Note: Names and routes of the Bangkok tram lines are somewhat disputed and vary according to different sources. The details of the early ownership changes of the first line are also not clear.
22 September 1888 |
First Bangkok Tram Line (horse-drawn) opened between City Pillar and Thanon Tok (AKA Bangkholaem Line) by a Danish company |
between 1889-91? |
Tram line sold to British company Bangkok Tramways Co., Ltd. |
1890 |
Royal Siamese Railway (RSR) founded |
1891 |
Bangkok-Ayutthaya-Nakhon Ratchasima Railway construction started (originally standard gauge) |
23 May 1892 |
Tram ownership transferred [? back to Danish company and subsequently ?] to Siam Electricity Company Ltd. (SEC) |
01 February 1893 |
Tram Line No. 1 electrified |
11 April 1893 |
Hualamphong-Paknam Railway (private) opened [21 km] |
26 March 1897 |
Hualamphong-Ayutthaya Line (state-run) opened [71 km] |
01 May 1897 |
Ayutthaya-Ban Phachi-Kaeng Khoi extension opened [53 km] |
03 March 1898 |
Kaeng Khoi-Muak Lek extension opened [27 km] |
25 May 1899 |
Muak Lek-Pak Chong extension opened [28 km] |
21 December 1900 |
Pak Chong-Nakhon Ratchasima extension opened [85 km] |
01 April 1901 |
Ban Phachi-Lopburi section of Northern Line opened (originally standard gauge) [43 km] |
September 1901 |
Bangkok Tram Line No. 2 opened between Bang Krabue and Hualamphong (AKA Samsen line), owned by Bangkok Tramways Co., Ltd., which has become a subsidiary of SEC; Atsadang and Ratchawong feeder lines added later |
19 June 1903 |
Thonburi-Phetchaburi section of the Southern Railway opened [150 km] |
04 January 1905 |
Khlong San-Mahachai Railway (private) opened for the public (official opening ceremony by King Vajiravut on 29 December 1904) [33.1 km] |
01 October 1905 |
Bangkok Tram Lines No. 5, 6 and 7 opened: between Banglamphoo and Hualamphong (AKA Hualamphong Line); between Thewet and Wat Liab (AKA Dusit Line); and the City Circle Line – all owned by the Siamese Tramways Co., Ltd. of HRH Prince Naradhip |
31 October 1905 |
Lopburi-Pak Nam Pho (Nakhon Sawan) section of Northern Line opened (originally standard gauge) [117 km] |
1905 or 1906 |
Tha Ruea-Phra Phutthabat Railway (750 mm gauge) opened |
1907-1918 |
Construction of the Khun Tan Tunnel |
around 1908 |
‘Phra Pradaeng Tram‘opened – a private concession, gasoline-driven tram on a meter gauge rail shortcut through the narrowest land portion within the Chao Phraya River bend (Samut Prakan) |
24 January 1908 |
Pak Nam Pho-Phitsanulok section of Northern Line opened (originally standard gauge) [149 km] |
24 January 1908 |
Yommarat-Makkasan-Chachoengsao section of Eastern Line opened (originally standard gauge) [61 km] |
01 February 1908 |
Bangkok Tramways Co., Ltd. (now a subsidiary of SEC) becomes a major shareholder of Siamese Tramways Co., Ltd. |
11 August 1909 |
Ban Laem-Maeklong Railway (private) opened [33.8 km] |
15 August 1909 |
Ban Dara-Sawankhalok branch line opened (originally standard gauge) [29 km] |
15 February 1910 |
Makkasan-Khlong Toey Line (AKA Port Railway, Maenam Railway) opened (originally standard gauge) [5 km] |
June 1910 |
Makkasan Railway Plant (depot and maintenance center) opened |
circa 1910-1912 |
Short feeder tram line between mouth of Khlong Samsen and Wachira Hospital (‘Sukhothai Line’) opened |
1913 |
Separation of Thai Railways into a Northern and Southern Railway Department – under German and British influence, respectively |
01 January 1914 |
