Northern Line (Thailand)

Railway line in Thailand

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Northern Line

Chiang Mai Main Line in Mae Tha District, Lamphun Province

Overview
Status| Operational
Owner| Government of Thailand
Locale| Northern and Central Thailand
Termini|

* Bangkok (Hua Lamphong) (ordinary and commuter services)
Bangkok (Krung Thep Aphiwat) (long distance services)
* Chiang Mai
Sawankhalok

Connecting lines|

* Chiang Mai Main Line
* Sawankhalok Line

Service
Type|

* Inter-city rail
* Regional rail
* Commuter rail
* Freight rail

Operator(s)| State Railway of Thailand
Depot(s)|

* Bang Sue
* Pak Nam Pho
* Uttaradit
* Lampang

History
Opened| 26 March 1896; 129 years ago (1896-03-26)
Completed| 1 January 1922; 103 years ago (1922-01-01)
Technical
Line length| 1,238.56 km (769.61 mi)
Number of tracks| 2–1
Track gauge| 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)

Route map

Legend

|  |

|
|
|
|

|  |

0.00

| Bangkok (Hua Lamphong)
|  |

|  |

| Eastern Line

to Chachoengsao Junction

2.17

| Yommarat Halt
|  |

|  |
|  |

3.29

| Chitralada
|  |

|  | Ramathibodi Hospital Halt
|  |

4.80

| Sam Sen
|  |

6.37

| Pradiphat
|  |

|  |

| Phahonyothin

freight yard

7.47

7.47

|  | Bang Sue

Junction

( Krung Thep Aphiwat

Central Terminal

|  |

|  |

Southern Line to Taling Chan Junction

|  |

|  |

Light Red Line to Taling Chan

Nikhom Rotfai km. 11  |

11.01

11.01

| Chatuchak
|  |

|  |
Wat Samian Nari  |

12.50

12.50

| Wat Samian Nari
Bang Khen  |

13.00

13.30

| Bang Khen
Thung Song Hong  |

17.57

14.81

| Thung Song Hong
Lak Si  |

17.57

17.57

| Lak Si
Kan Kheha km. 19  |

19.47

19.47

| Kan Kheha
Talat Mai Don Mueang  |

21.69

|  |

↑  | elevated stations served

only by Dark Red Line

|  |

|  |
|  |

22.21

| Don Mueang
|  |

|  |
|  |

29.75

| Rangsit
|  |

|  |
|  |

33.84

| Khlong Nueng Halt
|  |

37.47

| Chiang Rak
|  |

40.19

| Thammasat Rangsit University Halt
|  |

44.12

| Nava Nakhon Halt
|  |

46.01

| Chiang Rak Noi
|  |

51.88

| Khlong Phutsa
|  |

58.00

| Bang Pa-in
|  |

62.75

| Ban Pho
|  |

71.08

| Ayutthaya
|  |

74.69

| Ban Ma
|  |

78.98

| Map Phra Chan
|  |

82.31

| Ban Don Klang Halt
|  |

85.44

| Phra Kaeo
|  |

89.95

| Ban Phachi Junction

| Northeastern Line

to Kaeng Khoi Junction

|  |
|  |

93.58

| Don Ya Nang Halt
|  |

96.44

| Nong Wiwat
|  |

99.16

| Ban Plak Raet Halt
|  |

102.73

| Tha Ruea
|  |

108.78

| Ban Mo
|  |

116.56

| Nong Don
|  |

121.72

| Ban Klap
|  |

127.44

| Ban Pa Wai
|  |

132.81

| Lop Buri
|  |

137.51

| Tha Khae
|  |

144.23

| Khok Kathiam
|  |

150.08

| Nong Tao
|  |

154.93

| Nong Sai Khao
|  |

161.22

| Ban Mi
|  |

165.94

| Huai Kaeo
|  |

170.33

| Phai Yai
|  |

172.90

| Rong Rien Chansen
|  |

173.86

| Chansen
|  |

176.63

| Ban Kok Kwaow
|  |

180.20

| Chong Khae
|  |

187.37

| Thale Wa
|  |

188.65

| Phon Thong
|  |

193.02

| Ban Takhli
|  |

198.80

| Dong Maku
|  |

204.06

| Hua Wai
|  |

211.44

| Nong Pho
|  |

217.22

| Hua Ngiu
|  |

221.37

| Ban Nong Mu
|  |

224.81

| Noen Makok
|  |

231.35

| Thung Nam Sum
|  |

235.49

| Khao Thong
|  |

240.20

| Ang Hin
|  |

245.78

