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Rama VI Bridge

สะพานพระราม ๖
View from east bank
Coordinates13°48′47″N 100°30′57″E / 13.813108°N 100.515826°E / 13.813108; 100.515826
Carries2 Railway tracks, pedestrians
CrossesChao Phraya River
LocaleBangkok, Thailand
Official nameSaphan Phra Ram Hok
Characteristics
Design5-span through-truss
Total length441.44 metres
Longest span120.00 metres
History
Construction start1922
Construction endDecember 1926
Opened1 January 1927
Location
Map

Rama VI Bridge (Thai: สะพานพระราม 6, RTGS: Saphan Phra Ram Hok, pronounced [sā.pʰāːn pʰráʔ rāːm hòk]) is a railway bridge over the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, in Thailand, connecting the districts Bang Sue and Bang Phlat.

History

It is the first bridge to cross the Chao Phraya River and was initially both a single-track railway and road (two lanes) bridge.[1][2] Construction started in December 1922,[3] during the reign of Vajiravudh to link the Northern Line with the Southern Line so the bridge was named after King Vajiravudh.[2] Construction cost was 2,714,113.30 baht and It was officially opened on 1 January 1927.[3]

Center of the bridge was torn on 7 February 1945, during World War II, thus it was repaired in 1950-1953 by Dorman Long and Christiani & Nielsen and was officially reopened on 12 December 1953.[3] Following the opening of the adjacent Rama VII Bridge in 1992 due to increase in traffic volumes, cars were diverted from Rama VI bridge. Another railway track was laid in place of the road completed in 1999,[4] making it a railway-only bridge.[2][5]

Location

The bridge is located 13 km from Bangkok railway station, between Bang Son railway station and Bang Bamru railway station. The bridge has 5 spans, all of the through-truss design: 77, 83, 120, 83 and 77 metres respectively, for a total length of 441 metres.[2] It is thus the longest railway bridge in Thailand, almost 110 metres longer than its nearest rival, the 132 metre River Kwai bridge near Kanchanaburi.

References

  1. ^ "สะพานข้ามแม่น้ำเจ้าพระยาแห่งแรก เชื่อมต่อฝั่งธนบุรี-พระนคร" [The first bridge to cross the Chao Phraya River, connecting Thon Buri and Phra Nakhon side] (PDF). Train Relations Magazine (in Thai). Thailand: State Railway of Thailand. 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Niamparn, Wanwisa (29 July 2017). "รวมสะพานรถไฟสุดสวยที่เต็มไปด้วยเรื่องราวทางประวัติศาสตร์" [Collection of beautiful railway bridges which full of history]. The Cloud (in Thai). Thailand. Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "ครบรอบ 93 ปีเปิดใช้สะพานพระราม 6 สะพานรถไฟข้ามแม่น้ำเจ้าพระยาครั้งแรก" [93rd anniversary of opening Rama VI Bridge, railway bridge crossing Chao Phraya River]. Matichon (in Thai). Thailand. 1 January 2019. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  4. ^ Annual Report 2020 (PDF) (Report). State Railway of Thailand. 2021. p. 246. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  5. ^ "สะพานพระราม 6 ลืมกันไปแล้วหรือเปล่า??" [Have you forgotten Rama VI Bridge?]. Readme.me (in Thai). Thailand. 9 December 2019. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
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