Phetchaburi-Hua Hin-Wang Pho [82 km] and Phatthalung-U Tapao [84 km] sections of Southern Railway opened; Thung Song-Kantang and Hat Yai (U Tapao)-Songkhla [29 km] branch lines opened |
01 October 1914 |
Khao Chumthong-Nakhon Si Thammarat branch line opened [35 km] |
between 1914 and 1918 |
Junction of Southern Railway and Songkhla branch line relocated to Hat Yai due to frequent flooding at U Tapao |
1915 |
Thonburi-Bang Bua Thong Railway (750 mm gauge) opened |
01 April 1916 |
Phitsanulok-Lampang section of Northern Line opened [252 km] |
01 September 1916 |
Bang Saphan Yai-Chumphon section [92 km] of Southern Railway opened: Southern Line between Bangkok and Hat Yai (U Tapao) completed |
1917 |
Merger of Northern and Southern Railway Departments |
01 July 1918 |
Hat Yai-Padang Besar Line opened [29 km] (connection with Malayan Railway: 01 March 1918) |
02 January 1919 |
First international express from Thonburi to Malaya |
September 1919 |
Decision to use meter gauge nationwide |
Sept. 1920-1930 |
Regauging of some of the first railway lines operated by RSR (from standard to meter gauge): Northern Line up to Pang Ton Phueng (Uttaradit), Eastern line up to Chachoengsao, and Khorat Line |
1922-1927 |
Construction of Rama VI Bridge, the first - and to present the only - rail bridge across the Chao Phraya River |
01 January 1922 |
Lampang-Chiang Mai section [128 km] opened: Northern Line completed |
17 September 1922 |
Hat Yai-Sungai Kolok Line opened [219 km] (bridge connecting with Malayan Railway at Rantau Panjang: 01 November 1921) |
1925 |
Bangkok tram network continues to grow with Hualamphong-Sathorn-Khlong Toey extension and Pratunam-Silom Line |
01 January 1925 |
Chachoengsao-Kabin Buri section [100 km] of Eastern Line opened |
01 April 1925 |
Nakhon Ratchasima-Buri Ram section [112 km] of Ubon Ratchathani Line opened |
1926 |
Two more tram extensions added: Yotse-Pathumwan-Ratchaprasong Intersection and Bang Krabue-Saphan Daeng-Bang Sue; readjustment of Dusit tram line to go along Phitsanulok Road (instead of Uthong Nok/Ratchasima Roads and Wang Suan Kulab); Bangkok tram network reaches a length of 42 km in the end |
12 February 1926 |
Start of an electric tram service on Mahachai Line (between Khlong San and Wat Sai Stations; later extended to Wat Singh in 1927) |
01 May 1926 |
Buri Ram-Surin section [44 km] of Ubon Ratchathani Line opened |
13 September 1926 |
Paknam Railway electrified |
08 November 1926 |
Kabin Buri-Aranyaprathet section [94 km] opened: Eastern Line completed |
01 January 1927 |
Taling Chan-Bangsue connection opened (via Rama VI Bridge) |
05 May 1927 |
SEC merged with Siamese Tramways Co., Ltd. to form Siam Electricity Corporation |
1928 |
First two Diesel locomotives acquired by RSR (from Switzerland) |
01 August 1928 |
Surin-Si Sa Ket section [95 km] of Ubon Ratchathani Line opened |
1930 |
Bang Bua Thong Railway extended to Lat Lum Kaeo |
01 April 1930 |
Si Sa Ket-Warin Chamrap section [61 km] opened: Ubon Ratchathani Line completed |
1932 |
Double tracking between Bangkok and Khlong Rangsit completed |
01 April 1933 |
Nakhon Ratchasima-Khon Kaen section [176 km] of Nongkhai Line opened |
1936 |
Paknam Railway nationalized (for a price of 360,000 Baht) |
15 October 1936 |
Chitladda rail triangle [3 km] completed |
1938 |
Expansion of Makkasan Railway Plant |
28 September 1939 |
Name of SEC changed to Thai Electricity Corporation |
1940 |
Phra Pradaeng Tram closed |
24 June 1940 |
Double tracking between Rangsit and Bang Pa-in completed |
24 June 1941 |
