Short answer
Eight trains a day pass through Maeklong Railway Market: four arrive at Maeklong station at 08:30, 11:10, 14:30 and 17:40, and four leave at 06:20, 09:00, 11:30 and 15:30, according to a guide dated 20 October 2026; a Seat61 page updated on 1 October 2026 gives the same departures. Times can change, so check the State Railway of Thailand before you travel. On our tour, from $25 per person, the meeting time in Bangkok is set by the train and confirmed on WhatsApp before you pay.
The train passes eight times a day, and the times can change
Maeklong Railway Market, called Talat Rom Hup in Thai, the umbrella pulldown market, stands on the track beside Mae Klong station. GoAsia's guide of 20 October 2026, which cites the Tourism Authority of Thailand, says eight trains a day pass through it. Four arrive at Mae Klong station at 08:30, 11:10, 14:30 and 17:40, and four leave at 06:20, 09:00, 11:30 and 15:30. Seat61's page, updated on 1 October 2026, gives the same departures and a one-hour run between Ban Laem and Maeklong.
Treat the times as a guide, not a promise. Wikipedia describes the line as one of the slowest in Thailand, averaging 30 km/h with no signals, and the service has been cut before: in April 2021 Thai PBS reported that the State Railway of Thailand halved the Ban Laem to Maeklong trains from 8 to 4 for a month because of Covid-19. We could not read the Railway's own 2026 timetable, which loads its data behind a bot check, so check it before you rely on a single time.
Arrivals and departures both pass through the market
A train goes through the market twice, once coming in and once going out, which is why GoAsia counts eight passes and not four. The times also pair up. Counting from the sources, the 08:30 arrival is followed by the 09:00 departure 30 minutes later, the 11:10 arrival by the 11:30 departure 20 minutes later, and the 14:30 arrival by the 15:30 departure an hour later. A 2012 article on Amusing Planet gave slightly different minutes, such as arrivals at 08:40 and 11:20, and warned that schedules may change.
The first departure at 06:20 and the last arrival at 17:40 sit at the edges of the market's day: GoAsia, citing the Tourism Authority, gives the market opening hours as 06:00 to 18:00. The train36.com guide gives 07:00 to 16:00, so hours differ by source and are worth checking if you plan around the first or last train.
How our tour times the visit
Our tour is timed to the train. The group walks Maeklong Railway Market on the track, watches the vendors clear the way and sees the train pass, then continues to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Wat Bang Kung. The meeting time in Bangkok is set by the train timetable at Maeklong, and we confirm the exact time with your booking before you pay.
If the train is late, the guide changes the order of the stops so you still see it. The tour costs from $25 per person for about 7 hours, with transport from a central Bangkok meeting point near a BTS or MRT station, an English-speaking guide, the longtail boat ride at the floating market and drinking water. Lunch is not included, and hotel pickup is possible at extra cost. The price guide for the floating market tour covers the rest of the costs.
Where to stand when the train comes
No source we read names a best spot, and for good reason: this is a working railway. GoAsia's guide, citing the Tourism Authority, says to pause your shopping when a train approaches, keep clear of the track and follow the market staff's directions. It adds that you should come a little before a train to find your spot, and never step onto the rails or squeeze between a train and a stall for a photograph.
Vendors do not clear the track early. The train36.com guide says the approaching train blows its horn and the vendors wait for the second horn, holding the poles of their awnings, and Amusing Planet describes the train passing close enough to nearly touch the goods. Pick a spot at the side where you can step back, keep the aisles clear for shoppers, and ask your guide on the day if you are unsure.
Riding the train instead: route, fares and the catch
There is no direct train from Bangkok. Seat61 describes the route from Wong Wian Yai station: a train to Mahachai, roughly hourly from 05:30 to 20:10, about 59 minutes, fare 10 baht. Then a ferry across the Tha Chin river to Ban Laem for 3 baht, and one of four trains a day to Mae Khlong, leaving at 07:30, 10:10, 13:30 and 16:40, taking one hour for 10 baht. That adds up to about 23 baht each way.
The catch is the second section. Only four trains a day run, so a missed connection means a long wait, and GoAsia advises leaving Bangkok early enough to walk from the ferry to the station. Coming back, the last departure from Maeklong is at 15:30. It is the cheaper and more adventurous way, and the train ride is part of the point, but it does not include Damnoen Saduak, which is a separate trip.
What is in the market besides the train
Maeklong is a fresh market first. Wikipedia calls it one of the largest fresh seafood markets in Thailand, and GoAsia's guide says it stretches about 100 metres along the track, selling seafood, vegetables, fruit, fresh and dried food, meat and everyday goods. The stalls serve local customers, so keep the aisles clear and ask before you photograph people or their goods.
Watching costs nothing: train36.com says there is no entrance fee to the market. Bring cash in baht for what you buy. On our tour lunch is not included, and there is food at both markets, so you can eat as you go. Wikipedia's article on the line gives its history: the railway opened in two stages, in 1904 and 1905, and came fully under the State Railway of Thailand by 1955.
Who should book the tour and who should ride the train
Book the tour if you want to see the train pass without working out a connection of two trains and a ferry, and if you want the floating market on the same day. The meeting time is fixed with you in advance, and if the train runs late the guide moves the stops around. Send us the date, the number of guests and whether you want hotel pickup; we confirm availability and the total on WhatsApp before you pay.
Ride the train yourself if you have a day to spare, enjoy slow local transport and are happy to plan around four trains. The tour is not the cheapest way to see Maeklong, and we do not claim it is. It is the simplest way to see both markets in about 7 hours. Our route guide for the tour follows it stop by stop.
Practical checklist
- Check the State Railway of Thailand timetable for the Ban Laem to Mae Klong line before you travel; times can change.
- Arrive a little before the train to find a safe spot beside the stalls.
- Keep clear of the rails and follow the market staff's directions.
- Carry cash in baht for food and shopping; lunch is not included on our tour.
- Send us your date and number of guests on WhatsApp so we can confirm the meeting time.
Questions and answers
What time does the train come through Maeklong Railway Market?
Four trains arrive at Mae Klong station at 08:30, 11:10, 14:30 and 17:40, and four leave at 06:20, 09:00, 11:30 and 15:30, according to guides updated in October 2026. Check the State Railway of Thailand before you travel.
Is there an entrance fee to see the train?
No. The train36.com guide says there is no entrance fee to the market. You only pay a fare if you ride the train, which Seat61 gives as 10 baht for each train section and 3 baht for the ferry.
Is there a direct train from Bangkok to Maeklong?
No. You take a train from Wong Wian Yai to Mahachai, a ferry across the Tha Chin river to Ban Laem, then one of four daily trains to Mae Khlong. Seat61 estimates about an hour on each train.
What if the train is late on my tour date?
The guide changes the order of the stops so you still see the train pass. The meeting time in Bangkok is set by the train timetable and confirmed with your booking.
Is it safe to stand near the track?
Keep clear of the rails, follow the market staff and never squeeze between a train and a stall, advises a guide dated 20 October 2026 that cites the Tourism Authority of Thailand.