Burma-Thai Railway
Burma-Thai Railway
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- Linda YFrisco, Texas5,665 contributionsReminder of WWIIOur Kanchanaburi tour included stops at the War Cemetery, the Death Railway Museum, and visiting the bridge over the river Kwai. But what really made this story of WWII history come alive? Riding the train and walking the tracks! The reality of what occurred to make this possible is very humbling.Visited November 2022Written 1 February 2023
- hello!Singapore, Singapore10 contributionsAppreciation for historyMy Kanchanburi day trip included taking the train to the Burma Thai Railway and safe to say it was a fun and unique experience. Visiting the Death Railway museum before this, I was able to fully appreciate the experience of riding this train and being on the train tracks, knowing the hardships and sufferings from the POWs during WWII. The train conductors were friendly and patient too!Visited March 2023Written 12 March 2023
- SenMINGJohor Bahru, Malaysia54 contributionsA scenic and historical journey along the Death RailwayI took the train from River Kwai station to Nam Tuk Station as part of my trip in Kanchanaburi, and I was amazed by the scenery and the history of this route. The train departs daily at around 6:15am and arrives at Nam Tuk Station at 10:30am, passing through the famous River Kwai Bridge, the Wampo Viaduct, and the Hellfire Pass. The train is old and simple, but comfortable enough for the long ride. The windows are open, allowing you to enjoy the fresh air and the views of the river, the mountains, and the jungle. The most impressive part of the ride is the history behind it. The railway was built by prisoners of war and forced laborers during World War II, under harsh conditions and with many casualties. The train ride from River Kwai station to Nam Tuk Station is a must-do for anyone who visits Kanchanaburi. It is a scenic and historical journey that will give you a glimpse of the past and the present of this region. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves nature and history.Visited June 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 24 September 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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SenMING
Johor Bahru, Malaysia54 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
I took the train from River Kwai station to Nam Tuk Station as part of my trip in Kanchanaburi, and I was amazed by the scenery and the history of this route. The train departs daily at around 6:15am and arrives at Nam Tuk Station at 10:30am, passing through the famous River Kwai Bridge, the Wampo Viaduct, and the Hellfire Pass.
The train is old and simple, but comfortable enough for the long ride. The windows are open, allowing you to enjoy the fresh air and the views of the river, the mountains, and the jungle. The most impressive part of the ride is the history behind it. The railway was built by prisoners of war and forced laborers during World War II, under harsh conditions and with many casualties.
The train ride from River Kwai station to Nam Tuk Station is a must-do for anyone who visits Kanchanaburi. It is a scenic and historical journey that will give you a glimpse of the past and the present of this region. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves nature and history.
The train is old and simple, but comfortable enough for the long ride. The windows are open, allowing you to enjoy the fresh air and the views of the river, the mountains, and the jungle. The most impressive part of the ride is the history behind it. The railway was built by prisoners of war and forced laborers during World War II, under harsh conditions and with many casualties.
The train ride from River Kwai station to Nam Tuk Station is a must-do for anyone who visits Kanchanaburi. It is a scenic and historical journey that will give you a glimpse of the past and the present of this region. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves nature and history.
Written 24 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tim L
Alcester, UK34 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
An extremely moving reminder of how humanity looses its compassion in times of conflict. So many young men and women lost to barbarism.
Very well tended cemeteries for those who fell and those who remain without names, known unto God.
Take the time to visit the museums as well as hellfire pass
Very well tended cemeteries for those who fell and those who remain without names, known unto God.
Take the time to visit the museums as well as hellfire pass
Written 16 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andy S
Clanfield, UK607 contributions
Jun 2023
A short one hour train ride towards Burma ending after crossing one of the original wooden viaducts built by the Allied POWs in 1943.
Written 3 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alan N
Lake Worth, FL217 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
Historic but dreadfully hot. I mean painfully hot. I'd skip the train all together if I knew better. We went to Hellfire pass to see that then the train ride about 40 miles. Just awful. We were with a tour group with a bus so maybe if you don't have transportation otherwise.
Written 6 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hello!
Singapore, Singapore10 contributions
Mar 2023
My Kanchanburi day trip included taking the train to the Burma Thai Railway and safe to say it was a fun and unique experience. Visiting the Death Railway museum before this, I was able to fully appreciate the experience of riding this train and being on the train tracks, knowing the hardships and sufferings from the POWs during WWII. The train conductors were friendly and patient too!
Written 12 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patricia J
London, UK24 contributions
Feb 2023
I was stung by a bee near my eye this morning while standing at the station, the station staff were fantastic, they pulled the stinger out of the bite, and picked aloe Vera leaf to put on it. Absolutely wonderful so very kind.
