Chiang Mai Railway Station

Chiang Mai Railway Station (SRT Code : CGM) (Thai: สถานีรถไฟเชียงใหม่ (ชม.)) is the 1st class station and the main railway station in Chiang Mai Province. This station located in east bank of Ping River in the city of Chiang Mai. There are 14 daily trains, including 2 E&O trains servicing this station. There are also 4 to 6 special trains in New Year, Songkran and other special festivals. In the 2004 census, Chiang Mai Station served nearly 800,000 passengers.

Brief history

Chiang Mai station was opened for service for Standard gauge rolling stocks on January 1, 1922. The first train is Lampang - Chiang Mai Mixed train. The additional train was Lamphun - Chiang Mai Mixed train (Later become the second Lampang - Chiang Mai Mixed train) was introduced on January 15, 1922.

Northern Express has been introduced to Chiang Mai on November 1, 1922. Northern Express using Baldwin pacific locomotive (meter gauge) and Swiss consilidate locomotive (meter gauge) was introduced on December 21, 1926. Hanomag pacific locomotive had replace Baldwin pacific in 1928-1929.

Frich Diesel Electric Locomotives had come to replace steam locomotives for Northern express on March 5, 1933, after the experiment on November 16, 1931. The execursion train from Bangkok to Chiang mai was also introduce on 11 April 1933.

The first Chiang Mai Station building was destroyed by bombs from Allied Forces on December 21, 1943. It was rebuild in 1945 and reopened in 1948 even though Northern Express services was resumed on August 4, 1946.

Train services

Additionally from November 1, 2006 to January 31, 2007 SRT may service a Special Train called Ratchaphruk Express train no. 963 and 964, running daily to Chiang Mai to serve the Ratchaphruk 2006 Festival.