Lines NE:NongKhai-Laos soon!

[pong]

Perhaps someone knows about this:
currently in Thai bookshops, like See-Ed, is a nice, grey cover book for sale at 50 THB, called UNSEEN Thailand. As most of you will know, this is the current TAT adverstising slogan after 'amazing' has finished. On the cover of this book is a railwaybridge, over a lake, with a slight S-curve and what clearly looks like a SRT express train.
Is this an image of a really existant bridge? If so, where is this? I've travelled about any SRT route (except the Surat Th/Phin-Pin 1/day mixed commuter train to??), but most long routes while asleep.
And sawasdee Phi-Khao &Phi-mai duay, khrap!

[Wisarut]

You are reffering to the Elevated railway line across pasak Jolasit Dam - the replace section inKaeng Khoi - Lum narai - Bua yai short cut! Look at the photos from Thai Railfan and you'll see!

http://www.rotfaithai.com/images/news/img_pasak_02.jpg

You should make a reservation for the special train to pasak Jolasit dam and the information is here:

http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=77

3rd class -> 300 Baht/seat though

Paska Jolasit dam special Holiday train is RUNNING this new year.
:D ;) :p No Suan Son and Namtok Special train durign the New year Season though ... :(

Sprinter at pasak Jolasit dam durign the dry season
http://www.rotfaithai.com/files/0162.jpg

Fishing on the railway track at pasak Jolasit dam
http://www.rotfaithai.com/files/pasak07.jpg

Khok Salung station - the last station before reachign the reservior
http://www.rotfaithai.com/files/pasak06.jpg

JR West at Paska Jolasit Dam
http://www.rotfaithai.com/files/pasak11.jpg

Express Train on Paska Jolkasit
http://www.rotfaithai.com/files/pasak04.jpg

Sunset at Pasak Jolasit
http://www.rotfaithai.com/files/pasak08.jpg

Lots of people on the rail track at Paska Jolasit
http://www.thai.to/uranusnat/Dsc02587a.jpg

Alstom at Paska Jolasit
http://www.thai.to/uranusnat/Dsc02592a.jpg

Mr Tob and Mr Jeff at Khok Salung - elevated station - 7-m form the ground level
http://www.thai.to/uranusnat/Dsc02598a.jpg

Miss Ohn & Alstom at khok Salung
http://www.thai.to/uranusnat/Dsc02605a.jpg

Alstom and GEA at Khok Salung
http://www.thai.to/uranusnat/Dsc02606a.jpg

Pasak Jolasit Dam Stop
http://www.thai.to/uranusnat/Dsc02623a.jpg

What we gotta eat in the train to Paska Jolasit Dam
http://www.thai.to/uranusnat/Dsc02625a.jpg

Defunct Manao Wan Stop
http://www.thai.to/uranusnat/Dsc02617a.jpg

Blue Train test run at Pasak Jolasit dam - can be used
for Pasak trip -> 500 Baht/seat though
http://www.rotfaithai.com/files/dsc03065_806.jpg

[pong]

khrap khun duay, khun Wisarut: you know everything!

[ncr]

Originally posted by Wisarut
You should make a reservation for the special train to pasak Jolasit dam and the information is here:

http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=77

3rd class -> 300 Baht/seat though

Paska Jolasit dam special Holiday train is RUNNING this new year.
:D ;) :p No Suan Son and Namtok Special train durign the New year Season though ... :( Just made that trip with my girlfriend at the beginning of December. First they make a stop in the sunflower fields northeast of Kaeng Khoi, then in the middle of the bridge across Pasak Chonlasit Reservoir, where you can take photos of the rot fai loi nam ("floating train"). Certainly interesting for railfans. After that they go to the next station, Khok Salung, the end of the journey. Then it's back south over the lake to Pasak Chonlasit Stop, where there's nothing but a market, but you have 2 hours until the return to BKK. A lot of time to waste in the afternoon heat....... (well, apparently you can go to see the dam, but I was too tired to do that.)

