The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) launched service on its extended route to the Cambodian border in Sa Kaew’s Aranyaprathet district on Monday morning.

The route, which runs from Aranyaprathet railway station to the Ban Khlong Luek border checkpoint, also known as Rong Kluea Market, commenced service at 6:58 am.

The SRT said the extension of the route follows a signing of a memorandum of understanding with Cambodia to link the railways of the two countries.

Ban Khlong Luek railway station was opened on April 22 and the SRT gave four diesel trains to Cambodia to run from the Cambodian side to the station to allow passengers to travel to Thailand.

With the extended route, two trains leave the Ban Khlong Luek station to Bangkok and two trains from Bangkok arrives at the Ban Khlong Luek station each day.

On the first day, about 10 Thais bought tickets to Bangkok from the Ban Khlong Luek station.

The SRT announced that the first train from Bangkok leaves at 5:55am and reaches Ban Khlong Luek at 11:17am. The second one leaves the capital at 1:05pm and reaches Ban Khlong Luek at 5:27pm.

The first train from Ban Khlong Luek leaves at 6:58 am and reaches Bangkok at 12:05pm while the second train leaves the border station at 1:53pm and reach the capital at 7:40 pm.

Passenger Kamolwan Ketsawatdiwong, 72, said he was happy to use the extended train service, which is much more convenient than riding a passenger van or a bus. THE NATION (THAILAND)