Hua Lamphong Railway Station

See Video of Hua Lamphong Station at bottom of this page. Hua Lamphong, Bangkok's main railway station

Hua Lamphong, Bangkok's main railway station.

Note : Hua Lamphong station has stopped functioning. The new principal railway station has been constructed (it was used as the main vaccination center during the Covid-19 pandemic) quite out of the city center at Bang Sue, and is already connected with the MRT subway. Thus, though far away, it will not be too difficult to reach from inner Bangkok. Likely the present Hua Lamphong Station with its historic main building, will get a new destination. As far as I read about it, it will certainly not be completely obliterated.

Hua Lamphong Railway Station was Bangkok's main train station. It was inaugurated in 1915 with a neoclassical portico and large main hall inside covered with a vaulted iron roof.
Trains from here go to Northern, Northeastern, Southern Thailand, as well as to Kanchanaburi. But service is slow and even so-called express trains don't go faster than 70 km an hour on average.
Most public and private investment in transport facilities seems to be used to build highways. Some is used for mass transit systems, and apparently almost none to upgrade the railway system. However, with much delay new railways for high-speed trains are being constructed at present. Expect only fast transport around 2030.

Hua Lamphong station is said to be converted into a Museum, not sure if it is open to the public begin 2024. It may also function as a station for a local public transport line.

At the entrance to the station, there were information help desks, and at the time we found the staff quite helpful. They actually went along with me, when I wanted to buy a ticket for my travel, and can provide you with a leaflet indicating the train schedules.

The main train line in Thailand is between Bangkok and up north to Chiangmai. There is also a line to Kanchanaburi, and to Khorat and up to Udon Thani, Nong Khai, and to the south. There are overnight trains to Chiang Mai and the Northeast with sleeping facilities. Except for third class trains, the trains are not fancy, but comfortable enough. Of course, train travel is safe and also cheap in Thailand. Using the nighttrains, you will of course miss the scenery.

We did it twice over the years, a trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, but to be honest, it is more of a one-time experience.