Chumphon Train Station

Chumphon Train Station is the point where mainland rail meets the Gulf of Thailand ferry routes — the practical gateway to Koh Tao and onward to Koh Samui. It’s also a rebuilt piece of WWII railway history: the original 1916 station was destroyed by Allied bombing in March 1945 and rebuilt in 1948, and two retired steam locomotives still sit near the platform.

Experience

The station opened in September 1916, the point where two sections of the Southern Line construction met — one built north from Hat Yai, one south from Bangkok’s Thon Buri side. During WWII, the Japanese army built a 90 km military branch line from here toward Ranong; in March 1945, Allied B-24 Liberator bombers destroyed both the station and that branch line. The building standing today dates from the 1948 rebuild.

Two preserved steam engines flank the platform: a North British Locomotive Company E class (no. 178, built 1919) and a Baldwin Locomotive Works 4-6-2 (no. 229, built 1926). A row of wooden former railway staff houses lines the approach road, dating from an era when the State Railways of Thailand provided generous staff housing — worth a glance if you’re early for a train.

Insider Tip: The steam locomotives sit at the northern end of the platform, away from where most ferry-bound travellers wait — a five-minute walk if you want photos without the crowd.

Atmosphere & Timing

Functionally, the station is a working transit hub — as the first refuelling stop south of Bangkok, every southbound train has to stop here, so there’s a steady flow of arrivals and departures rather than a quiet museum atmosphere. Vendors sell snacks and drinks on the platforms, and tour agencies just outside the station arrange ferry tickets and onward transport.

Watch out: Plan around the ferry timetable, not the train timetable — island ferries run on their own fixed schedule, and a late or delayed train can mean missing the boat. Build in a buffer of at least an hour if you’re connecting straight through.

Practical

The station sits in the Tha Taphao area of Chumphon town, an easy walk or short tuk-tuk ride from most guesthouses. For a bite before an early ferry, The Chumphon Night Market is nearby, and Krom Luang Chumphon Khet Udomsak Shrine makes an easy add-on if you have a few hours to fill between connections.