Khon Kaen-Udon Thani section [120 km] of Nongkhai Line Line opened |
26 January 1942 |
The military assumes control over the Maeklong Railway and the Thai Electricity Corporation |
24 June 1942 |
Double tracking between Bang Pa-in and Ban Phachi completed |
July 1942 |
Tha Ruea-Phra Phutthabat Railway closed |
16 July 1942 |
Bang Bua Thong Railway closed |
16 September 1942 |
Start of works on the Burma Line (AKA Death Railway) (Nong Pladuk-Kanchanaburi-Three Pagodas Pass-Thanbyuzayat) by POWs of the Japanese Imperial Army |
February 1943 |
Wooden bridge across the River Kwai at Tha Makham completed |
April 1943 |
Steel/concrete bridge across the River Kwai at Tha Makham completed |
June 1943 |
Start on works for another Japanese military line from Chumphon to Kraburi and La-Un (Ranong) (standard gauge) |
November 1943 |
Chumphon-La-Un Line completed |
25 October 1943 |
Burma Line opened (for Japanese military use only) |
09 February 1945 |
Rama VI Bridge destroyed in allied air raid |
13 February 1945 |
Both wooden and steel bridge across the River Kwai damaged by American bombs, subsequently repaired |
05 March 1945 |
Thonburi Station destroyed in allied air raid |
19 March 1945 |
Parts of Chumphon-La-Un Line damaged in allied air raid |
03 April 1945 |
Both wooden and steel bridge across the River Kwai damaged by American bombs, subsequently repaired |
June 1945 |
Chumphon-La-Un Line partially dismantled (km 28-30) by the Japanese |
24 June 1945 |
Three central spans of (steel) River Kwai Bridge destroyed in American air raid |
Other major railway infrastructure damaged or destroyed during WWII: Makkasan Railway Plant, Railway Department HQ, Chiang Mai Station, Uttaradit Station, Chulachomklao Bridge across Tapi River at Surat Thani, Paramen Bridge across Nan River at Ban Dara |
|
14 August 1945 |
Mahachai and Maeklong Railways nationalized |
after August 1945 |
Chumphon-La-Un Line completely dismantled by the British military |
1947-1958 |
Nam Tok-Three Pagodas Pass section of Burma Railway dismantled |
24 June 1949 |
Nong Pladuk-Kanchanaburi section [53 km] of Burma Railway re-opened after track rehabilitation |
before 1950 |
Ratchawong (feeder) Line of Bangkok tramways closed |
1950 |
Thonburi Station reconstructed and re-opened |
1950 |
Silom Tramline shortened to end up at Saladaeng Intersection |
01 January 1950 |
Bangkok tramways nationalized to Bangkok Municipality and run by the Department of Civil Works, Ministry of Interior |
01 July 1951 |
Name of RSR changed to State Railway of Thailand (SRT) by government act |
21 December 1951 |
Two more short branches of Bangkok tram network closed: Chao Phraya River-Bang Krabue Intersection (?) and Chao Phraya-Wachira Intersection (‘Sukhothai Line’); after that: Yotse-Ratchaprasong Tram Line extended to Soi Ruam Ruedi (with unrealised plans to reach Sukhumwit 19) |
01 April 1952 |
Kanchanaburi-Wang Pho section [61 km] of Burma Railway re-opened |
circa1955- 01 Dec.1962 |
The short period of operation of the Lopburi Tramway (1 Line) |
22 April 1955 |
Extension of Eastern Line from Aranyaprathet to Khlong Luek and Thai Stop [6 km] opened |
13 September 1955 |
Udon Thani-Na Tha section [49 km] of Nongkhai Line opened |
13 April 1956 |
Thung Pho-Khirirat Nikhom branch line opened (originally intended to reach Phuket, but never completed) [31 km] |
01 July 1958 |
Wang Pho-Nam Tok (wartime station name: Tha Sao) section [16 km] of Burma Railway re-opened |
31 July 1958 |
Na Tha-Nongkhai section [6 km] opened: Nongkhai Line completed |
