Thai Market Built On Railway Track

2012-08-22 2

Everyday, vendors at this market on the outskirts of Bangkok arrange their seafood, vegetables and flowers under large shades, and wait for customers and the trains to come.

The Talad Rom Hub market, or "the closed umbrella market", looks like any other fresh food market in Thailand.

However, it is built on a railway track that sees eight trains a day.

When the train warning siren goes off, people on the tracks have just three minutes to clear the way.

Customers move aside, and the 200 vendors swiftly push back awnings and their wares in a well-rehearsed move as they wait for the train to rumble past.

[Pailin Worakum, Fish Vendor]
"Yes, we have so little time (to move away from the tracks) but all the vendors can make it in time. We are already used to this.”

As soon as the train passes, it's back to business.

The unusual market has become a big hit with tourists, with around 500 visiting daily.

Railway officials say there have been no major accidents since the railway market started.

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