Commuters face railway woes

Commuters face railway woes

Transport Ministry looks to boost Krung Thep Aphiwat’s appeal

People make their way to a train at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal on Thursday, the first day all long-haul trains were to depart from the new station instead of the old Hua Lamphong station. Ordinary, commuter and excursion trains will continue operating from Hua Lamphong. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)
People make their way to a train at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Fatal on Thursday, can be all long-haul locomotives were to depart through the new station rather than the old Hua Lamphong station. Ordinary, commuter and excursion trains will continue operating from Hua Lamphong. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)

The State Railway of Asia made a big change in the 126-year history on Thursday when the SRT moved the operation of long-distance teach services to the Northern, Northeast and South of the country from Hua Lamphong station to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Fatal, formerly known as Hammer Sue Grand Place, in Chatuchak region.

The aim is to fully use the 34-billion-baht main grand station and reduce traffic congestion around a number of railway crossings near the old train hub in Bangkok, according to Minister of Transport Saksayam Chidchob.

The ministry plans in order to renovate the 121-rai Hua Lamphong region for commercial purposes while the old airport terminal, which was constructed more than a century ago, can become a museum that is accessible via the, he said.

Yet the move to relocate services to the new station is usually facing some critique from passengers and opposition from the State Railway Workers Partnership of Thailand.

Recently, the marriage conducted a traveler survey and discovered that the majority of train users want all teach services to continue operating out of Hua Lamphong station instead of Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, despite shuttle service buses being offered cost-free to connect the two channels.

The main issue is that public transportation will end up more difficult and costly for passengers, said Samart Ratchaphonsit, deputy leader of the Democratic Party and a railway service expert.

“The closure of Hua Lamphong will cause suburban commuters to suffer and pay higher costs, ” Mr Samart said, adding that constructing tunnels or overpasses could have solved traffic problems without the need to close Hua Lamphong station.

Sarawut Charoongkit, a construction worker, said he regularly utilized Hua Lamphong place before it was shut.

“It has been this way for a long period… [relocating services] would cause confusion and make it harder for some to travel to faraway or unfamiliar places, ” the 35-year-old told the Bangkok Post .

Duang Phengtraphy, the 66-year-old retired train worker and frequent traveller, shared similar concerns but mentioned passengers would experience additional transit costs.

“When people take the teach to Bangkok, they will expect to arrive at Hua Lamphong, ” she said. “With the particular change, the [travel] distance will be even greater, charging more to travel through the train station to their last destination. ”

Sukalaya Malua, a monthly consumer, expressed similar grievances regarding the SRT’s shift of diverting teach services to Bang Sue.

“Because my home is close to the [old] train station, having all teaches at Hua Lamphong is very convenient for me personally, ” the 53-year-old weaver said, adding the transition might be “very confusing and difficult” for her.

Along with travellers, local service providers and businesses are also impacted by the change.

Wittaya Ramana, a motorbike taxi cab driver near Hua Lamphong station, at this point expects the number of their customers to drop simply by half.

“I believe that a few trains moving in order to Bang Sue  can reduce the number of people exactly who come here, decreasing my income, ” he said.

For the 37-year-old, the matter had been discussed by other drivers and passengers for a long time.

He or she said he had been aware change was coming and that he had to prepare.

“We had been preparing for this change for a long period, even before Covid-19, inch he said, incorporating that he now might have to take on a second work to supplement their income.

Kan Phochanang, 63, another motorbike taxi cab driver, said he had been hearing about the change for several years plus expected a significant drop in customer amounts and income.

For some, the particular SRT’s commer- cialisation plans for the Hua Lamphong area might be beneficial, especially to the people selling goods in order to tourists, said Patcharameth Naphasinchaiboo, a cafe owner near the station.

“I heard for a while that will Hua Lamphong would be converted into a museum, ” she stated.

The particular 43-year-old added that if the station was converted into a museum with street food and a walking road, it would become another major tourist appeal in the city.

When requested whether the SRT correctly disseminated information about the particular change, the coffee shop owner said positively: “No, the SRT did not adequately publicise the story. ”

She stated the public is still confused about whether the authorities only will relocate some trains or close the particular station entirely.