ทางรถไฟสายมรณะ · ประมาณ 3 ชั่วโมง
นั่งรถไฟจากกรุงเทพฯ ไปกาญจนบุรี: สะพานข้ามแม่น้ำแคว
The line to Kanchanaburi is the old Burma Railway, built by Allied prisoners of war and Asian labourers under the Japanese in 1942–43. Thousands died building it, and the bridge over the Khwae Yai is what remains of the story most visitors come to see. The train that takes you there is an ordinary third-class service, and that is precisely the point.
Where it leaves from
Trains to Kanchanaburi leave from Thon Buri, on the west bank of the Chao Phraya — a small, quiet station that is nothing like the central terminal. It is reachable by MRT and by river ferry, but it is not walkable from most of downtown.
The trains
| Train | Departs | Arrives | Duration | Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 257 | 07:45 | 10:20 | 2h 35m | Ordinary |
| 259 | 13:55 | 16:19 | 2h 24m | Ordinary |
Two departures a day each way, third class with fans and open windows. About three hours to Kanchanaburi; the line continues beyond it to Nam Tok, over the wooden trestle bridges at Tham Krasae.
The bridge and the museums
- The Bridge on the River Kwai — walkable from Kanchanaburi station. Still in use, which is why you can stand on it while a train crosses.
- JEATH War Museum and the Thailand–Burma Railway Centre — the second is the more carefully curated of the two and explains what the railway actually cost.
- Kanchanaburi War Cemetery — maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, a short walk from the station.
- Tham Krasae — the stretch where the track clings to a cliff above the river on wooden trestles. Worth continuing on the train for.
Practical
- Third class only on the regular service; there is no air conditioning, and that is part of the experience rather than a problem.
- Weekends bring Thai day-trippers and the train fills; weekdays are calm.
- The return is in the late afternoon — miss it and you are on a bus.
- There are tourist excursion trains on some weekends and holidays using vintage carriages; they are separate services and not part of the regular timetable.
Every departure for your date, with durations and classes side by side. Seats on these services are arranged by us and confirmed with the railway before you pay.
Questions people ask
Which station in Bangkok goes to Kanchanaburi?
Thon Buri, on the west bank of the river. Not Krung Thep Aphiwat and not Hua Lamphong.
How long is the train to Kanchanaburi?
About three hours from Thon Buri, depending on the service and how long it waits at junctions.
Can you still ride over the Bridge on the River Kwai?
Yes. The bridge is on the working line between Kanchanaburi and Nam Tok, and trains still cross it several times a day.
Is the Kanchanaburi train air-conditioned?
No. The regular service is third class with fans and opening windows. Some weekend tourist excursions use different stock.