Bang Sue Central Station

Bang Sue Grand Station ( th, สถานีกลางบางซื่อ, , ; ), also known by its ceremonial name Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station ( th, สถานีกลางกรุงเทพอภิวัฒน์, , ; ) in Chatuchak, Bangkok, is Thailand's new railway hub. It will replace the existing Bangkok railway station (Hua Lamphong) as the terminus for long-distance rail services from Bangkok with most services switching in January 2023. The station opened on 2 August 2021 as part of the operation of the SRT Red Lines, and from May 2021 to September 2022 served as a COVID-19 vaccination center. It will replace the existing Bang Sue Junction station and links to the Bang Sue MRT station via an underground walkway.

Bang Sue is the largest railway station in Southeast Asia, with 26 platforms—some 600 metres long. The station will offer 274,192 m² of usable floor space. The 15 billion baht station is built on 2,325 rai (372 hectares) of SRT-owned land and will have maintenance depots for both diesel and electric trains. An elevated walkway connects the station to the new Mo Chit Bus Terminal.

History

Bang Sue Junction Railway Station

Bang Sue opened in 1898 as part of Thailand's first railway between Bangkok and Ayutthaya. On 1 January 1927, it became a junction for the Northern/Northeastern Line and the Southern Line after the construction of the rail link between Bang Sue and Taling Chan, over Rama VI Bridge. In 1989 was separated into two railway stations. The original building named "Bang Sue 1" was used for Northern and Northeastern Line services while the new building "Bang Sue 2" was used for Southern Line services. Bang Sue 1 was closed on 15 August 2016 in preparation for the construction of the new railway station. Currently all long-distance services operate from the new "Bang Sue 2" station. This structure will likely be closed once trial runs, which as of September 2021 are ongoing, are completed.

Bang Sue Grand Station

In 2010 under the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Ministry of Transport decided to move the Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong station) to the area of Bang Sue Junction Railway Station to be the center of the rail transport system. In 2013, work on the station started with a contract signing by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), Sino-Thai Engineering Construction PCL, and Unique Construction and Engineering PCL for the Red Line suburban railway system project consisting of civil work for Bang Sue Grand Station and a maintenance center. In December 2020 it was announced that civil construction of the station was complete.

The station acted as a COVID-19 vaccination center from 24 May 2021 to 30 September 2022.

Trial operations of the SRT Red Lines, open to the public, began from the station on 2 August 2021. Intercity long-distance trains began operation from the new station on November 29, 2021.

Layout

The station will have four floors, three above, and one below ground:

#Underground floor: Bang Sue MRT Station, on the MRT Blue Line station, and parking for 1,624 vehicles.
#Ground floor: Station concourse with ticketing and waiting areas. This will be the only air-conditioned area in the station.
#Second floor: Train platforms with 12 tracks. Eight tracks will serve long-distance diesel trains (soon to be electrified). Four tracks will serve SRT Red Dark and Light Red Line commuter trains.
#Third floor: High–speed railway platforms with 10 tracks. Four tracks will serve the AERA1 City and the Don Mueang–Suvarnabhumi–U-Tapao high-speed railway linking Don Mueang International Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport and U-Tapao International Airport. Six tracks are reserved for future high-speed rail (HSR) connections to Nong Khai, Padang Besar, Thailand and Chiang Mai.

Also planned is a memorial site to King Rama V, known as the "father of Thai railroads", although this is expected to open after the station itself.

Phahonyothin Freight Yard

Bang Sue Junction is also the location of Phahonyothin cargo yard. With an expanse of about 50 rail-tracks and sidings, it is the largest rail yard in the whole of Thailand. It is located about 1.5 kilometres from the station and is the main cargo yard for freight services around Thailand.

Bus Connections

The following BMTA and Private Jointed routes serve this station:

* 3 (Kamphaeng Phet Bus Depot - Mo Chit 2 - Khlong San)
* 3 (Bang Sue Grand Station - BTS Mochit) (Loop)
* 16 (Kamphaeng Phet Bus Depot - Mo Chit 2 - Surawong)
* 49 (Bang Sue Grand Station - Bangkok Railway Station) (Loop)
* 67 (Bang Sue Grand Station - CentralPlaza Rama III)
* 96 (Min Buri Bus Depot - Mo Chit 2) (Only go to Mo Chit 2)
* 104 (Pak Kret - Mo Chit 2) (Only go to Mo Chit 2)
* 134 (Bua Thong Kheha Bus Depot - Mo Chit 2) (Only go to Mo Chit 2)
* 136 (Khlong Toey Bus Depot - Mo Chit 2) (Only go to Mo Chit 2)
* 138 (Phra Pradaeng Pier - Mo Chit 2) (Only go to Mo Chit 2)
* 138 (Ratchapracha Bus Depot - Mo Chit 2) (Only go to Mo Chit 2)
* 145 (Pak Nam (Praeksa Bordin Bus Depot) - Mo Chit 2) (Only go to Mo Chit 2)
* 145 (Mega Bangna Bus Depot - Mo Chit 2) (Only go to Mo Chit 2)
* 509 (Borommaratchachonnani Bus Depot - Mo Chit 2) (Only go to Mo Chit 2)
* 517 (Kamphaeng Phet Bus Depot - Mo Chit 2 - KMITL)

Gallery

File:Bang Sue Central Station 22012019.jpg, Construction of Bang Sue Grand Station in December 2019
File:BANGSUERANDSTATION.jpg, Bang Sue Grand Station, view from old Bang Sue Junction railway station in June 2020
File:Bang Sue Grand Station Facade Feb 2021.jpg, Facade of Bang Sue Grand Station in February 2021
File:Bang Sue Grand Station Feb 2021 (1).jpg, Bang Sue Grand Station
File:Bang Sue Grand Station Feb 2021 (2).jpg, New road near the entrance
File:SRT Dark Red Line at Bang Sue Grand Station 20211114-1.jpg, SRT Dark Red Line train at the Station

References

{{Urban public transport in Thailand

Airport Rail Link (Bangkok) stations
Railway stations in Bangkok
SRT Red Lines
Railway stations in Thailand opened in 2021