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The Train to Nowhere - Bangkok
Suburban Orient revisited
The Train to Nowhere
Long term residents of Krung Thep have heard of “the train to nowhere” but for the unititiated it provides a glimpse of a bygone era and a taste
of local Asia.
The train journey from Bangkok Wong Wian Yai station (Thonburi) -not Thonburi station!!- provides a rewarding one hour trip to
Samut Sakhon (Mahachai), a fishing and boat building town on the Tha Chin river. It’s easy to find the terminus. From Wong Wian Yai traffic circle,
walk through the open air clothes market on the south west corner. Within seconds you will be walking on the train tracks.
The scenery enroute is more local than scenic and for a view of what local suburban life is like, this is the trip to take.
There will be few tourists on this route. The seats are uncomfortable and as the train passes through local market townships with merchants
transporting produce. The train will be fairly dirty at the end of the line (both ends!). Asia was like this 20 years ago and it is somehow reassuring
that this experience still exists in small pockets of life in the suburbs.
Mahachai has a big local market and some excellent seafood lunch restaurants along its waterfront.
To push the envelope further, cross the river, and board the train for the onward journey to Samut Sakhon.
This is the true train to nowhere.Separate from the rest of the national rail system, the thrice daily service crosses the extensive salt fields,
once mangrove swamps, for the short trip to Samut Songkram, where the River Kwai flows into the Gulf .
Its actually the Maeklong river at this point, but about 80kms upriver is the infamous bridge.
Watch out for ostriches on this section as the farming of the bird has increased dramatically over the past 5 years.
The town is also a boat building and fishing port and onward destinations include Amphawa firefly watching or a trip upriver to negotiate the
canal lock of Damnoensaduak and a longtail boat trip back to Samut Sakhon. You are in the capital's market garden area here and
the floating market is close by. Even so, a meter taxi ride to Bangkok is never far away.
Its not quite “nowhere” but the nickname certainly adds some mystery to a very alternative day out.
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For more Information contact:
Tom Bishop
Managing Director
tom@dtctravel.com
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About DTC Travel
DTC Travel is a British owned and managed,
Thai registered, company operating in Bangkok since 1995.
DTC provides both inbound and outbound travel services to Thailand
plus travel arrangements originating anywhere.
As members of both the Association of Special Fares Agents and the
International Travel Association we enjoy global links over 70 associated
discount travel offices in more than 50 countries, affording access
to special discount prices not available from Thai suppliers.
Click here to
Contact Us.
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