Apart from that, quite a nice. Food and drinks are included in the 300 Baht ticket price, and the staff were very friendly and funny.

BTW, Khun Wisarut, what is the story of "Suan Son Pradiphat" Stop? How did SRT come up with that? Is there anything there at all? I think the trip to there has no sightseeing program, it's just for people who want to go to the beach?

[Wisarut]

For the case of Suanson Pradiphat Stop, it is a stop not far from Hua Hin ... have a beatiful beach with a long green beach pine trees, white sand, clean seawater .... with virtually NO hotel aroud .....

The local people as well as thsoe railway passengers would liek to play aroudn the beach and swim ....

Thai Railfan account of Suan Son Pradipaht trip are here: :p :D

http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=814
http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=806

Hope tha the photographs won't be BLOCKED ....

Well, Thsi is Hitachi Loco + 19 JR West at Pasak Jolasit Dam
http://www.rotfaithai.com/files/image27_448-1.jpg

Thai Railfan accounts of Pasak Jolasit Dam are here:

First Section:http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=90

Second Section http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=92

The short description of Paska Jolasit trip - REALLY worth speding 500 baht for 2nd class aircon ....
http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=77

Photo of Paska Jolasit Dam
http://www.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=441

A lolt more will follow

[ncr]

A couple more remarks on the daytrip to Khuean Pasak:

1. The photo stop in the sunflower fields is between Hin Son and Kaeng Suea Ten Stations. This was also mentioned by Dr. Volker in the following thread:

http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=433

where he posted a list of closed/omitted stations/stops:

KAENG KHOI JUNCTION-BUA YAI JUNCTION:
Jut Chom View Ti Kar Mar 153/154 Km about 153.5 Only used by Specials!
Jut Chom View Ti Rar Fhar Sang Km about 172 Only used by Specials!

("jut chom view" means viewpoint.) Furthermore he writes,

Omitted due to the construction of the Pa Sak Jolasid Dam, overflooded now:
Ban Nong Bua Km 164.15 Stop
Manao Wan Km 169.00 Stop
Khok Ma Kham Phon Km 183.00 Stop

So we have:
Kaeng Khoi Jn - 125.10 km
Hin Son Station - 147.90 km
Sunflower Field Stop - 153.50 km (approx.)
Kaeng Suea Ten Station - 159.65 km
Pasak Chonlasit Stop - 162.38 km
Bridge Stop - 172.00 km (approx.)
Khok Salung Station - 176.55 km

(Additional information taken from the Rotfaithai site.)

2. Two special trains are available every Saturday/Sunday and on public holidays at the following times:
6.20 Hualamphong - 6.40 Bangsue - 16.25 back Hualamphong
8.05 Hualamphong - 8.26 Bangsue - 18.15 back Hualamphong

3. Tickets can be purchased in any SRT station (in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area, that is). Prices: 300 Baht (3rd class), 500 Baht (A/C, 2nd class), 700 Baht (A/C, 1st class).

4. Will send some pictures of my trip to Ron in the near future, maybe they will get posted on 2B.

The only remaining questions:
- Anyone knows the exact length of the bridge (or rather: viaduct)?
- And does it have a name?

[ncr]

Found the viaduct in a Landsat image - actually it has 5 separate parts with the following lengths:

1) 2.3 km
2) 1.4 km
3) 4.9 km
4) 1.5 km
5) 8.0 km

Total = 18.1 km

(Distances over water; might change quite a bit from the dry to the rainy season.)

The train stopped in the middle of the central section.