Written 15 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda Y
Frisco, TX5,665 contributions
Nov 2022
Our Kanchanaburi tour included stops at the War Cemetery, the Death Railway Museum, and visiting the bridge over the river Kwai. But what really made this story of WWII history come alive? Riding the train and walking the tracks! The reality of what occurred to make this possible is very humbling.
Written 1 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ron H
Colo Vale, Australia487 contributions
Dec 2022
My trip to Hellfire Pass was amazing we did a private tour and our guide walked us through the area and then a short a/c car ride to a local Thai restaurant for lunch (included) then onto the train to go over the last wooden bridge then back into the car to Kwai River Bridge and the Australian cemetery then back to Bangkok total trip was about 12 hrs and cost us $120 each included lunch, as much water as we could drink car rides train ride the tour guide entry into Hellfire experience and return to motel. (seriously the best way to do this otherwise you are driving around in a bus picking up heaps of people and then rushed at the sites.
Written 22 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam239 contributions
Nov 2022
A nice trip on a older style train through some colourful scenery. Trains leave on time but don't always arrive on time. Better than the bus and cheaper. get tickets on the day
Written 22 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ianwyj
Singapore5,197 contributions
May 2022
I'm a bit of a military history buff so on a recent trip to Kanchanaburi province, it was a must-do to take a ride on this historic line. The 'original' line linked Nong Pladuk Junction in Thailand with Thanbyuzayat in Burma, nearly all of constructed under terrible conditions by Allied prisoners-of-war and Asian labourers between 1942 to 1943, with many losing their lives in the process. Today's line links Bangkok's Thonburi station with Nam Tok station in Kanchanaburi province, a distance of slightly over 200 kilometres.
I did the journey over two days - first, from Nam Tok station to Saphan Kwae Yai (River Kwai Pier) station, staying the night in Kanchanaburi town, before continuing the journey back to Thonburi. Overall, with a few delays along the way, the whole trip took slightly over five hours. I never got to figure out what the locals paid for their journeys, but for foreigners, each segment (regardless of distance was 100 baht, about USD3 - quite a bargain). No luxury anywhere on the train - it was third-class all the way with open-air windows to provide ventilation. Seats were either hard cushioned or wooden or even plastic subway-style (depending on your carriage) although one could always switch seats anytime.
While the journey provided a wonderful opportunity to observe train-side rural life in Thailand as well as how the locals use it to and from work/school at neighbouring stops, its main draw are related to its role in the south-east Asian theatre during World War 2. Seeing the metal bridge over the River Kwai, the Wang Pho viaduct including the trestle bridge at Tham Krasae, and Hellfire Pass (about 40 minutes' drive from Nam Tok terminus station) make it easy to understand why this line is also known as the Death Railway.
I did the journey over two days - first, from Nam Tok station to Saphan Kwae Yai (River Kwai Pier) station, staying the night in Kanchanaburi town, before continuing the journey back to Thonburi. Overall, with a few delays along the way, the whole trip took slightly over five hours. I never got to figure out what the locals paid for their journeys, but for foreigners, each segment (regardless of distance was 100 baht, about USD3 - quite a bargain). No luxury anywhere on the train - it was third-class all the way with open-air windows to provide ventilation. Seats were either hard cushioned or wooden or even plastic subway-style (depending on your carriage) although one could always switch seats anytime.
While the journey provided a wonderful opportunity to observe train-side rural life in Thailand as well as how the locals use it to and from work/school at neighbouring stops, its main draw are related to its role in the south-east Asian theatre during World War 2. Seeing the metal bridge over the River Kwai, the Wang Pho viaduct including the trestle bridge at Tham Krasae, and Hellfire Pass (about 40 minutes' drive from Nam Tok terminus station) make it easy to understand why this line is also known as the Death Railway.
Written 22 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kurir
Jyllinge, Denmark21 contributions
Hej Tove
Køber man bare billetter på stationen i Kanchanaburi? eller?
Synes ikke jeg kan fine de 2 stationer du nævner.
mvh Lotte
Henrik S
Copenhagen, Denmark297 contributions
Vi købte billet på toget. Og sjovt nok var der et skilt, hvor der stod 300 bath for udlændige - underforstået lokale betaler ikke noget. Til gengæld fik man kildevand eller sodavand at drikke samt et diplom om, at man have rejst med jernbanen. Mvh Henrik
MistressOf I
1 contribution
Hello everyone!
I plan to do this trip, and I've got 1 question :
Most of you say that the train was very full, however, I've found a post written by WHBlok, in which he mentions that his carriage was almost empty. Does anyone know on what that depends please? Perhaps it's the time of departure, choosing the right day or both?
I will appreciate any information you may have on this matter.
Regards,
Anna
Steve D
Brisbane, Australia157 contributions
All people are different ! Sometimes 6 people are a crowd .
Do yourself a favour ...Jump on the train & don't worry about it.
If you get worried about people on the train...simply get off.
