Revitalized! Songkhla Railway Station Awakens After More Than 40 Years
Sunday, June 2, 2024, 9:28 AM
Naewna Online
Songkhla Railway Station is being revitalized after being dormant for over 40 years. Seven decommissioned carriages, including diesel locomotives, passenger cars, and freight cars, have been brought from Hat Yai Junction and placed on the tracks for display. These will be repaired and repainted, and the surrounding area will be landscaped to transform the station into a new check-in point and tourist attraction in Songkhla City.
The Songkhla Railway Station is experiencing a resurgence after the State Railway of Thailand discontinued the Hat Yai-Songkhla line more than 40 years ago. The over 100-year-old station is being restored to its former glory, preserving its historical design. This project aims to create a cultural and classic tourist destination in Songkhla. The station, now a registered historical site by the Department of Fine Arts since 2004, will be equipped with decommissioned diesel locomotives, passenger cars, and freight cars from Hat Yai Junction, which will be repaired, repainted, and displayed. The surrounding area will also be improved to create a new tourist hotspot in Songkhla City as part of the municipality's railway track restoration project.
The Songkhla Railway Station, an over 100-year-old historical landmark, ceased operations on July 1, 1978. It was registered as a historical site in 2004 due to its architectural and historical significance to Songkhla.
The Songkhla Municipality, in collaboration with the Songkhla Provincial Office of Tourism and Sports, has allocated a budget of 7 million baht to restore the station, aiming to turn it into a learning center and a new historical tourist attraction. The station building is being restored to its original design, recalling the era when the Hat Yai-Songkhla line was operational. The station has become a valued tourist site, attracting visitors who come to take photos and reminisce.
In addition to the station itself, other elements such as a tea shop run by a former railway worker since 1957 continue to operate, adding to the station's charm. This tea shop, a long-standing fixture, remains a unique feature of the station, drawing both locals and visitors who appreciate the atmosphere of the old railway station.
With ongoing restorations, the station is expected to regain its former beauty soon. The restoration includes repairing and repainting the seven carriages and enhancing the surrounding landscape to restore the station's original charm.
Buncha Talukit, a Songkhla resident, expressed his delight at the restoration efforts, noting that the improved aesthetics and environment would attract people to visit and reminisce about the history of Songkhlas railway. He believes this will become a significant tourist attraction, allowing future generations to learn about and appreciate the history of railways in Songkhla, making it a new landmark for the province.
In the program today, we will discuss a recent post about the Songkhla Municipality's announcement regarding the relocation of a train carriage to Songkhla train station as part of a rehabilitation project. This project aims to restore Songkhla Railway Station. We need to acknowledge that the details of this project have been somewhat unclear, and there seems to be a lack of continuous updates.
The renovation was supposed to make the station more appealing, but frequent visits show signs of neglect. It raises questions about the project's progress and whether it is worth continuing. To shed light on this, we'll speak with the Mayor of Songkhla, Mr. Wanchai Parinyasiri.
Mayor Wanchai took office in December 2022, and the project is currently in its third phase out of four. Phase 1 began in 2014 with a budget of 7,480,000 baht and was completed in 2016. Phase 2, involving preservation efforts, stalled from 2016 until 2020. In 2020, the project resumed, and by 2021, a budget of 3,700,000 baht was allocated to further develop the station area.
Recently, a locomotive and bogie were brought to the station, but their condition has raised concerns. The Mayor is unsure about the specifics of the agreement and the state of these items. The project seems to be at a crossroads, requiring additional budget estimates and expert consultations to determine the feasibility of restoration.
The Mayor mentioned that if significant funds are needed, it might be more beneficial to allocate the budget to other pressing projects that could yield better results for the community. Songkhla Municipality is already facing budget constraints, with many ongoing development plans.
For now, the community and council need to consider whether to invest further in the train station project or redirect resources to other areas. This decision will require careful evaluation of the project's potential benefits and the best use of limited funds.
Thank you to Mayor Wanchai Parinyasiri for his insights. This situation highlights the importance of thoughtful budget allocation and project management to ensure the most beneficial outcomes for the community. Now, let's follow up with the weather report.
It's been over 10 years since I last explored the Hat Yai-Songkhla railway line. Today, I checked Google StreetView and found updated photos from April 2024. So, I took the opportunity to virtually explore the area south of the former Nam Krachai stop. This virtual exploration will have to suffice until I can visit in person again.
Let's start our journey in front of Ban Nam Krachai School, located on Kanjanavanich Road (Highway 407), also known as the old Songkhla-Hat Yai road.
Looking along the road towards Hat Yai, you can see a mountain in the distance. That is Kuan Khanlao, which has a resort on top. I haven't visited it yet. Behind the mountain is the area around the former Khuan Chong station on the Su-ngai Kolok railway line.
Last edited by Mongwin on 07/06/2024 5:21 pm; edited 1 time in total
From the front of Ban Nam Krachai School, walk towards Hat Yai for 260 meters. There will be an alley on the left called Rattanathibet Alley. Turn into the alley and continue walking.
Last edited by Mongwin on 07/06/2024 5:18 pm; edited 1 time in total
Walk into Soi Rattanathibet for more than 400 meters, and you will see a house with an orange and black fence as a landmark. This indicates that you are close to the old railway line.
From the house with the orange and black fence, go to the intersection and turn right onto the dirt road. This road runs parallel to the old railway line, heading towards Hat Yai.
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