The new line is set to replace the existing single track line. In Bangkok, it will originate from the new Bang Sue station. The new line will allow the trains to travel at 160 km/h speed thus slashing the current travel time almost twice. It will take about two hours to get to Hua Hin while at the moment it takes up to 4 hours by car due to road conjection.
Bangkok–Chumphon, one of the most populat train routes among tourists heading to the islands of the Gulf, mainly Koh Tao, will be covered in five hours compared to the current 9 hours. Tourists account for 90% of all the railway travellers on the southern railway line and they will defenitely benefit from the new line put in operation.
At the moment the upgrade of the railway line section between Nakhon Pathom and Hua Hin as well as Hua Hin and Prachuap Khiri Khan is almost 30% complete. Going further south, Prachuap Khiri Khan–Chumphon section is nearing its 19% completion. It is expected that the new dual track between Bangkok and Padang Besar will be fully operational by 2022. Its estimate cost is 90 billion baht.
Construciotn of New Dual Track Railway Bangkok–Deep South Underway
News in Asia
A new dual track railway line currently under construction will reduce significantly travel time between Bangkok and southern destinations of the country – from Hua Hin to Chumphon, Suratthani, Hat Yai and Badang Besar on the border with Malaysia.