| Nakhon Sawan
|  |

250.56

| Pak Nam Pho
|  |

257.15

| Bueng Boraphet
|  |

263.68

| Thap Krit
|  |

270.87

| Khlong Pla Kot
|  |

280.29

| Chumsaeng
|  |

290.24

| Wang Krang
|  |

297.03

| Bang Mun Nak
|  |

303.50

| Ho Krai
|  |

309.87

| Dong Takhop
|  |

319.00

| Taphan Hin
|  |

324.91

| Huai Ket
|  |

332.60

| Hua Dong
|  |

339.36

| Wang Krot
|  |

346.79

| Phichit
|  |

354.26

| Tha Lo
|  |

362.22

| Bang Krathum
|  |

366.21

| Mae Thiap
|  |

375.31

| Ban Mai
|  |

381.87

| Bueng Phra
|  |

389.28

| Phitsanulok
|  |

393.75

| Ban Teng Nam
|  |

400.00

| Ban Tum
|  |

405.31

| Khwae Noi
|  |

414.50

| Phrom Phiram
|  |

423.20

| Nong Tom
|  |

432.75

| Ban Bung
|  |

437.41

| Ban Khon
|  |

447.55

| Phichai
|  |

453.98

| Rai Oi
|  |

458.31

| Ban Dara Junction
|  |

|  |
Tha Sak |

461.80

466.32

| Khlong Lamung
Tron |

469.86

470.27

| Khlong Maphlap
Wang Kaphi |

476.82

474.96

| Wat Khlong Pu
Uttaradit |

485.17

479.03

| Khlong Yang
Sila At |

487.52

483.08

| Nong Riang
Tha Sao |

489.35

487.14

| Sawankhalok
Nam Rit  |

493.31

|  |
|  |

497.56

| Ban Dan
|  |

509.36

| Pang Ton Phueng
|  |

513.72

Pang Tup Khop Tunnel (120.09 m)

|  |

516.41

Khao Phlueng Tunnel (362.44 m)

|  |

517.02

| Khao Phlueng
|  |

521.48

| Huai Rai
|  |

525.65

| Rai Kled Dao
|  |

528.22

| Mae Phuak Halt
|  |

533.94

| Den Chai
|  |

538.43

| Pak Pan
|  |

546.94

| Kaeng Luang
|  |

554.42

| Huai Mae Ta
|  |

563.86

| Ban Pin
|  |

574.04

Huai Mae Lan Tunnel (130.20 m)

|  |

574.57

| Huai Mae Lan
|  |

578.46

| Pha Khan
|  |

581.22

| Pha Kho
|  |

591.07

| Pang Puai
|  |

600.33

| Mae Chang
|  |

609.16

| Mae Mo
|  |

614.15

| Huai Rak Mai
|  |

622.20

| Sala Pha Lat
|  |

628.45

| Mae Tha
|  |

637.41

| Nong Wua Thao
|  |

642.29

| Nakhon Lampang
|  |

647.12

| Bo Haeo
|  |

654.85

| Hang Chat
|  |

660.98

| Pang Muang
|  |

665.09

| Huai Rian Halt
|  |

671.80

| Mae Tan Noi
|  |

681.57

Khun Tan Tunnel (1.3521 km)

|  |

683.14

| Khun Tan
|  |

691.89

| Tha Chomphu
|  |

700.68

| Sala Mae Tha
|  |

707.00

| Huai Kiang
|  |

713.01

| Nong Lom
|  |

723.59

| Doi Ti
|  |

729.21

| Lamphun
|  |

734.64

| Pa Sao
|  |

742.78

| Saraphi
|  |

751.42

| Chiang Mai
|  |

|  |  |  |  |  |

This diagram:

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The Northern Line (Thai: ทางรถไฟสายเหนือ) is a railway line in Thailand, running between the capital Bangkok (at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal) and the northern city of Chiang Mai (Chiang Mai railway station). It is the second longest railway line in Thailand at 751 kilometres (467 mi) long, has 130 operational stations and halts, and is operated by the State Railway of Thailand. The line first opened in 1896. Major cities served by the line include Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Sawan, Phitsanulok, Lampang, and Chiang Mai.

The line's operations were severely affected during World War II.

Since January 2023, long-distance (Special Express, Express and Rapid) trains terminated at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok replacing Hua Lamphong station.

