A Timeline of Thai Railways

Ayutthaya-Ban Phachi-Kaeng Khoi extension opened [53 km]

Kaeng Khoi-Muak Lek extension opened [27 km]

Muak Lek-Pak Chong extension opened [28 km]

Pak Chong-Nakhon Ratchasima extension opened [85 km]

Ban Phachi-Lopburi section of Northern Line opened (originally standard gauge) [43 km]

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

Thonburi-Phetchaburi section of the Southern Railway opened [150 km]

Khlong San-Mahachai Railway (private) opened for the public (official opening ceremony by King Vajiravut on 29 December 1904) [33.1 km]

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

Lopburi-Pak Nam Pho (Nakhon Sawan) section of Northern Line opened (originally standard gauge) [117 km]

Tha Ruea-Phra Phutthabat Railway (750 mm gauge) opened

Construction of the Khun Tan Tunnel

‘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)

Pak Nam Pho-Phitsanulok section of Northern Line opened (originally standard gauge) [149 km]

Yommarat-Makkasan-Chachoengsao section of Eastern Line opened (originally standard gauge) [61 km]

Bangkok Tramways Co., Ltd. (now a subsidiary of SEC) becomes a major shareholder of Siamese Tramways Co., Ltd.

Ban Laem-Maeklong Railway (private) opened [33.8 km]

Ban Dara-Sawankhalok branch line opened (originally standard gauge) [29 km]

Makkasan-Khlong Toey Line (AKA Port Railway, Maenam Railway) opened (originally standard gauge) [5 km]

Makkasan Railway Plant (depot and maintenance center) opened

Short feeder tram line between mouth of Khlong Samsen and Wachira Hospital (‘Sukhothai Line’) opened

Separation of Thai Railways into a Northern and Southern Railway Department – under German and British influence, respectively

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

Khao Chumthong-Nakhon Si Thammarat branch line opened [35 km]

Junction of Southern Railway and Songkhla branch line relocated to Hat Yai due to frequent flooding at U Tapao

Thonburi-Bang Bua Thong Railway (750 mm gauge) opened

Phitsanulok-Lampang section of Northern Line opened [252 km]

Bang Saphan Yai-Chumphon section [92 km] of Southern Railway opened: Southern Line between Bangkok and Hat Yai (U Tapao) completed

Merger of Northern and Southern Railway Departments

Hat Yai-Padang Besar Line opened [29 km] (connection with Malayan Railway: 01 March 1918)

First international express from Thonburi to Malaya

Decision to use meter gauge nationwide

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

Construction of Rama VI Bridge, the first - and to present the only - rail bridge across the Chao Phraya River

Lampang-Chiang Mai section [128 km] opened: Northern Line completed

Hat Yai-Sungai Kolok Line opened [219 km] (bridge connecting with Malayan Railway at Rantau Panjang: 01 November 1921)

Bangkok tram network continues to grow with Hualamphong-Sathorn-Khlong Toey extension and Pratunam-Silom Line

Chachoengsao-Kabin Buri section [100 km] of Eastern Line opened

Nakhon Ratchasima-Buri Ram section [112 km] of Ubon Ratchathani Line opened

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

Start of an electric tram service on Mahachai Line (between Khlong San and Wat Sai Stations; later extended to Wat Singh in 1927)

Buri Ram-Surin section [44 km] of Ubon Ratchathani Line opened

Paknam Railway electrified

Kabin Buri-Aranyaprathet section [94 km] opened: Eastern Line completed

Taling Chan-Bangsue connection opened (via Rama VI Bridge)

SEC merged with Siamese Tramways Co., Ltd. to form Siam Electricity Corporation

First two Diesel locomotives acquired by RSR (from Switzerland)

Surin-Si Sa Ket section [95 km] of Ubon Ratchathani Line opened

Bang Bua Thong Railway extended to Lat Lum Kaeo

Si Sa Ket-Warin Chamrap section [61 km] opened: Ubon Ratchathani Line completed

Double tracking between Bangkok and Khlong Rangsit completed

Nakhon Ratchasima-Khon Kaen section [176 km] of Nongkhai Line opened

Paknam Railway nationalized (for a price of 360,000 Baht)

Chitladda rail triangle [3 km] completed

Expansion of Makkasan Railway Plant

Name of SEC changed to Thai Electricity Corporation

Phra Pradaeng Tram closed

Double tracking between Rangsit and Bang Pa-in completed

Khon Kaen-Udon Thani section [120 km] of Nongkhai Line Line opened

The military assumes control over the Maeklong Railway and the Thai Electricity Corporation

Double tracking between Bang Pa-in and Ban Phachi completed

Tha Ruea-Phra Phutthabat Railway closed

Bang Bua Thong Railway closed

Start of works on the Burma Line (AKA Death Railway) (Nong Pladuk-Kanchanaburi-Three Pagodas Pass-Thanbyuzayat) by POWs of the Japanese Imperial Army

Wooden bridge across the River Kwai at Tha Makham completed

Steel/concrete bridge across the River Kwai at Tha Makham completed

Start on works for another Japanese military line from Chumphon to Kraburi and La-Un (Ranong) (standard gauge)

Chumphon-La-Un Line completed

Burma Line opened (for Japanese military use only)

Rama VI Bridge destroyed in allied air raid

Both wooden and steel bridge across the River Kwai damaged by American bombs, subsequently repaired

