Линия Махачай · полдня из Бангкока
Рынок Маклонг на рельсах: рынок, который складывается перед поездом
At Maeklong, a hundred kilometres southwest of Bangkok, the railway runs straight through a wet market. The stalls sit on the tracks. Eight times a day a train comes through, the awnings fold back, the goods come off the floor, and thirty seconds later the market reassembles itself. It is the best free show in Thailand.
What actually happens
The market is not a performance for tourists — it existed before the railway and it will outlast the tourists. When the bell rings, stallholders pull back canvas awnings mounted on rails, lift baskets of fish and chillies off the ground, and press themselves against the stalls. The train passes within inches. Then everything goes back.
Getting there by train
This one takes two trains and a ferry, which is half the fun. From Wongwian Yai in Thon Buri, take the local train to Mahachai, cross the river by ferry, then pick up the Maeklong line from Ban Laem. The whole run takes a couple of hours each way and costs almost nothing.
The market trains run several times a day in each direction, timed around the market's working hours. Because these are suburban services with no reserved seating, we do not sell them — you buy at the counter on the day. Our booking system covers the intercity lines only.
Doing it properly
- Go for a mid-morning or early-afternoon train so the market is in full swing.
- Watch the arrival, then stay for the next departure — the two look different and the departure is the better photograph.
- Combine it with Amphawa floating market, a short ride away, if you are making a day of it.
- Weekends are crowded with Bangkok day-trippers; weekdays are calmer and the stallholders have more time to talk.
These are unreserved suburban trains bought at the counter on the day — we do not sell them. For the intercity lines, where seats and berths need arranging, start from our Thailand page.
Questions people ask
How do I get to Maeklong Railway Market from Bangkok?
Train from Wongwian Yai to Mahachai, ferry across the river, then the Maeklong line from Ban Laem. It takes a couple of hours and costs very little.
What time does the train go through the market?
Several times a day in each direction, roughly through the morning and early afternoon. Times shift with the timetable, so check the day you travel.
Can I book Maeklong tickets on this site?
No. These are unreserved suburban trains bought at the counter. We sell the intercity lines, where seats and berths need arranging.