Thaksin Express
The Thaksin Express is an express train run by the State Railway of Thailand 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', thus this train is referred to as the "Southern Express". The 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 western edge of the gulf coast of southern Thailand on the upper Malay peninsula. These include Nakhon Pathom, Hua Hin, Surat Thani, Hat Yai, Yala, and 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
- Bangkok - 15:10
- Sam Sen - 15:28
- Bang Sue - 15:39
- Bang Bumru - 15:57
- Salaya - 16:14
- Nakhon Pathom - 16:42
- Ban Pong - 17:00
- Ratchaburi - 17:29
- Phetburi - 18:15
- Hua Hin - 19:11 - three minute stop to change crews
- Wang Phong - 19:31
- Prachuap Khiri Khan - 20:28
- Bang Saphan Yai - 21:38
- Chumphon - 23:32 - ten minute stop for refuelling and changing crews
- Surat Thani - 01:56 next day - three minute stop to change crews
- Thung Song - 03:54 - 10 minute stop for refuelling
- Phatthalung - 05:37 - three minute stop to change crews
- Bang Kaeo - 06:07
- Hat Yai - 07:31 - 15 minute stop for uncoupling from No. 45, and refuelling
- Chana - 08:07
- Pattani - 08:51
- Yala - 09:28 - three minute stop to change crews
- Rue Sau - 10:03
- Tanyong Mas - 10:35
- Sugei Padi - 11:02
- Su-ngai Kolok - 11:25 arrival
Train Number 38 Su-ngai Kolok - Bangkok
- Su-ngai Kolok - 14:20
- Sugei Padi - 14:36
- Tanyong Mas - 15:03
- Rue Sau - 15:34
- Yala - 16:06 - three minute stop to change crews
- Pattani - 16:37
- Hat Yai - 18:05 - 20 minute stop for attaching to No. 46,and refuelling
- Bang Kaeo - 19:06
- Phatthalung - 19:34 - three minute stop to change crews
- Thung Song - 21:19 - 15 minute stop for refuelling and changing crews
- Surat Thani - 23:00 - three minute stop for changing crews
- Chumphon - 01:36 - 10 minute stop for refuelling and changing crews
- Bang Saphan Yai - 03:08
- Prachuap Khiri Khan - 04:17
- Hua Hin - 05:34 - three minute stop to change crews
- Ratchaburi - 07:26
- Ban Pong - 07:58
- Nakhon Pathom - 08:21
- Salaya - 09:05
- Bang Bumru - 09:32
- Bang Sue - 09:54
- Sam Sen - 10:05
- Bangkok - 10:30 arrival
Current status
There are about 3-4 second class rakes 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.
