Most people are familiar with the River Kwai Death Railway as getting Thailand’s scenic rail trip option. Nevertheless it is actually the infamy of the line that escalates this trip in the eyes of the visitor. Admittedly spectacular in parts and with lovely scenery along the Kwai Noi River to Namtok at the end of the line, it is but a little segment of the SRT system and by no means the only memorable sector to be identified.

The River Kwai services leave from Thonburi station with additional services from the major Hualom-phong station throughout the November festival time. The Thonburi station affords splendid views of the river and is close to the Royal Barge sheds as well as getting an architectural wonder with its clock tower facade.

Regardless of whether you have an interest in railways or not, trains are nonetheless an immensely pleasurable way to view the Thai countryside and are also low-cost. The rail fare to Nam Tok, at the finish of the Kwai line is still only 60 baht for a 1 way ticket and the Wongwian Yai service can still be identified at around 20 baht round trip.

On nearby trains and numerous of the lengthy distance expresses, vendors still ply their wares at the various stops along the line and numerous will be already aware of the new Korean -manufactured sleeper carriages available on most routes. Sleeper fares are nonetheless a actual deal and far more comfy than ever and all initial class carriages now have a shower region at the finish of each carriage.

The Korean rolling stock is but the newest progressive foreign intervention into the State Railway with Japanese Kawasaki train units and British Rail “Sprinter” trains getting upgraded the high quality of train services inside the last 10 years. Of course, the entire system was German-built, getting a dream of King Chulalungkorn to link the hinterland to Bangkok and make a united “Thai  Land” as properly as fortifying links to the weak border points. It has recently celebrated its operational centennial with services duplicating the original public service to Korat.

The climb to the Korat Plateau, soon after the lineside temple views at Ayutthaya and particularly Lopburi, is yet another of the lesser-noticed scenic sectors of the program. Here the route skirts Khao Yai National Park and the slow ascent affords excellent views of the lush central plains disappearing into the distance to be replaced by the comparatively flat and bare Isaan  rice bowl.

For scenic mountain ascents the Doi Khun Tan National Park has by far the finest to provide. Most travellers will see it at its very best if being an early riser (0600-0700) on the Express Sleeper from Bangkok to Chiangmai.

The morning light hits the deep forested valleys in an array of color that is tough to uncover elsewhere in the region and the essentially uninhabited area  adds to the slow switchback trundle of the train up the mountain.  The climax of the ride is the final ascent to Doi Khun Tan station through a 2km tunnel, lastly arriving at, in this writer’s opinion, the most gorgeous, effectively kept station in the Kingdom. Basketed blossoms on the platform and green peaks in the backdrop give it a special feeling, specially when experienced in the atmosphere of  Lanna’s cool morning air. The tunnel itself claimed several lives for the duration of its construction over a century ago and a plaque in respect of those workers can be noticed at the southern portal.  Many will argue the point that Hua Hin, with its Royal waiting room, is the much more pleasant (and undoubtedly more photographed) station, but Doi Khun Tan, with its inaccessibility, is a credit to the individuals that created it and those who currently man it. It truly is only visited by those hiking into the National Park and for that reason alone has far fewer visitors than the Hua Hin version.

Sprinter train travellers on the Chiangmai day service from Bangkok will see Doi Khun Tan in the evening twilight, which can be almost as rewarding. The Sprinter service has grow to be well-liked considering that its introduction, allowing train travellers to see all of the countryside among the two major cities during daylight. A comparable situation exists with the Surat Thani to Bangkok sprinter service where travellers are able to view the coastal section from the south in daylight, previously missed with only the overnight sleeper services offered. Sprinter trains, with their huge viewing windows and airline-style reclining seats are a comfy and affordable way to view the countryside. There are no traffic jams and 1 is not continually watching for oncoming targeted traffic!

The only criticism of the international express, and indeed all sleeper trains inside the kingdom is the truth that 1st class sleepers have berths situated across the vehicle. As trains tend to rock from side to side, actual sleep is only generally achieved in second class where berths are configured lengthways along side the carriage windows. The result in first class, regardless of the privacy of a double cabin, is one of being shunted up and down the bed in a traditional railroad manner. Check out the disembarking sleeper passengers when you are at journey’s end. The upperclass travellers often seem to have that additional jaded style to their morning arrival.

Very first class berths on the E &amp O Express are configured correctly i.e. lengthways and the luxury of this service far surpasses the SRT public trains and possibly most other services in the world. The train is not a remnant of a bygone age, as are the sister trains in Europe, but a converted version of New Zealand’s Silver Streak, Christchurch to Greymouth train of the 1980′s. It blends properly as a replica, but the minimum 00 for the one way two night trip to and from Singapore is, to most, still expensive. Far easier to expertise the train on the frequent Saturday night five hour dinner specials from each Bangkok and Singapore at (6,450 baht) per head. Look out in the local press for departure dates.

For those searching for the alternative encounter and not requiring E &amp O luxury, steam excursions ply the neighborhood Bangkok routes on the King’s Birthday and Chulalungkorn Day as effectively as during the Kwai festival.

The Ayutthaya specials normally price about 100 baht for the round trip, a figure unheard of for European rail enthusiasts.

Thai Rail passes still exist but the complications of reserving seats and berths in advance can often outweigh the very good value from these visitor’s particular offers. No matter, as lengthy as 1 observes the 60 day advance acquire regulation and recognizes the reputation of train travel at holiday times, it is a very rewarding and value for money means of seeing the kingdom. Not only that, the punctuality is what might be expected of an originally German built system, as with the new reliable Skytrain.