Lene936
The Woodlands, TX26 contributions
I'm interested in riding this and I don't want to hire a private tour
How/where did you buy the tickets?
Thanks in advance
bikerjoe15
Singapore, Singapore992 contributions
You can walk on the tracks or buy the tickets at the stations itself
GlobeTrotting583495
12 contributions
Hi, I am in Kachanamburi staying near bus station. I want to get the trip on the train to Hellfire Pass but where from? where is the station and what are the times for the train? also, can we take the same train back to Kachanaburi or how fo we come back?
Thanks
David7478
McCaysville, GA51 contributions
Hellfire Pass, or to give it its proper name, Konyu Cutting. This is located about 80 km (50 miles) north of Kanchanaburi, on the disused section of line beyond Nam Tok. Here, the Australian government has cleared about 7km of the old track-bed as a memorial to the 13,000 allied prisoners and 80,000 Asian labourers who died building the railway - though only 4 km is currently open to the public. The site includes the Hellfire Pass itself (Konyu Cutting, dubbed 'Hellfire Pass' by the PoWs for the way the worksite looked at night by torchlight, and pictured right). A taxi and driver for half-day from Kanchanaburi will cost about £35, and you can ask the driver to drop you at Nam Tok on the way back, to return to Kanchanaburi or Bangkok by the 12:55 or 15:15 train. There are one-day organised tours from Kanchanaburi, but these typically get only 30 minutes at Hellfire Pass, only enough to see the pass itself. If you go independently, you can walk past the locations of 'Three Tier Bridge' & the 'Pack of Cards' bridge several km northwest of the visitor centre. Hope this helps
sclok
Penang Island, Malaysia1 contribution
Hi Dario,
My wife and I will be visiting Thailand from Malaysia in November 2018. One of our itinerary is the Death Railway experience. My questions are:
1. The train ride from Kanchanaburi to Nam Tok, are we going to see:
a. The Bridge On the River Kwai,
b. Wampo Viadust
c.Hellfire Pass
2. Is 1 day enough in Kanchanaburi or we need an extra day to explore further?
3. Is there any form of transport from Nam Tok back to Bangkok?
4. What other interesting things to see in NamTok?
Thank you
SCLOK
sclok
Penang Island, Malaysia1 contribution
Hi ,
My wife and I will be visiting Thailand from Malaysia in November 2018. One of our itinerary is the Death Railway experience. My questions are:
1. The train ride from Kanchanaburi to Nam Tok, are we going to see:
a. The Bridge On the River Kwai,
b. Wampo Viadust
c.Hellfire Pass
2. Is 1 day enough in Kanchanaburi or we need an extra day to explore further?
3. Is there any form of transport from Nam Tok back to Bangkok?
4. What other interesting things to see in NamTok?
Thank you
SCLOK
Ken S
Phuket, Thailand38 contributions
You can ride the same train from and to Bangkok as a they only add the tourist carriages in Kanchanaburi. Hellfire pass is around 80 Kms from Kanchanaburi and to do the museum and walk the rail bed through the pass is at least half a day. The day trips tend to rush around a bit.
I would suggest the train from Bangkok and onto Nam Tok, great scenery, then back to and overnight in Kanchanaburi and use a local car and driver to take you around the grave yards and to Hellfire Pass.
Take you time and enjoy the peace and quiet of the area.
ugyen c
Surat Thani, Thailand1 contribution
Does this train leave from Bangkok? Can we get the ticket on the day of travel or do we need to book in advance? Thank you!
DaleL943
Kelowna, Canada405 contributions
Yes it leaves from nonthaburi station across the river in Bkk. No problem to buy your ticket on the day of travel it is never full.
Best to take a taxi to the station as it is not close to any MRT line
Pepitoza123
5 contributions
Bonjour nous souhaiterions faire le tronçon le plus beau dans la balade en train 1h aller retour serait parfait . Fait il un aller retour , à quel endroit prendre le train ? Merci !!!!
yoyo b
Avignon, France249 contributions
Bonjour,
Si vous n'avez qu'une heure sa va être court, le train , 'est pas rapide.
Selon moi, il ne donc pas le prendre a partir de Kanchanabury mais dans l'autre sens et prévoir un véhicule pour le retour car de mémoire sa dure au moins deux heures je crois il s’arrête a toute les gares.
HipDipinHK
London, UK139 contributions
Can you take bikes on the train?
DaleL943
Kelowna, Canada405 contributions
Yes you can in one of the end cars just like excess luggage.
ellymat
Milan, Italy1 contribution
Ciao Vorrei sapere se è possibile acquistare in anticipo dall'Italia i biglietti per il treno da bangkok a kanchanburi andata e ritorno? nel caso si potesse dove li compro?
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Frequently Asked Questions about Burma-Thai Railway
- Hotels near Burma-Thai Railway:
- (0.25 km) Banrimkwae Paerimnam Resort
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