Hua Lamphong train station, the grand old lady of train stations in Thailand where many tourist have spend time waiting for the train to Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Nong Khai or Ubon Ratchathani. But on 18 Januray 2023 end December 2021 the last train left this station when its function is taken over by Bang Sue Khrungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal. Unfortunately it is not yet sure what will happen with this old station. The owner (SRT) would probably like to use the land to pay of the huge debt they have. But hopefully the grand old lady will be saved and kept as memory of the old days of Bangkok and actually the old days of traveling in Thailand. The gossip is that it will be used as museum in the future, but at least until 2025 the station will still be used for the eastern line as that can not start at the new station (I assume in the more as 10 years of planning they did forget to build a connecting line).
In 2017 I was in Bangkok and made some photos of this lovely old train station. I love traveling by train, it goes slow and it brings you in contact with real life in Thailand. So I took the early day train from Bangkok train station to Khon Kaen. It was a wonderful trip and I arrived in the afternoon. Along the way drinks & food was sold and I could walk around in the train. Once after passing Saraburi the surroundings be become beautiful. Try it! Construction of this train station started in 1910 and it was officially opened in 1916. The official name is Sathani Rotfai Krungthep in Thai. And in English Bangkok Station, but the informal name Hua Lamphong is used worldwide and even by Thai. The word Lamphong is sometimes also written as Lumphon or Lampong. If you like old Thai train stations then hurry up and visit them all as modernisation is destroying beautiful history! If you are planning to travel in Thailand and need help with planning then feel free to send me a email at
The Little Elephant in Thailand.
On a side note about the name of this train station, in Thai "Hua" means head and "Lamphong" could be translated as radio. So a English transliteration of the name 'Hua Lamphong" would be "Radio Head".
Update July 2022 : This train station was slated to be closed December 2021 but currently it is still open and still being used for the trains to Chiang Mai. Also This Is Thailand!
Update Jan 2023 : Since 19 January 2023 most long haul trains will be leaving from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.
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| Easy to go to by subway and underground walk path of 300 meters |
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| Platforms 1 to 12 |
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Waiting for the train (upstairs is a good coffee shop for breakfast)
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Where is my train?
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Local 2 class airo seating
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Buy your tickets here!
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I always wanted ....
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| Washing the train |
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| Locale 3 class non-airco seating |