Thonburi Station destroyed in allied air raid

Parts of Chumphon-La-Un Line damaged in allied air raid

Both wooden and steel bridge across the River Kwai damaged by American bombs, subsequently repaired

Chumphon-La-Un Line partially dismantled (km 28-30) by the Japanese

Three central spans of (steel) River Kwai Bridge destroyed in American air raid

Mahachai and Maeklong Railways nationalized

Chumphon-La-Un Line completely dismantled by the British military

Nam Tok-Three Pagodas Pass section of Burma Railway dismantled

Nong Pladuk-Kanchanaburi section [53 km] of Burma Railway re-opened after track rehabilitation

Ratchawong (feeder) Line of Bangkok tramways closed

Thonburi Station reconstructed and re-opened

Silom Tramline shortened to end up at Saladaeng Intersection

Bangkok tramways nationalized to Bangkok Municipality and run by the Department of Civil Works, Ministry of Interior

Name of RSR changed to State Railway of Thailand (SRT) by government act

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)

Kanchanaburi-Wang Pho section [61 km] of Burma Railway re-opened

The short period of operation of the Lopburi Tramway (1 Line)

Extension of Eastern Line from Aranyaprathet to Khlong Luek and Thai Stop [6 km] opened

Udon Thani-Na Tha section [49 km] of Nongkhai Line opened

Thung Pho-Khirirat Nikhom branch line opened (originally intended to reach Phuket, but never completed) [31 km]

Wang Pho-Nam Tok (wartime station name: Tha Sao) section [16 km] of Burma Railway re-opened

Na Tha-Nongkhai section [6 km] opened: Nongkhai Line completed

Paknam Railway closed and dismantled, stations demolished

Khlong San-Wong Wian Yai section of Mahachai Line closed, Khlong San Station demolished

Cabinet resolution to close down all tramways in Thailand; Electric tram service on Mahachai Line discontinued around this time

Bang Krabue-Hualamphong section of Samsen Tram Line closed and dismantled

Bang Krabue-Bang Sue Tram Line closed and dismantled

Banglamphoo-Hualamphong Tram Line closed and dismantled

Pratunam-Silom Tram Line closed and dismantled

Yotse-Ratchaprasong Tram Line closed and dismantled

Hualamphong-Sathorn (-Khlong Toey?) section of Samsen Tram Line closed and dismantled

City Pillar-Saphan Lek section of Bangkholaem Tram Line closed and dismantled

Nong Pladuk-Suphanburi branch line [78 km] opened (from leftovers of the Death Railway; originally intended to reach Lopburi, but never completed)

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

Wang Burapha-Wat Liab section of City Circle Tram Line closed

City Circle Tram Line cut into two unconnected sections by removing the rails from National Theater to Phra Arthit Road

Kaeng Khoi-Bua Yai shortcut [250 km] of the Northeastern Line opened

SRT freight terminal relocated from Hualamphong to Phahonyothin

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

Train service between Aranyaprathet/Khlong Luek and Poipet discontinued

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

Rail service between Sungai Kolok and Tumpat (Malaysia) discontinued

Hat Yai-Songkhla Line closed

54 people are killed in the worst accident in Thai railway history when a commuter train collides with a cargo train at Taling Chan

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)

End of steam traction on Thai railways in regular service

Chachoengsao-Sattahip Line opened up to Pattaya for passenger service (first cargo train: 16 July 1985)

Pattaya-Sattahip section finished: Sattahip Line completed

Official opening of Chachoengsao-Sattahip Line [136 km]

Contract over construction of the BERTS (Bangkok Elevated Road and Train System) signed between the Thai Government and Hopewell Holdings of Hong Kong

Contract for the Lavilin Skytrain scrapped by the government

Rail track from Nongkhai Station to Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge laid

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)

'Bangkok Land Skytrain' project cancelled by the government

Proposal for 'Khlong Tramway' (monorail along three major canals in Bangkok) by Governor Bhichit--never realised

Hopewell Project (BERTS - Bangkok Elevated Road and Train System) abandoned due to financial difficulties and corruption

New track alignment of Kaeng Khoi-Bua Yai shortcut via Pasak Chonlasit Dam opened

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)

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)

Double tracking from Ban Phachi to Lopburi and Map Krabao completed (also without modern signals)

Double tracking from Nong Wiwat to Ban Pawai (Northern Line) and from Nong Kuay to Nong Bua (Northeastern Line) completed

Double tracking from Taling Chan to Nakhon Pathom completed (without signals)

Double track from Bang Bamru to Nakhon Pathom operational after installation of signal equipment

Thonburi Station closed/relocated to Bangkok Noi Station to make way for Sirirat Hospital extension

Double track from Hua Mark to Chachoengsao operational after installation of signal equipment

Short extension of the Burma Line: section between Nam Tok and Nam Tok Sai Yok Noi [1.4 km] re-opened

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)

First Bangkok MRT (Subway) Line opened (Blue Line initial phase: Hualamphong-Bangsue)

Signal installation for double track from Bang Sue to Bang Bamru completed

More than 200 people are injured in a subway accident at Thailand Cultural Centre Station; MRT service suspended for two weeks

Contract about the construction of the Suvarnabhumi Airport Link signed between SRT and STECON/B Grimm/Siemens consortium