Khun Tan Railway Tunnel

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: All Day

 

Khun Tan Railway Tunnel is located in Moo 8, Ban Khun Tan, Tha Pla Duk Subdistrict, Mae Tha District, Lamphun Province. It is one of the most important historic railway structures on Thailand’s Northern Railway Line, connecting the mountainous section between Lampang and Lamphun before the route continues toward Chiang Mai. The tunnel was started in 1907 during the reign of King Rama V and completed in 1918. With a length of approximately 1,352.10 meters, it held the record as Thailand’s longest railway tunnel for a long period and remains one of the country’s most iconic railway landmarks.

 

Khun Tan Tunnel is more than a scenic photo stop near Khun Tan Railway Station. It represents a major chapter in the history of Thai transportation. Before the railway reached the northern region, travel to Chiang Mai required long journeys by river, forest routes, and mountain paths. The construction of a tunnel through the Khun Tan mountain range transformed a difficult natural barrier into a practical route for passengers, goods, and cultural exchange.

 

The tunnel was built under challenging conditions. Workers and engineers had to deal with mountainous terrain, dense forest, hard rock, disease, and limited construction technology by modern standards. The project took about 11 years to complete, and its success helped make the Northern Railway Line a major artery linking northern Thailand with the rest of the country.

 

Today, Khun Tan Railway Tunnel remains closely associated with Khun Tan Railway Station and Doi Khun Tan National Park. Travelers can experience the site by taking a train on the Northern Line or by driving to the Ban Khun Tan area. The atmosphere around the station is peaceful and mountainous, making it suitable for photography, slow travel, railway history, and nature-based trips.

 

Getting There can be done in two main ways. The most atmospheric option is to travel by train on the Northern Railway Line and get off at Khun Tan Railway Station. Visitors can also drive to Ban Khun Tan in Tha Pla Duk Subdistrict, Mae Tha District, using the route toward Doi Khun Tan National Park and Khun Tan Railway Station.

 

Visitors should view the tunnel only from safe public areas near the station and railway facilities. Khun Tan Tunnel is still part of an active railway route, so walking into the tunnel or standing on the tracks is unsafe. Always observe railway signals, listen to staff announcements, and avoid entering restricted railway areas.

 

 

A: It is located in Moo 8, Ban Khun Tan, Tha Pla Duk Subdistrict, Mae Tha District, Lamphun Province, near Khun Tan Railway Station and Doi Khun Tan National Park.

 

A: Khun Tan Railway Tunnel is approximately 1,352.10 meters long.

 

A: Construction began in 1907 during the reign of King Rama V and was completed in 1918.

 

A: It long held the record as Thailand’s longest railway tunnel before newer railway tunnels surpassed it in length.

 

A: Yes. Visitors can take the Northern Railway Line and get off at Khun Tan Railway Station, which is close to the tunnel.

 

A: Visitors should stay in safe public areas, avoid entering the tunnel, and never stand on the railway tracks because trains still operate on this route.