01 January 1960 |
Paknam Railway closed and dismantled, stations demolished |
01 January 1961 |
Khlong San-Wong Wian Yai section of Mahachai Line closed, Khlong San Station demolished |
19 December 1961 |
Cabinet resolution to close down all tramways in Thailand; Electric tram service on Mahachai Line discontinued around this time |
January 1962 |
Bang Krabue-Hualamphong section of Samsen Tram Line closed and dismantled |
April 1962 |
Bang Krabue-Bang Sue Tram Line closed and dismantled |
May 1962 |
Banglamphoo-Hualamphong Tram Line closed and dismantled |
June 1962 |
Pratunam-Silom Tram Line closed and dismantled |
July 1962 |
Yotse-Ratchaprasong Tram Line closed and dismantled |
October 1962 |
Hualamphong-Sathorn (-Khlong Toey?) section of Samsen Tram Line closed and dismantled |
December 1962 |
City Pillar-Saphan Lek section of Bangkholaem Tram Line closed and dismantled |
16 June 1963 |
Nong Pladuk-Suphanburi branch line [78 km] opened (from leftovers of the Death Railway; originally intended to reach Lopburi, but never completed) |
July 1963 |
Saphan Lek-Thanon Tok section of Bangkholaem Tram Line and Thewet-Saphan Dam section of Dusit Tram Line closed and dismantled; Saphan Dam-Wat Liab section of Dusit Line added to City Circle – the last tram line in Bangkok |
October 1963 |
Wang Burapha-Wat Liab section of City Circle Tram Line closed |
December 1963 |
City Circle Tram Line cut into two unconnected sections by removing the rails from National Theater to Phra Arthit Road |
19 August 1967 |
Kaeng Khoi-Bua Yai shortcut [250 km] of the Northeastern Line opened |
around 1968 |
SRT freight terminal relocated from Hualamphong to Phahonyothin |
01 October 1968 |
Last parts of Bangkok Tramways (two unconnected sections of City Circle Line: Saphan Dam-National Museum and Phra Arthit Road-Wang Burapha) closed and dismantled |
1974 |
Train service between Aranyaprathet/Khlong Luek and Poipet discontinued |
1975 |
Steam Maintenance Center at Makkasan closed; most (all?) SRT steam engines transferred to the Southern Railway and maintained at the depots in Thung Song and Hat Yai |
1978 |
Rail service between Sungai Kolok and Tumpat (Malaysia) discontinued |
01 July 1978 |
Hat Yai-Songkhla Line closed |
1979 |
54 people are killed in the worst accident in Thai railway history when a commuter train collides with a cargo train at Taling Chan |
1979 |
The Bangkok Mass Transit Master Plan comes up with the first (?) proposal for an elevated/underground rail system (Lavilin Skytrain – three lines expected to open in 1984) |
1982 |
End of steam traction on Thai railways in regular service |
28 September 1984 |
Chachoengsao-Sattahip Line opened up to Pattaya for passenger service (first cargo train: 16 July 1985) |
14 July 1989 |
Pattaya-Sattahip section finished: Sattahip Line completed |
27 February 1990 |
Official opening of Chachoengsao-Sattahip Line [136 km] |
09 November 1990 |
Contract over construction of the BERTS (Bangkok Elevated Road and Train System) signed between the Thai Government and Hopewell Holdings of Hong Kong |
1992 |
Contract for the Lavilin Skytrain scrapped by the government |
1994 |
Rail track from Nongkhai Station to Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge laid |
19 August 1995 |
Khlong Sip Kao-Kaeng Khoi shortcut, Si Racha-Laem Chabang branch line [9 km] and Khao Chi Jan-Map Tha Put branch line [24 km] opened (all for cargo trains only) |
May 1995 |
'Bangkok Land Skytrain' project cancelled by the government |
