Eastern Line Adventure: Bangkok to the Cambodian Border

9 April 2024 Richard Barrow 0 Comments

DAY ONE: Bangkok > Ban Klong Luk Border > Chachoengsao Junction (450 km).

On Day One of All The Lines Thailand Challenge, I completed the main Eastern Line from Bangkok to Ban Klong Luk Border Station in the Aranyaprathet District of Sa Kaeo Province. This is on the border with Cambodia. I then came back to Chachoengsao Junction where I stayed the night. The plan for the next day was to complete the secondary line down to Chuk Samet in Sattahip district of Chon Buri.

From Bangkok, I boarded Ordinary No. 275, which departed at 5:55 a.m. The 260 km journey to Ban Klong Luk Border Station took five hours and 22 minutes, and I arrived at 11:17 a.m. I then had three and a half hours before the return journey on Ordinary No. 276, which departed at 2:50 p.m. I didn’t travel all the way back to Bangkok, instead, I disembarked at Chachoengsao Junction. I’m spending the night here as I will be taking the branch line down to Chuk Samet tomorrow.

Ordinary No. 275/277 was operated by Alsthom 4411, a 40-year-old diesel locomotive. The alternative border train is Ordinary No. 279/280, a diesel railcar.

My train today had seven 3rd Class carriages. Five of them had regular seats and two had benches down the sides facing inwards. It is possible to bring a bicycle on a carriage like this.

Every carriage had two toilets, one Western style and one squat toilet. There was toilet paper but no soap. However, the toilets were kept clean at all times.

Tickets for these trains cannot be purchased in advance or online. You have to buy them at the station about an hour or so before departure. There are no reserved seats, so you can sit wherever you like. Tickets don’t sell out.

I recommend boarding early as the best seats are taken quickly. I always opt for a forward-facing window seat in a bay that has a working fan. Be sure to avoid the toilet end. On the way there, it is hotter on the right, and on the way back, it is hotter on the left.

Food vendors board at Hua Lamphong, so you have access to food and drinks right from the start. There is a constant supply throughout the journey, so you won’t go hungry. However, it doesn’t hurt to bring some snacks. Wet wipes are also a good idea.

There is no particular side that offers better views. Both are good. However, after Chachoengsao, the scenery wasn’t very scenic as everything was dry and brown.

The type of people on the train changed as we progressed. It was almost full from the start. Once we reached Hua Mak, it was packed. Many of these people were commuters. Many disembarked by Chachoengsao. Others were heading to Cambodia. However, I spotted quite a few familiar faces on the return journey. So they must have gone to the border markets to buy cheap products.

Upon arrival, I walked around for a while and then sought some air-conditioned comfort at the local KFC. Then, I visited the air-conditioned Cafe Amazon downstairs. I returned to the station at 1:30 p.m. when the tickets went on sale. I was surprised to see that the train was nearly full already. Certainly, all the best seats were taken, so I quickly reserved my own window seat.