The Maeklong Railway, often referred to as the Maeklong Railway Market or The Railway Market, is a unique and famous railway in Thailand that is known for passing directly through an active market. The train tracks run through the Maeklong Railway Market, located in Samut Songkhram Province, which is southwest of Bangkok.
- The Maeklong Railway Market is a bustling local market selling fresh produce, seafood, meats, and other goods. What makes it unique is that the market is set up right along the railway tracks, and the train actually passes through the market several times a day.
- When the train approaches, vendors quickly pull back their awnings and goods, making way for the passing train, only for everything to be set back up once the train has passed. This spectacle makes for a very unusual and fascinating experience for both tourists and locals.
- The train is a local commuter service connecting Ban Laem and Maeklong, and it runs through the market area, which is why it is so famous. The train track is quite narrow, so the train comes very close to the vendors, sometimes within inches of their stalls.
- The trains run at a low speed due to the market’s proximity to the track. There are typically 8 round-trip trains a day, and the market is active when the trains pass through.
- The railway line was originally built during the late 19th century, under the reign of King Rama V, as part of efforts to improve transportation infrastructure in Thailand.
- The section passing through the Maeklong Market was constructed to connect Samut Songkhram to Bangkok. Over the years, the market grew around the track, with vendors setting up stalls along the railway.
- When the train is coming, the market transforms into a temporary zone of preparation. Vendors immediately retract their products from the track, sometimes pulling down the awnings, so the train can pass. Once the train clears, everything goes back to normal, with the vendors setting up their stalls again as if nothing happened.
- This gives visitors an experience where they can witness how the market operates in close coordination with the train schedule. People often come from all over the world to witness this, making it a popular tourist attraction in Thailand.