014 – Jan 23 – Hua Hin Train Station

One of the tourist attractions in Hua Hin is the railway station, it is a throwback to the glory days of rail travel. The station is a working piece of history, with old signs and architecture, and still operates using simple railway mechanisms. The photo above shows the Royal waiting room. The Royal family had a summer seaside palace in Hua Hin, and would travel to it by train. The palace is known as the Maruekhathaiyawan Palace and is now another tourist attraction. The station opened in 1910 and was built to a grand Thai-Victorian design.

People waiting for the north bound train to arrive

Old and new station signs and original architecture

The railway system here is very slow and outdated, it is only a single track with passing places at stations. It can take up to five hours by rail from Bangkok, or two and half hours by car typically. There is a new high speed line being built next to the existing line, and a new station for Hua Hin. The old station is going to preserved and become a museum.

South bound train waiting for north bound train to arrive in station.

New station being constructed on the new high level, high speed tracks.

One of the many existing station platform lamps

Across the road, opposite the station, there are some old trains on display.