Fai Chai Junction

Fai Chai, also written as Faichai (Thai: ไฟฉาย, RTGS: Faichai, pronounced [fāj.t͡ɕʰǎːj]), is a four-way intersection in Bangkok located in Ban Chang Lo and Bang Khun Si Subdistricts, Bangkok Noi District, Thonburi side. It is the junction of Charan Sanit Wong, Phran Nok and Phran Nok–Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Roads, can be considered as another main intersection of Thonburi side, besides Tha Phra and Borommaratchachonnani. This junction is a location of Fai Chai MRT Station.

Fai Chai
ไฟฉาย
Fai Chai Junction in late 2019 (seen from Phran Nok–Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Road to Phran Nok Road)
Location
Ban Chang Lo and Bang Khun Si, Bangkok Noi, Bangkok, Thailand
Coordinates
Roads at junction	Charan Sanit Wong (north–south) Phran Nok (east) Phran Nok–Phutthamonthon Sai 4 (west)
Construction
Type	Four-way at-grade intersection, multi-way footbridge, tunnel and BTS tracks with MRT station

It was founded in 1941 from the expansion of Pran Nok Road. Its name Fai Chai meaning "searchlight" because of this area during World War II was to install of many searchlights to illuminate the Allied aircraft that had been bombed at nighttime. Due to Bangkok Noi was the location of the Imperial Japanese Army base and close to many important places such as Bangkok Noi railway station, Siriraj Hospital, Naval Dockyard Department and Grand Palace in Phra Nakhon side etc.[1]

In the past, there were only three-way junction. Later in 2015, there was an extension of Phran Nok–Phutthamonthon 4 Road from Taling Chan District to alleviate traffic problems, thus making it into a four-way intersection in the present.[1]

The area of Fai Chai between early 1960s to late 1980s was the location of the Southern Bus Terminal (currently moving to Taling Chan), market, Nakornloung Shopping Center and namesake movie theater. Including nearby, Soi Charan Sanit Wong 27 or Soi Buppha Sawan was the center of the many famous luk thung (Thai country song) labels. But now these things are not there anymore.[2]