DESTINATION: Nakhon Pathom, Nong Pladuk, Suphanburi, Kanchanaburi
DATE OF TRIP: 3rd December 2022

I belong to a Facebook group called ชมรมคนรักรถดีเซลราง which translates as Diesel Railcar Lovers Club. They organise their own railfan trips by renting a two-carriage Daewoo railcar. From what I understand, it costs them around 90,000 baht. If they sell all 128 seats for 700-800 Baht then that covers costs. They can then go where they like and stop where they like. Well, within reason. The trip has to be approved.

The highlight of this special excursion train will be the light and sound show during the River Kwai Bridge Week Festival. However, we will also be taking the branch line that goes from Nong Pla Duk Junction (map) to Suphanburi Station (map). I’ve been meaning to go on this line for a long time but I have always put it off as there’s only one train a day and the return trip is at something like 4:20 a.m. This line was originally built as bypass for Bangkok so southern trains could reach the northern line without having to go to Bangkok Railway Station first. But they never built beyond Suphanburi.

Special Train No. 969 will leave Bangkok Railway Station at 6:15 a.m. Our first stop will be at Nakhon Pathom Station at 7:29 a.m. We will have 40 minutes here to get breakfast. Our next stop will be at Nong Pla Duk Junction at 8:23 a.m. We will have 40 minutes here to explore. This station is significant as it’s the starting point of the “Death Railway”. We will then head down the branch line to Suphanburi Station which we will reach at 10:45 a.m. I need to find out what local transportation is like if you arrive on a regular train. We have two hours here which is enough time to visit some of the attractions in the city.

Our train number will then change to No. 970 and we will depart Suphanburi at 12:45 p.m. Our next stop is Kanchanaburi Station at 3:45 p.m. We have an hour here. I presume we will get to see the steam locomotives that are used in the light and sound show. At 4:45 p.m. we will go the short distance to River Kwai Bridge Halt. This is where we will stay to attend the light and sound show and to walk around the fair. There are two shows at 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Our train will change its number to No. 972 for the return trip at 11:00 p.m. It is scheduled to reach Bangkok Railway Station at 1:15 a.m. As I have another trip at 6:00 a.m. I will sleep at a hotel next to the station.

 

RETURN TO: My Trip Notes