A new 323 kilometer-long branch line, from Den Chai to the Lao border at Chiang Khong, is under construction and is expected to open in 2028.[1][2]

## History

[edit]

### Timeline

[edit]

No.[3] | Segment | Year opened[4]

|
|

1 | Bangkok–Ayutthaya | 26 March 1896
2 | Ayutthaya–Ban Phachi | 1 November 1897
3 | Ban Phachi–Lopburi | 1 April 1901
4 | Lopburi–Pak Nam Pho | 1 November 1905
5 | Pak Nam Pho–Phitsanulok | 24 January 1908
6 | Phitsanulok–Ban Dara Junction | 11 November 1908
7 | Ban Dara Junction–Pang Ton Phueng | 15 August 1909
8 | Pang Ton Phueng–Mae Phuak | 1 June 1911
9 | Mae Phuak–Pak Pan | 15 November 1911
10 | Pak Pan–Huai Mae Ta | 1 May 1912
11 | Huai Mae Ta–Ban Pin | 15 June 1913
12 | Ban Pin–Pha Kho | 1 May 1914
13 | Pha Kho–Mae Chang | 15 December 1915
14 | Mae Chang–Nakhon Lampang | 1 April 1916
15 | Nakhon Lampang–Pang Hua Phong | 20 December 1916
16 | Pang Hua Phong–Pang Yang | 1 July 1918
17 | Pang Yang–Chiang Mai | 1 January 1922

### Name changes

[edit]

Name | Old name[5] | Year changed

|
|

Ayutthaya | Krung Kao | 1917
Nakhon Sawan | Nong Pling | 1956
Phrom Phiram | Ban Krab Phuang | —
Tron | Wang Hin | —
Saraphi | Pa Yang Loeng | 1961

## Infrastructure

[edit]

Chiang Mai railway station is the northern terminus of the line

The Northern Line is entirely single track, except at stations. Track gauge is 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) meter gauge. As the train frequency increases, it is becoming increasingly challenging to operate trains running both direction on the single-line track. Double-tracking has commenced between Lop Buri and Pak Nam Pho, and is planned for the rest of the line. [citation needed]

The Northern Line is not electrified. Regular services run on diesel power. The current maximum operating speed on the line is 100 km/h (62 mph).

### Stations

[edit]

Main article: List of Northern Line (Thailand) stations

### Tunnels

[edit]

Tunnel  | Image  | Length  | Location  | Note

|
|
|
|

Khun Tan Tunnel |  | 1,352.15 m (4,436.2 ft)  | Lampang and Lamphun Province | The longest tunnel in Thailand.
Khao Phlueng Tunnel  |  | 362.44 m (1,189.1 ft)  | Uttaradit and Phrae Province |
Huai Mae Lan Tunnel  |  | 130.20 m (427.2 ft)  | Phrae Province |
Pang Tub Khob Tunnel  |  | 120.09 m (394.0 ft)  | Uttaradit Province | The shortest railway tunnel in Thailand.

## See also

[edit]

* Rail transport in Thailand
* Lopburi Line: railway line of the Greater Bangkok commuter rail
* Northeastern Line (Thailand)
* Eastern Line (Thailand)
* Southern Line (Thailand)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ The History of Den Chai–Chiang Khong Dual-Track Railway Project, 1 March 2023
2. ^ "Excavation Begin on 6.2-Kilometer Railway Tunnel in Chiang Rai". Chiang Rai Times. 2023-03-06. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
3. ^ 100 ปี รถไฟไทย, การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย, 2540
4. ^ ตำนานแห่งรถไฟไทย
5. ^ Rotfaithai.Com

* v
* t
* e

State Railway of Thailand

Inter-city rail|

|  Northern Line|

* Chiang Mai Main Line
* Sawankhalok Line

|

Northeastern Line|

* Ubon Ratchathani Main Line
* Nong Khai Main Line
* Lam Narai Branch Line

Eastern Line|

* Aranyaprathet Main Line
* Ban Phlu Ta Luang Main Line
* Phra Phutthachai Line

Southern Line|

* Su-ngai Kolok Main Line
* Thon Buri Line
* Suphan Buri Line
* Burma Railway
* Khiri Rat Nikhom Line
* Kantang Line
* Nakhon Si Thammarat Line
* Padang Besar Line

