Travel by train in Thailand

Practical information about trains in Thailand

The train is definitely the cheapest way to travel in Thailand. The third class tickets are very very affordable. The train average speed is quite low, about 40 km/h or less and thai trains are never on time but it's still a pleasant way to travel if you have time. There are several levels of comfort, several types of more or less rapid train (regular, fast, express or super express). The railway network in Thailand consists in four lines, the Northern line, the Southern Line, the Eastern Line and the North Eastern Line.

Book your train tickets online

Thailand railway network map

By traveling by train in Thailand, you can discover the Thai countryside behind the windows. If you want to enjoy the scenery, it is better to travel in the 3rd class. It is less comfortable and doesn't have air-con but the cars are windowless, a good thing when you consider that the windows in the upper classes are often to dirty to let you see clearly the outside. The other major benefit of traveling bu train in Thailand, is the contact with the population. The vast majority of passengers are Thai and they often offer to share fruits or other food they have purchased with others passengers. A generosity that we very rarely see in Western countries but here it is natural. You often do great encounters on the train even if the communication is not always easy. For whoever really wants to know Thailand and Thai people, taking the train is an experience to live. The ballet of vendors with their platters of kebabs, chicken wings, bottles, drinks, cashew nuts, rice cakes ... is funny to watch. No need for a dining car, they bring you everything you need on a plate. Everything is at 10 to 20 bahts. At least in 3rd class. In first class, depending on the duration of your trip, you have one or more meals included in the ticket price, no vendors are allowed to get in the cars and there is a train attendant in each car.

Be careful before boarding on a train, make sure it is yours, it may be the exact time of your train departure but the train is not yours. Train punctuality is quite relative in Thailand. At all train stations of the cities frequented by tourists, you have a Tourist Police or the TAT (Tourism Authority Thailand ) desk which will inform you. Otherwise, ask the other passengers if the train goes where you want to go. You can show them your ticket or try to talk to them in Thai. For instance rod faï nee paï tee Chiang Mai maï khrap means Does this train go to Chiang Mai ?. Remplace khrap by kha if you are a woman and Chiang Mai with the name of the city you want go to. Note that it is not usually necessary to book your tarain tickets in advance except for the night trains and Super Express trains. You can not go anywhere by train in Thailand. Phuket, for instance, although it is a major tourist destination has no railway station.

Some interesting infromation about trains

Print Thailand train timetables

Northern line timetables

From Bangkok
To Bangkok

Northeastern line timetables

From Bangkok
To Bangkok

Eastern line timetables

From Bangkok
To Bangkok

Southern line timetables

From Bangkok
To Bangkok

Railway stations in Thailand

Address

Phone

Ayutthaya Train Station

Ho Rattanachai
13000 Ayutthaya

035 241 521

Ban Krut Railway Station

77190 Ban Krut

032 695 004

Bang Saphan Yai Train Station

Kamnoet Nopphakhun
77140 Bang Saphan

032 691 552

Bang Sue Train Station

10800 Bangkok

02 587 4613
02 222 0175

Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station

Phra Rama IV
10330 Bangkok

02 222 0175
02 220 1690

Buriram Train Station

Nahsathani Road
31000 Buriram

1690
02 220 4334

Bus Station

73000 Nakhon Pathom

034 514 438

Cha-Am Railway Station

Narathip Road
76120 Cha Am

032 471 159

Chiang Mai Railway Station

Wat Ket
50000 Chiang Mai

053 236 094
053 245 363

Chumphon Train Station

Krumluang Chumphon Road
86000 Chumphon

077 511 103

Don Muang Train Station

Si Kan, Don Mueang
10210 Bangkok

02 566 2957
02 222 0175

Hat Yai Junction Train Station

90110 Hat Yai

074 243 705
074 238 005

Hua Hin Train Station

Damnernkasem Road
77110 Hua Hin

032 511 073

Kanchanaburi Train Station

Saeng Chuto Road
71000 Kanchanaburi

034 511 285

Khon Kaen Railway station

Darun Samran Alley
40000 Khon Kaen

Lak Si Train Station

Talat Bang Khen, Lak Si
10210 Bangkok

02 573 1394
02 222 0175

Lampang Train Station

Sop Tui
52100 Lampang

054 217 026
054 217 024

Lopburi Train Station

Naphrakan Road
15000 Lopburi

036 411 022

Nakhon Pathom Bus Station

73000 Nakhon Pathom

034 341 378

Nakhon Pathom Railway Station

Langsa Thanee Rodfai Road
73000 Nakhon Pathom

034 242 305

Nakhon Ratchasima Train Station

Mukkamontri Road
30000 Nakhon Ratchasima

044 242 044

Pattaya Train Station

45 Sukhumvit Road
20160 Pattaya

038 429 285

Phetchaburi Railway station

Rotfai Road
76000 Phetchaburi

032 425 211

Phitsanulok Train Station

Bung Phra Road
65000 Phitsanulok

055 258 005

Prachuap Khiri Khan Train Station

54 Maharat Road
77000 Prachuap Khiri Khan

032 611 175

Si Saket Bus Terminal

Kuang Heng Road
33000 Si Saket

045 612 500
045 617 978

Si Saket Railway Station

Ratchakan Rodfai 2
33000 Si Saket

045 611 525

Surat Thani Railway Station

Tha Kham, Phunphin
84130 Surat Thani

077 311213

Thon Buri Train Station

Siri Rat, Bangkok Noi
10700 Bangkok

02 222 0175

Train station

Nong Dume Road
32000 Surin

044 511 295
044 515 393

Trang Train Station

Sathani Road
92000 Trang

075 218 012

Ubon Ratchathani Train Station

Warin Chamrap
34190 Ubon Ratchathani

045 321 004

Udon Thani Train Station

Prajak Road
41000 Udon Thani

02 222 0175