Bangkok train guide
Trains are an interesting way to travel around Thailand if you have a limited budget and want to enjoy scenic views of the country’s landscape along the way.Â
Bangkok’s train stations offer many train routes to other major cities. To help you in navigating, here’s our Bangkok Train Guide, with useful info for your next trip to Bangkok.Â
Train stations in Bangkok
1. Hua Lampong Train Station
Image credit: @chphotoak via Instagram
Hua Lamphong Train Station, a major train station in central Bangkok, offers ordinary and express trains to eastern provinces including Chachoengsao, Chonburi, and Prachinburi. If you wish to visit Pattaya, you can take a train at this station. Note that the express trains to the eastern cities are offered on the weekend only.
Hua Lamphong Train Station also has local ordinary trains going to Bangkok’s outskirts, ordinary trains to Ayutthaya and the Cambodian border, Ban Klong Luk in Sa Kaew, as well as ordinary weekend trains to Kanchanaburi.
You can also take an ordinary train to these terminal destinations in other regions: Phitsanulok in the north, Surin in the northeast, and Huahin in the south.Â
The station is notable as it is a large original station with iconic vintage architecture and a spacious concourse. A number of photo enthusiasts enjoy photographing the place.Â
After 19th Januray 2023, all long-distance express trains to the north, the south, and the northeast have been moved from Hua Lamphong Train Station to a new train station – Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station. Only some ordinary trains and eastern trains are operated at Hua Lamphong Train Station.
Address: Rong Muang, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330
How to get here: Take the MRT and get off at Hua Lamphong MRT Station. Walk out at Exit 2, and then you’ll reach the train station.
2. Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station / Bang Sue Station
Image credit: @hsinie_chen via Instagram
Located in northern Bangkok, Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station is a new Bangkok train station where you can take express trains to visit the north, the south, and the northeast.
Once you arrive at the station, you’ll notice that this new train station is huge, with clean and modern designs. A small food court can be found in the station and while it is not so big, it may later get expanded.
The station offers routes to other major destinations such as Chiang Mai, Narathiwat, Hat Yai, Ubon Ratchathani that Hua Lamphong Station doesn’t.
All trains here are rapid, express, and special express trains.
Address: Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900
How to get here:Â The station is located along with Bang Sue Grand Station. You can take the MRT to the MRT Bang Sue Station and leave at Exit 2, or take SRT Red Lines to Bang Sue Station which is located at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station.
3. Thonburi Station aka Bangkok Noi Station
Image credit: @heng_anirut via Instagram
Located in western Bangkok, the Thonburi Station offers two daily trains to Kanchanaburi, one daily train to Ratchaburi, Chumpon, and Prachuap Khiri Khan, as well as 10 daily trains to Nakhon Pathom. Â
The station is near a market, so you can get some food while waiting for the train or bring some snacks from the market with you.Â
All trains here are ordinary trains.
Address: Siri Rat, Bangkok Noi, Bangkok 10700
How to get here: You can get off at the MRT Bang Khun Non Station and hail a taxi to reach the Thonburi Station in five minutes.
4. Wong Wian Yai Station
Image credit: @robert542 via Instagram
For Bangkok residents who wish to visit Samut Sakhon, Wong Wian Yai Station is another train station in western Bangkok that offers ordinary trains to Mahachai in the city centre.
Upon reaching Mahachai in Samut Sakhon, the train will run through Rom Hub Market, where vendors sell things next to the railway. It’s an interesting experience to watch the vendors move their wares out of the way when the train comes through and move them back again after the train passes. It’s a spot that many tourists like to visit and take photos of.
Address: Don Mueang, Bangkok 10600
How to get here: We recommend taking the BTS to the Wong Wian Yai BTS Station and getting a taxi to arrive at the train station in 5 minutes.
Booking train tickets
There are several ways to book your train ticket. You can buy a ticket in person, via an app, through the train website, or by contacting the call centre.Â
Ticket prices can vary based on the train’s destination, type, and class, and some ordinary train tickets can only be bought at the station, for example, ordinary trains to Pattaya. If you can’t find an ordinary ticket online, check out the stations in person.
Long-distance travel bookings can be made up to 30 days in advance. If the journey is less than 25% of the long-distance train’s total distance, reservations open one day before departure.
