Rod Fai Market partially demolished, despite verbal agreements

Yesterday, vendors at Rod Fai Market staged a protest on the market’s grounds, voicing opposition to a State Railway of Thailand (SRT) decision to put a rapid end to the thriving nighttime bazaar.

Rod Fai (also known as the “train market”) set up shop in a disused SRT rail yard several years ago before growing into one of Bangkok’s busiest night markets and the city’s go-to source for vintage clothing and furniture. The SRT recently decided to clear this property in order to make way for the Bang Sue – Rangsit, “Red Line” Skytrain extension.

After bringing their complaint to the SRT, and being subsequently rebuffed, tenants at Rod Fai Market took up their grievances with the company responsible for construction of the Red Line system. A spokesman for the Rod Fai merchants told the Nation that they had reached a verbal agreement with the company to pay THB500,000 per month for use of the property, but that the company moved in on Tuesday and began demolishing market stalls regardless.

Aware of the protest, the SRT apparently ordered the construction company to halt its demolition efforts. According to a post on the Rod Fai Market’s Facebook page, the SRT convened an emergency meeting today to discuss the “train market” ‘s fate.

In the meantime, vendors at the market are busy rebuilding their upended stands and have vowed that this weekend, visitors to the market will experience “business as usual.”

Photos: The Rod Fai Market’s Facebook page



Reader Interactions

Leave A Reply


BECOME A COCO+ MEMBER

Support local news and join a community of like-minded
“Coconauts” across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Join Now
Coconuts TV
Our latest and greatest original videos
Subscribe on