[DR.WANGEMANN]

Dear Khun Wisarut,

when using the www.rotfaithai.com webpage in the last days I found some very interesting photos of an UNKNOWN STOP CALLED ASSUMPTION CONVENT SCHOOL.This stop must be situated between Khao Yai Ka Ta and Suranarai on the Khaeng Khoi Junction-Bua Yai Junction of the Northeastern Line.Now to my questions:
1)What's the exact km for that stop(to update my own records and
to give the information to Mr.Dick van der Spek for his
Thailand Railways Map)?
2)When was that stop officially opened?
3)Are there any plans to open new stops or stations on already
existing lines in the near future?
All the best from Volker

[Wisarut]

The new stop at Assumption Convent Lum Narai is at km194+xxx.xx
according to the info form Thai railway ... Howver, I'm waiting to recieve the new List of Railway stations and stops because the old one (1998 version) is DEFINITELY otu of date because SRT has upgraded and downgraded several stations and stops and the the latest SRT annual report I have fould so far is 1998 ....

[GWR]

Where exactly were those famous pictures taken of the trains on this line running on a causeway through the Pasak Cholasit Reservoir. All maps of the diverted line show it closely hugging the western shore in the region of Phattana Nikom.

[GWR]

http://www.appc.co.th/theproject_projectmap.htm
This report from 2003. Anyone any idea whether this got the nod. Not surprisingly, some locals weren't wild about the idea. Dust would be one of the problems. The mine appears to be close to the mainline south of Udon, but will require a spur (probably a loop by the looks of the map). 85% of the mined potash to be carried by rail to Map Ta Phut (or other Eastern Ports!?)
Any comments or up-to-date info?

[qualtrough]

I plan a day trip to the Pa Sadet station sometime soon as it looked very interesting as I passed it yesterday. I don't have any other info about that area. Other than the temple, can anyone tell me if there is anything else interesting to see/know within reasonable walking distance of the station? The train arrives at 12:14 and returns after 18:00 so I will have 6 hours to hike around.

John

[Wisarut]

Pha Sedej - has the inscript of the King Chulalongkorn's Anagram ....

Durign the construction of Railway to Khorat in 1898-1900 .. The section from Kaeng Khoi to Pakchong is the most troublesome of all due to Malaria and the the curse of the Lord of Dong Phaya Fai ...

It is necessary to erect the shrine for Lord od Dong Phaya Fai (*renamed later on as Dong Phaya Yen) and the Anagram of His Majesty to Suppress the Lord .... at Pha Sedej. :D

[qualtrough]

Thanks Khun Wisarut!

[pong]

Hello all, as about anyone who has ever hitherto been to Vientiane via the Nong Khai bridge has seen, there are rails till halfway-bridge and a deserted borderstation at Thai side. Laos seemed to be too frightened to let the iron rooster in. There have been various attempts to do so, but as far as my knowledge came, nothing definite yet.
However, reading the BKKpost last week or so (flew back to Europe in between, so had no time to post before with exact dates), it said that they are currently building the 3 kms to a new station on the Laos side (but still some 15/16 kms away from the centre of VTE). The Francais have payed up for a study for further extension into/close by to VTE proper. I also cannot recall having read anything about it in this forum.
Hence my question (karuna, khun Wisarut, you know all abou the rot fai thai?): what is the current situation and can we indeed see INTERnational trains to 2 countries soon from dear HuaLamPong station? What service will be offered? And will the old station at NKhai be given up completely (it is already far from town, but the new borderstation is even further and awkward to reach)

[GWR]

The line is already connected to Thailand and they are preparing the new station for opening. Last reports said two international trains a day. It should be opening at the end of April, with a member of the royal family to do the honours. There's a whole thread about it here in the Laos subforum. The last entry by Khun Wisaruth was only two days back. You should find some of the answers to your questions in this thread. Khun Wiz says SRT are going to abandon the current branch to Talad Nong Khai Station through low passenger useage, and just run trains through the 'new' Nong Kai station across the bridge to Laos. Of course, some services will also terminate at the 'new' Nong Kai Station:

http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=1055

There are over 100 posts in that thread, so you may have to back up some to find photos, maps and details of the French survey and other projected routes

[pong]

Thank you/khap khun/dank U, I simply had missed this branch till now. Nice to see something is happening at least.