Bangsaphan News and Events

New tourist train trip Hua Hin-Bang Saphan
Prachuab Khirikhan province with co-operation from Hua Hin municipality are planning to arrange a new 1-day train tour of Hua Hin-Bang Sapan-Hua Hin for weekends and national holidays. The promoters aim to gain big earnings from the patronage of both Thai and foreign visitors.

Khun Siva Sirisaowalak, vice governor, received an order from the governor to co-operate with Hua Hin municipality and the State Railway of Thailand to arrange the one-day train trip from Hua Hin and Bang Sapan. They hope to use a historic train that is suitable for short journeys and normally based at Hua Hin train station. The tour will be operating only on weekends, long weekends, and national holidays.

"If the State Railway of Thailand allows us to use the old steam engine on this trip it will create a new and exciting chapter for Thailand's tourism. People will enjoy traveling from Hua Hin to cities throughout Prachuab Khirikhan while sitting on a train that is of historic significance. The train was first used 50 years ago and has been parked at Hua Hin station for a long time," Khun Siva explains.

Passengers enjoying their trip will be able to get off the train at any of the 25 stations along the track throughout Prachuab Khirikhan province; the last train station is at Bang Sapan. The scheduling of return trip will be given prior to departure and issued by State Railway of Thailand, Hua Hin train station office.

There are many interesting tourist attractions along the way such as Khao Chong Krajok mountain, Ao Manao coast, Air Force Base 53, the Aquarium museum, King Rama 4's Science National Park at Waa Kor, and so forth. For the last station which is in Bang Sapan, there are old ruins passengers can visit. There are many shallow water fishermen's villages and coconut oil factories waiting to be visited as well.

Many people question, "Why take a train?" The vice governor answers that it takes more time and is more expensive to drive a car. "The train passengers will enjoy the benefit of being away from road accidents and it suits family members and big groups traveling together," explains Khun Siva.

Khun Siraphan Kamolpramote, Hua Hin mayor, shares these views and adds that this trip will promote Hua Hin and its tourism very well. The train is a very safe means of transportation. He also adds that he would like the visitors to experience the ride in the old steam engine from the world war. However, if the old steamer is not available then a diesel train should be very suitable for the trip as well.

"At the moment Hua Hin hosts visitors from other countries especially those from Europe and Scandinavia who migrate to live in Hua Hin permanently. They sometimes hire a car and drive along Petchkasem Road. I would like to support this train trip from Hua Hin to Bang Sapan because it is a positive way to encourage visitors to see more of Prachuab Khirikhan province. A side benefit is that this trip will surely create jobs for local people around those train stations along the way. Local businesses benefit and this will support a lot of families," says Khun Siraphan.

The distance from Hua Hin to Bang Sapan is the same as the distance from Hua Hin to Bangkok. When driving in cars is the only transport option this tends to limit our visitors access to local communities. The train can provide closer encounters to local attractions. Khun Siraphan will contact Hua Hin and Cha-Am entrepreneurs to let them know of this train trip once Prachuab Khirikhan and State Railway of Thailand give the green light to the project. The government hopes that the first trip will be sometime in this coming May.

Source: Hua Hin Today