Maeklong Railway Station (สถานีรถไฟแม่กลอง) is one of Thailand’s most famous railway stations, where trains pass directly through the world-famous Umbrella Market several times each day. Visitors come from around the globe to witness vendors pull back their awnings just seconds before the train slowly arrives
🚆 Want to visit Talad Rom Hup (the Umbrella Market)? This is the train. The Umbrella Market lines the tracks right beside Maeklong Station, so any train on the Ban Laem → Maeklong service (trains 4381, 4383, 4385, 4387) rides slowly through the market and into the station – the classic “train through the market” experience. To watch a train squeeze through from the platform, aim for one of the eight daily passing times listed in the timetable below.
Station Information
- Address: Phet Samut Road, Maeklong Subdistrict, Mueang Samut Songkhram District, Samut Songkhram 75000
- Line: Ban Laem–Maeklong Line (part of the Maeklong Railway) – a self-contained line that is not linked to the main SRT network
- Opened: 10 June 1905
- Fare: Flat 10 THB – 3rd class, fan-cooled, unreserved seating
- Tickets: Cash only. Buy at the station counter or pay the conductor on board – there is no online booking for this line
- Opening hours: Roughly first to last train, about 05:30–18:00 daily
- ID required: No
- Facilities: Basic – ticket counter, benches and toilets. The market right beside the station has plenty of fresh seafood, fruit, drinks and cooked food
- Getting around: Songthaews, motorcycle taxis and tuk-tuks wait outside; Amphawa Floating Market is about 10 km away (weekend afternoons only)
- SRT hotline: 1690 (24 hours) – call to confirm times before you travel
Maeklong Timetable
The Ban Laem–Maeklong Line runs just four trains a day in each direction. The times below match the schedule posted on the station board and cross-checked in July 2026, but they can change – always confirm with the station or the SRT hotline 1690 before travelling. All trains are Ordinary (3rd class only, fan-cooled, no reservation) with a flat 10 THB fare paid at the counter or on board.
Outbound – Ban Laem → Maeklong (arriving at the market)
| Train No. | Type | Departs Ban Laem | Arrives Maeklong | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4381 | Ordinary | 07:30 | 08:30 | Buy at counter |
| 4383 | Ordinary | 10:10 | 11:10 | Buy at counter |
| 4385 | Ordinary | 13:30 | 14:30 | Buy at counter |
| 4387 | Ordinary | 16:40 | 17:40 | Buy at counter |
Inbound – Maeklong → Ban Laem (towards Bangkok)
| Train No. | Type | Departs Maeklong | Arrives Ban Laem | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4380 | Ordinary | 06:20 | 07:20 | Buy at counter |
| 4382 | Ordinary | 09:00 | 10:00 | Buy at counter |
| 4384 | Ordinary | 11:30 | 12:30 | Buy at counter |
| 4386 | Ordinary | 15:30 | 16:30 | Buy at counter |
Ordinary = 3rd class only, fan-cooled and unreserved. A single flat fare of 10 THB covers the whole Ban Laem–Maeklong stretch.
Best Time to See the Train
Because a train reaches or leaves Maeklong Station eight times a day, the Umbrella Market “folds up” eight times daily – roughly at 06:20, 08:30, 09:00, 11:10, 11:30, 14:30, 15:30 and 17:40. Arrive 15–20 minutes early to find a spot, and always keep well behind the yellow line – the trains are slow but heavy, and there is very little clearance.
How to Travel from Bangkok
The Maeklong Railway is split in two by the Tha Chin River, so the trip is done in stages: take a train from Wongwian Yai in Bangkok to Mahachai (about 1 hour, 10 THB), cross the river by ferry to Ban Laem (about 5 minutes, 3–5 THB), then catch the Ban Laem → Maeklong train (1 hour, 10 THB). The popular morning connection is the 10:10 train from Ban Laem, which arrives at Maeklong at 11:10. Many visitors ride the train one way and return to Bangkok by minivan, which is faster.
Tips Before You Visit
Which train do I take to see the Umbrella Market (Talad Rom Hup)?
Any train on the Ban Laem → Maeklong service – trains 4381 (07:30), 4383 (10:10), 4385 (13:30) and 4387 (16:40) from Ban Laem. The market lines the tracks right up to Maeklong Station, so the train rides slowly straight through it before stopping. If you just want to watch from the platform rather than ride, come for one of the eight daily passing times: 06:20, 08:30, 09:00, 11:10, 11:30, 14:30, 15:30 or 17:40.
How do I get to Maeklong Station from Bangkok?
By train it is a two-stage journey: Wongwian Yai → Mahachai (1 hr), a short ferry across the Tha Chin River to Ban Laem, then Ban Laem → Maeklong (1 hr). This line is not connected to Thailand’s main railway, so you cannot ride straight through from Hua Lamphong or Krung Thep Aphiwat. By road, minivans and buses from Bangkok reach Samut Songkhram in about 1–1.5 hours and are often quicker.
How much is the ticket and can I book online?
The fare is a flat 10 THB for the Ban Laem–Maeklong stretch, 3rd class only. There is no online booking or seat reservation for this line – simply buy a ticket at the station counter (cash) or pay the conductor on board.
What time does the train go through the market?
Roughly at 06:20, 08:30, 09:00, 11:10, 11:30, 14:30, 15:30 and 17:40 each day – the moments trains arrive at or depart from Maeklong Station. Times can shift, so confirm with the station or the SRT hotline 1690 and arrive a little early.
Is it safe to watch at the market?
It is safe if you stay alert. The trains move at walking pace, but clearance is tight and people have been injured leaning too far over the tracks. Stand where the vendors stand, keep children close, and step well back as the train approaches.
What else is nearby?
Amphawa Floating Market is about 10 km away and is popular on Friday–Sunday afternoons and evenings, often combined with an evening firefly boat tour. The town of Samut Songkhram (Maeklong) itself has riverside temples, seafood restaurants and the Mae Klong River waterfront.
Are there toilets and food at the station?
Yes. There are toilets near the station and the surrounding Maeklong Market is one of Thailand’s largest fresh markets – you will find fresh seafood, tropical fruit, drinks and plenty of cooked food within a few steps of the platform.
What class are the trains?
All services on this line are Ordinary trains – 3rd class only, fan-cooled and unreserved. They are simple diesel railcars with bench seating, which is all part of the charm of this slow, local line.
