Hua Hin City Municipality is seeking permission to use land beneath the elevated railway between Soi Hua Hin 88 and Soi Hua Hin 94, with plans to develop the area into a community market aimed at creating income opportunities for local residents.
The proposal was discussed during a meeting held on 16 January at Hua Hin Railway Station between municipal officials and representatives of the State Railway of Thailand. The meeting focused on the possible use of state-owned railway land and the conditions that would need to be met before any development could proceed.
The municipal delegation was assigned by the mayor of Hua Hin City Municipality and included the mayor’s secretary, senior officials from the Public Health and Environment Division, engineers from the municipal Engineering Office, and officers from the Peace and Order Unit of the Municipal Clerk’s Office.
Safety rules key to proposed railway market
According to officials present at the meeting, the municipality is seeking approval to use the space beneath the elevated tracks to establish a market where residents could sell goods and generate additional income. The proposed site covers the stretch of railway between Soi Hua Hin 88 and Soi Hua Hin 94, an area that is already familiar to residents and commuters.
Representatives of the State Railway of Thailand told the meeting that land adjacent to the railway tracks beneath the elevated structure is earmarked as a main freight train route, with trains expected to operate throughout the day. As a result, any use of the space must comply strictly with railway safety regulations.
The State Railway advised the municipality that it must prepare a detailed site layout showing how the area would be used, including measures to ensure safety for both vendors and railway operations. In addition, Hua Hin City Municipality will be required to submit a formal application to lease the land before any approval can be considered.
Officials said the layout plan and lease application should be presented together at a future meeting for further review. No timeline has yet been announced for when the next meeting will take place or when a final decision might be made.
The municipality has not released further details on the scale of the proposed market or how many vendors it could accommodate, but officials said the project is intended to support local livelihoods while making use of underutilised urban space, subject to the State Railway’s regulations.