1996 |
Proposal for 'Khlong Tramway' (monorail along three major canals in Bangkok) by Governor Bhichit--never realised |
August 1997 |
Hopewell Project (BERTS - Bangkok Elevated Road and Train System) abandoned due to financial difficulties and corruption |
25 November 1999 |
New track alignment of Kaeng Khoi-Bua Yai shortcut via Pasak Chonlasit Dam opened |
05 December 1999 |
First 2 BTS (Elevated Railway, Skytrain) Lines in Bangkok opened (Light Green and Dark Green Line: National Stadium – Saphan Taksin and Mor Chit – On Nut) |
2000 |
Double tracking from Bang Sue to Taling Chan completed, but Bang Sue-Bang Bamru section not yet operational (missing signal equipment and reinforcement of Rama VI Bridge) |
25 July 2002 |
Double tracking from Ban Phachi to Lopburi and Map Krabao completed (also without modern signals) |
01 October 2002 |
Double tracking from Nong Wiwat to Ban Pawai (Northern Line) and from Nong Kuay to Nong Bua (Northeastern Line) completed |
25 November 2002 |
Double tracking from Taling Chan to Nakhon Pathom completed (without signals) |
11 April 2003 |
Double tracking from Hua Mark to Chachoengsao completed (without signals) |
14 May 2003 |
Double track from Bang Bamru to Nakhon Pathom operational after installation of signal equipment |
04 October 2003 |
Thonburi Station closed/relocated to Bangkok Noi Station to make way for Sirirat Hospital extension |
15 December 2003 |
Double track from Hua Mark to Chachoengsao operational after installation of signal equipment |
2003 or early 2004 |
Short extension of the Burma Line: section between Nam Tok and Nam Tok Sai Yok Noi [1.4 km] re-opened |
20 March 2004 |
Agreement signed between Thai and Lao governments over the 3.5 km track extension from the Friendship Bridge to Tha Nalaeng (first ever railway in Laos) |
03 July 2004 |
First Bangkok MRT (Subway) Line opened (Blue Line initial phase: Hualamphong-Bangsue) |
29 December 2004 |
Signal installation for double track from Bang Sue to Bang Bamru completed |
17 January 2005 |
More than 200 people are injured in a subway accident at Thailand Cultural Centre Station; MRT service suspended for two weeks |
20 January 2005 |
Contract about the construction of the Suvarnabhumi Airport Link signed between SRT and STECON/B Grimm/Siemens consortium |
The future/proposed rail projects in Thailand
SRT Double Tracking (Chachoengsao-Laem Chabang, Chachoengsao-Khlong Sip Kao-Kaeng Khoi, and nationwide) |
SRT Electrification |
Rail Lines to the New City at Ban Na |
High Speed Rail to Khorat |
High Speed Rail to Prachuap Khiri Khan |
High Speed Rail to Padang Besar |
SRT network extensions (Den Chai-Phayao-Chiang Rai/Chiang Saen; Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son; Bua Yai-Roi Et-Mukdahan-Nakhon Phanom; Map Tha Phut-Rayong-Chanthaburi; Khirirat Nikhom (or Surat Thani?)-Tha Nun-Phuket; also proposed: Warin Chamrap-Chong Mek; Phitsanulok-Tak-Mae Sot; reconstruction of Burma Line to Three Pagodas Pass, or Kanchanaburi-Dan Bong Tee; Lam Narai-Phetchabun-Loei-Chiang Khan, or Jaturat-Chaiyaphum-Loei-Chiang Khan; Lang Suan-Ranong; Ban Tap Lamu (Phang Nga)-Ban Bang Poe (Nakhon Si Thammarat); Satun-Songkhla) |
Hualamphong-Pak Tho Line with bridges across the Chao Phraya, Tha Chin and Maeklong Rivers / upgrading and electrification of Mahachai and Maeklong Railway |
Hat Yai Monorail/Hat Yai-Songkhla LRT |
Phuket LRT |
Compiled by Nils Rennenberg
with many valuable contributions by Wisarut
September 2004