Steam Train Trip to Ayutthaya on 26th March 2023
The State Railway of Thailand organises steam train excursions six times a year on important public holidays. The next one has just been announced. It will be to the historical city of Ayutthaya on Sunday 26th March 2023. Tickets go on sale from 8:30 a.m. on Friday 24th February 2023. 3rd Class tickets are 299 Baht for the round trip there and back and 1st class tickets are 799 Baht. Passengers on the train are entitled to a free entrance ticket to Chao Sam Phraya National Museum in Ayutthaya. Just show your train ticket when you visit the museum. For an idea of what to expect and what to do, visit my photo blog of a recent trip to Ayutthaya on the steam train.
HOW TO BUY STEAM TRAIN TICKETS: You can either buy at your local railway station or online on the official D-Ticket website. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to the “Exploring Thailand by Train” section. This is a direct link to the steam train page. You then have to choose between 3rd Class seating with fan which is 299 Baht for the round trip, or 1st Class seating with A/C which is 799 Baht. The advantage of 3rd Class is that there is an open window. So if you have a window seat, you will be able to see the steam locomotives out of the window when it goes around a bend. Everyone will also be able to clearly hear the whistle. However, you might find it too hot. The alternative is the air-conditioned carriage in 1st Class. The disadvantage of these carriages is that you won’t know you are on a steam train as you can neither hear or see the steam locomotive during the trip. The windows also don’t open and so it is more difficult to take photos.
WHERE TO CATCH THE TRAIN: The train will leave Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong) at 8:10 a.m. I always go there early at around 7:00 a.m. to take photos first before it gets crowded. You can do this even if you don’t have a train ticket. You can also catch the train along the way. For example, at Sam Sen and Bang Sue Junction stations. Here you will have the advantage of being able to take photos or video of the steam locomotive as it approaches the station. After the junction, it is expected that the steam train will go up the slope to the elevated tracks with the next stop at Rangsit station. This is also a Red Line station if you live along this line. It will then arrive in Ayutthaya at 10:20 a.m. The return journey to Bangkok is at 4:40 p.m. arriving back at Hua Lamphong at 6:55 p.m.
Pacific steam locomotives No. 824 and No. 850 are used for the steam train trip. They were built by the Japan Association of Railway Industry. They are the last locomotives to be ordered and were used between 1949-1950. They now only run on special excursions six times a year. The following are the dates for the steam train trips:
- 26th March: Ayutthaya
- 3rd June: Nakhon Pathom
- 28th July: Ayutthaya
- 12th August: Chachoengsao
- 23rd October: Ayutthaya
- 5th December: Chachoengsaoo
For more information, click on these links:
