Maeklong Railway Market is the most unique railway market in Bangkok.

The Maeklong Railway Market stands out among others for its unique feature: it is located at the top of the railway tracks! On a daily basis, the market is transformed to allow the train to pass. The market is actually very close to Bangkok, it is easy to get to, and the trip is worth it. For all Thai travel enthusiasts, watching trains pass through the market is one of the best activities in Bangkok.

Origin of Maeklong Railway Market

The Maeklong Railway Market has existed since 1905. It is located in the province of Samut Songkhram, located on the shores of the Gulf of Thailand. Fishing is one of the main means of livelihood of the people who lived here, and the market was another way by which one could sell their goods. Officials decided to build a railway to better deliver these goods to the provinces around Thailand, including the capital. The market, however, remained despite the new rails that cut through it.

The Maeklong Railway was built in two separate stages. Tachin Railway Ltd, founded in 1901, built a line to Samut Sahon from Bangkok. It opened in 1904 with eight stations. A year later, the Maeklong Railway Company opened the 34-kilometer Ban Laem line. The lines merged in 1907 to form Maeklong Railway Ltd. Initially, the company opened the railway as a freight line, transporting products from the fishing ports of Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkram to the markets of Bangkok.

The Thai military gained control of the railway in 1942, during World War II, and the line was nationalized by the Thai government in 1946. This line has been operated by the State Railway of Thailand since 1952 and was fully merged into the SRT in 1955. In 1961, the original terminus of the line at Khlong San was closed and replaced with a bus stop to ease traffic congestion in Bangkok. The railway became famous for its route through the Maeklong Railway Market. It is one of the largest fresh seafood markets in Thailand, located on the Maeklong Railway line. Whenever a train approaches, the awnings and storefronts are moved back from the rails to be replaced as soon as the train has passed.

The train passes through Meaklong Market 8 times a day!

The Maeklong Railway Market has everything that we have learned and loved in Thai markets. Fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, sweet snacks, clothes and flowers are displayed on the shelves. The main difference is that there are railway tracks right in the middle! The train passes through the market 8 times a day. A few minutes before the arrival of the train, an alarm is sounded on the loudspeaker. Within minutes of receiving the warning, vendors fold back their specially designed awnings before the arrival of the train, sometimes just a few minutes before it. That's why the market is locally known as Talat Rom Hoop, which translates to "close market umbrellas". The fog horn of the train announces his arrival just before the turn. Prepare yourself a good camera to record this unique moment!

It's nice to just walk around the market and see what the sellers have to offer. Or you can take a train through the market and you can see the vendors moving their stuff and pulling up the awnings a few seconds before you pass by. Walking around the market by train is only part of the experience, a train ride is also a great experience. The Maeklong Railway Market is one of the most beloved among visitors, which can offer you the feeling of "real" Thailand.

How to get to Makelong Railway Market

You will find the Maeklong Railway Market about 80 kilometers from the city, located in Samut Songhram district. Depending on the congestion of Bangkok, the road there takes a little more than an hour. There are several different ways to get to the railway market: the first is to take a minibus departing from Bangkok South Bus Station (Sai Tai Mai), or you can get to the market by train, which takes about 3 hours in total.

Take the train from Wongwian Yai Station to Makhachai Station. Cross the river to Tha Chalom Pier. Take another train from Ban Laem Station to Maeklong Railway Market, having studied the train schedule before you hit the road so as not to miss it. However, the travel time of this train may vary, and trains are often late.

What you can experience here

One of the main things to do in this market is to watch a passing train. In the middle of the market there are railway tracks running through the entire market. People walk all these paths until the last minute.

The quality of this market lies in its novelty and the train that passes through... not necessarily his products. This is where you will find mostly Thai food for sale. While there will certainly be some clothing and accessories available, the bulk of this market consists of Thai sweets, meat, seafood, vegetables, fruits and drinks. It's surprisingly cheap in the Maeklong railway market, most of the things available were much cheaper than what is in Bangkok. If there is something you have seen in Bangkok that you would like to try, this is the place.

The railway market is open 7 days a week from 6.20 am to 5.40 pm. The opening hours of the Maeklong Railway Market follow the first and last arrival of trains at Maeklong Station. Go in the morning and then spend your day at one of these wonderful live music bars in Bangkok. It's a great way to end your day. Alternatively, you can take a short trip to the boat dock and take a walk along the canals. This will take you to the Damnoen Saduak floating Market. The floating market was once the main market for local vendors and Bangkok residents, but since then it has begun to pay more attention to its tourist appeal.