1. In-person booking
Image credit: @nomad_wolf13 via Instagram
If you’re flexible or want to take a 3rd class train, you can buy a ticket at the station on your travel day. However, if you want to take a specific train on a specific date, or travel a long distance on peak Thai holidays such as New Year or Songkran, we recommend booking a ticket in advance.
You can find ticket offices at all train stations. For example, Hua Lamphong Station has a ticket office on the concourse. Here, you can also buy tickets for express trains at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station.
2. Call 1690 to book a ticket
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You can call 1690 24/7 to book a ticket beforehand, but you have to book it five days before the trip and go pick up your ticket at the corresponding station before 10pm on the next day or your ticket will be automatically cancelled.
3. WebsitesÂ
Image credit: The State Railway of Thailand Website
The State Railway of Thailand’s website is a convenient way to book a ticket. It will show prices, types, and classes of trains that you can choose. Check out the booking method here.
Alternative agency websites you can visit are 12Go.Asia and Baolau. Trains route, ticket-collecting options, and payment methods might be different on these websites.
4. D-ticket
 Image credit: D-ticket app
D-Ticket is The State Railway of Thailand’s train ticket booking application. It’s user-friendly, and bookings can be made in the same way as on the website.
After booking, save your ticket on your smartphone and show it to the train employee when boarding the train.
Train classes
When booking your seats on the train, you can consider 1st class sleepers, 2nd class sleepers, 2nd class seats, and 3rd class seats. Most ordinary trains only have third-class seats on board, but they are good, clean, and decent for short journeys.
1st class sleepers from ฿800 (~USD23.31)
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1st class sleepers offer nine lockable 2-berth compartments with air conditioning, a washbasin, clean bedding and towels, and a western-style toilet at the end of the corridor.
If you’re a solo traveller, you will share the compartment with someone of the same gender unless you buy two tickets. Travelling in groups, you can consider the option of adjacent compartments with an interconnecting door.
However, trains 51/52 between Bangkok-Chiang Mai have the old type of sleepers which offer 10 single-berth compartments, so couples booking this first-class will be given two separate single-bed compartments. On some routes, a steward or a stewardess might come and offer food choices with extra costs, and the food will be delivered to your sleeper. But you can opt to dine in the restaurant car provided on the train.
Most 1st class express trains offer restaurant cars; some are air-conditioned and some are not. You can have a selection of food dishes from ฿100 (~USD2.92)/item.
2nd class sleepers & seats from ฿80 (~USD2.33)
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2nd class comes with air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned sleepers and seats. Modern air-conditioned sleepers have seats arranged to face each other during the day, and the train crew will turn them into sleeping berths at night. The non-air-conditioned sleeper can be a cheaper option if you don’t mind its older condition.
If you will be taking a short trip, air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned seats might satisfy your needs as they are cheaper. You can open windows and enjoy scenic views in non-air-conditioned options.
Or, consider taking the Special Express DRC — an air-conditioned express train with comfortable reclining seats. This option includes a light meal with soft drinks, which will be served by a hostess on the train.
Similar to 1st class, air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned restaurant cars are available on most 2nd class express trains.
3rd class seats from ฿20 (~USD0.58)
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Most 3rd class seats don’t have air-conditioning but are equipped with fans and openable windows.
You can choose non-air-conditioned 3rd class seats for short travels since they are clean and very cheap compared to 1st & 2nd class options. But we recommend booking 1st or 2nd class options for long trips such as the Bangkok-Chiang Mai route because they can be more comfortable.
Note that 3rd class tickets can only be bought on the day of travel.
3rd class seating trains don’t have restaurant cars, but you can buy food and drinks from vendors on the train.
You can also bring your own food from elsewhere, but drinking alcohol on the train has been banned since 2014.
Enjoy train rides in Thailand
Riding a train in Thailand can be cheap and fun. If you love trains and taking your time to enjoy some scenic views, we recommend giving it a try when you plan a trip across the country.
Plus, check out our Bangkok bus guide article here for another travel option.
If you’re seeking other interesting places and things for future trips, you can explore 7 adventurous things to do in Chiang Mai, 12 things to do in Phuket Old Town, and 10 things to enjoy while vacationing in Pattaya.
Cover image adapted from: @_nolnyman_ via Instagram
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