Train service to Cambodian border to start July 1

The new daily train service between Bangkok and Ban Klong Luk border station in Sa Kaeo province will start running on July 1, the State Railway of Thailand announced.

There will be four trips a day, two in each direction, acting SRT governor Worawut Mala said on Tuesday.

Ordinary passenger train No 275 will depart Bangkok for Aranyaprathet and Klong Luk at 5.55am and arrive at the border station at 11.17am.

Ordinary passenger train No 279 will operate on the same route, leaving Bangkok at 1.05pm, reaching the border station at 5.27pm.

Inbound, ordinary passenger train No 280 will depart Klong Luk station (Rong Kluea market) at 6.58am, arriving in Bangkok at 12.05pm, and ordinary passenger train No 276 will depart the border station at 1.53pm, arriving in Bangkok at 7.40pm.

Mr Worawut said Thailand and Cambodia earlier signed an agreement to jointly operate the train service linking the two countries.

The SRT had provided four diesel-powered trains and opened the Ban Klong Luk border station on April 22. 

He predicted the new service would facilitate the travels of Thai and foreign tourists wanting to cross the border.

A railway official said later the adult fare between Bangkok and Ban Klong Luk station would be 49 baht each way.

For advanced ticket bookings or further information, traveller cancontact the SRT customs service via hotline 1690 around the clock or website, www.railway.co.th or @pr.railway Facebook page.

It is not known when Cambodia will begin operating trains from adjoining Poi Pet.  

Train services between the two countries were terminated 45 years ago, amid conflict arising from the civil war in Cambodia. 

(Supplied photo via Thodsapol Hongtong)