A Visit To The Hua Lamphong Railway Station While It Lasts
Do you know that the beautiful Italian neo-renaissance style Hua Lamphong railway station has been Bangkok’s railway central railway station for 100 years? Sadly, it is set to make way for the new Central station in Bang Sue in 2019. According to an article here, services will open at the Bang Sue station by 2019, though the move will take three to four years to complete.
The Hua Lamphong station will then be renovated as a railway history museum. Before the move, we set out to visit the station to take some photos.
Trains on the Southern Line will terminate at Chumphon Railway Stationin at Tha Taphao Subdistrict, Chumphon City, due to flood damage.
Each platform has an electronic display board providing information about the next train to depart from that platform. It even shows information if the train is delayed!
As it wasn’t a peak period when we were there, I captured photos of staff performing their duties.
Ticket counters
Kudos to many counters opened, even though there were not many passengers. There was even one counter dedicated for postponement and refund.
Travel Information and Services
Train Information Counter is at your service, for train information .. perfecto!
Ticket Office for Foreigners is located to the left of the ticket counter .. most useful and there is no fee charged for the service.
Facilities
Left luggage service is available at Hua Lamphong train station.
Saw lounge access for First Class … do we have this back home in KL?
For Muslims, praying room service is available too.
No alcohol and no smoking
It was reported here that the ban on alcohol sale and drink on all trains was introduced in the aftermath of the rape and killing of a 13-year old girl on board a night sleeper train. I hope that ban is strictly enforced, and not just introduced for the sake of being introduced.
