This 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 east coast of southern Thailand on the upper Malay peninsula. These include the old Buddhist city of Nakhon Pathom, the seaside resort town of Hua Hin, the port city of Surat Thani, the commercial city of Hat Yai (or Haadyai), the Islamic city of Yala, and the commercial border town of Su-ngai Kolok. Although the rail line is connected to the Malaysian rail system, 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 (a set of coupled rail cars, normally coaches or wagons) plus one first class rake for the train between Hat Yai-Su-ngai Kolok. The Southern Special Express 37/38 has to be kept running as a means of reassuring residents that the central government will not abandon the local people of the three southern provinces despite the ongoing insurgencies there.

References

External links

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