Maeklong Railway|

* Wongwian Yai-Maha Chai Line
* Ban Laem-Maeklong Line

Commuter rail|

| Bangkok|

* Greater Bangkok Commuter rail
* Lopburi Line
* Kaeng Khoi Line
* Prachinburi Line
* Ratchaburi Line
* Suphan Buri Line
* Maeklong Railway
* Wongwian Yai-Maha Chai Line
* Siriraj-Salaya Commuter Trains
* SRT Red Lines
* SRT Dark Red Line
* SRT Light Red Line

|

Rapid transit|

| Bangkok|

* Airport Rail Link

|

Trains|

| Current|

* CNR Trains
* Thaksinarat Express
* Uttarawithi Express
* Isan Makkha Express
* Isan Wattana Express
* International Express
* Thaksin Express
* Eastern & Oriental Express
* Other trains

|

Former|

* Nakhon Phing Express

Stations|

* Stations

* Rail transport in Thailand

* v
* t
* e

State Railway of Thailand Railway Stations

Northern Line|

| Northern Main Line|

* Bangkok (Hua Lamphong)
* Yommarat Halt
* Ramathibodi Hospital Halt
* Sam Sen
* Bang Sue Junction \- Krung Thep Aphiwat
* ~~Nikhom Rotfai KM.11~~
* ~~Bang Khen~~
* ~~Thung Song Hong~~
* ~~Lak Si~~
* ~~Kan Kheha KM. 19~~
* ~~Talat Mai Don Mueang~~
* Don Mueang
* ~~Grand Canal~~
* ~~Lak Hok~~
* ~~Khlong Rangsit~~
* Rangsit
* Khlong Nueng Halt
* Chiang Rak
* Thammasat Rangsit University Halt
* Nava Nakhon Halt
* Chiang Rak Noi
* Khlong Phutsa
* Bang Pa-in
* Ban Pho
* Ayutthaya
* Ban Ma
* Map Phra Chan
* Ban Don Klang Halt
* Phra Kaeo
* Ban Phachi Junction
* Don Ya Nang Halt
* Nong Wiwat
* Ban Plak Raet Halt
* Tha Ruea
* Ban Mo
* Nong Don
* Ban Klap
* Ban Pa Wai
* Lopburi
* Tha Khae
* Khok Kathiam
* Nong Tao
* Nong Sai Khao
* Ban Mi
* Huai Kaeo
* Phai Yai Halt
* Rong Rien Chansen Halt
* Chansen
* Ban Kok Kwaow Halt
* Chong Khae
* Thale Wa Halt
* Phon Thong
* Ban Takhli
* Dong Maku
* Hua Wai
* Nong Pho
* Hua Ngiu
* ~~Ban Nong Mu~~
* Noen Makok
* ~~Thung Nam Sum~~
* Khao Thong
* ~~Ang Hin~~
* Nakhon Sawan
* Pak Nam Pho
* Bueng Boraphet
* Thap Krit
* Khlong Pla Kot
* Chumsaeng
* Wang Krang
* Bang Mun Nak
* Ho Krai
* Dong Takhop
* Taphan Hin
* Huai Ket
* Hua Dong
* Wang Krot
* Phichit
* Tha Lo
* Bang Krathum
* Mae Thiap
* Ban Mai
* Bueng Phra
* Phitsanulok
* Ban Teng Nam
* Ban Tum
* Khwae Noi
* Phrom Phiram
* Nong Tom
* Ban Bung
* Ban Khon
* Phichai
* Rai Oi
* Ban Dara Junction
* Tha Sak
* Tron
* Wang Kaphi
* Uttaradit
* Sila At
* Tha Sao Halt
* ~~Nam Rit~~
* Ban Dan
* Pang Ton Phueng
* Khao Phlueng Halt
* Huai Rai
* Rai Kled Dao Halt
* Mae Phuak Halt
* Den Chai
* Pak Pan
* Kaeng Luang
* Huai Mae Ta Halt
* Ban Pin
* ~~Huai Mae Lan~~
* Pha Khan
* Pha Kho Halt
* Pang Puai
* Mae Chang
* Mae Mo
* Huai Rak Mai Halt
* Sala Pha Lat
* Mae Tha
* Nong Wua Thao
* Nakhon Lampang
* ~~Bo Haeo~~
* Hang Chat
* Pang Muang
* Huai Rian Halt
* Mae Tan Noi
* Khun Tan
* Tha Chomphu
* Sala Mae Tha
* ~~Huai Kiang~~
* Nong Lom
* ~~Doi Ti~~
* Lamphun
* Pa Sao
* Saraphi
* Chiang Mai

|

Sawankhalok Branch Line|

* Ban Dara Junction
* ~~Khlong Lamung~~
* Khlong Maphlap
* ~~Wat Khlong Pu~~
* ~~Khlong Yang~~
* ~~Nong Riang~~
* Sawankhalok

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