It is the largest railway station in Southeast Asia, with 26 platforms—some 600 metres long.[7] The station will offer 274,192 m2 of usable floor space. The 15 billion baht station is built on 2,325 rai (372 ha; 919 acres) of SRT-owned land and will have maintenance depots for both diesel and electric trains. An elevated walkway connects the station to the new Mo Chit Bus Terminal.[6]
Currently, long-distance intercity trains terminate at this station, while ordinary and commuter trains calling at all stations continue onwards to Hua Lamphong and still operate at the old Bang Sue Junction railway station.[8][9][1]
In 2010 under the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Ministry of Transport decided to move Bangkok's central railway station (Hua Lamphong station) to the area of Bang Sue Junction Railway Station, to be the center of the rail transport system.[11] In 2013, work on the station started with a contract signing by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), Sino-Thai Engineering Construction PCL, and Unique Construction and Engineering PCL for the Red Line suburban railway system project consisting of civil work for Bang Sue Grand Station and a maintenance center.[12] In December 2020 it was announced that civil construction of the station was complete.[13]
Trial operations of the SRT Red Lines, open to the public, began from the station on 2 August 2021.[2][16][17]
A 33-million baht contract to install a new sign with the station's new ceremonial name was put on hold in January 2023 following public concern about the price.[18]
Intercity services began operation from the station on 19 January 2023, with 52 long-distance trains which originally terminated at Bangkok (Hua Lamphong) moved to the station.[19]
Ground floor: Station concourse with ticketing and waiting areas. This will be the only air-conditioned area in the station.
Second floor: Train platforms with 12 tracks. Eight tracks will serve long-distance diesel trains (soon to be electrified).[23] Four tracks will serve SRT Red Dark and Light Red Line commuter trains.
Also planned is a 186,030 m2 (2,002,400 sq ft) memorial site to King Rama V, known as the "father of Thai railroads", although this is expected to open after the station itself.[6]
Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal is also the location of Phahonyothin cargo yard. With an expanse of about 50 rail-tracks and sidings, it is the largest rail yard in the whole of Thailand. It is located about 1.5 kilometres from the station and is the main cargo yard for freight services around Thailand.[24]
^"ก.คมนาคมเล็งย้ายหัวลำโพงไปที่บางซื่อ" [A. Transportation aiming to move Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue]. Thai PBS News (in Thai). 24 February 2010. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
^"รฟท.เซ็นสร้างสถานีบางซื่อคาดเสร็จใน 2 ปีครึ่ง" [SRT signs construction of Bang Sue Station, expected to be completed in 2 and a half years]. thairath.co.th (in Thai). 18 January 2013. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
