Maeklong Railway Market - Unusual Thai Market That Makes Way For Trains

Image Source: imgur.com

The Maeklong Railway is a metre gauge railway that runs for nearly 67 kilometres (42 mi) between Wongwian Yai, Bangkok, and Samut Songkhram in central Thailand. The railway became famous for its route running right down the middle and close enough to touch shops of Maeklong Railway Market.

Image Credit: Reuters/Chaiwat Subprasom

Image Credit: Reuters/Chaiwat Subprasom

Image Credit: Reuters/Chaiwat Subprasom

Market stalls that stretches 300m along urban railroad, selling everything one might expect to find in any Thai market: fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, herbs and spices, clothing, flowers, and tempting street food.

Market stalls on both side of railway track are sheltered by low-hanging awnings and giving narrow footpath for customers over the railway track. When train’s fog horn announces its arrival, the awnings are pulled back only as far as necessary. The baskets of fruits and vegetables are shifted just enough as to not be sliced by the metal wheels. Once the train passed, the vendors immediately put the awnings and goods back into their original places and went back to normal as if nothing had happened.