How to Travel Around Thailand by Train

✅ Updated on 20.11.2025

Hi, I’m Marat. I live in Thailand, and in this article I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the Thai railway system. I’ll explain how train travel in Thailand works, where to buy tickets, what types of trains and carriages are available, how much it all costs, and what to keep in mind if you decide to take a train journey here.

Marat

Digital nomad, blog author

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Thailand’s Railway Lines: Where Can You Go by Train?

Thailand has six main railway routes, making it easy to explore different parts of the country by train. Almost all long-distance trains depart from the brand-new Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok. Here’s a breakdown of the main lines, where they go, and what to expect.

All trains are operated by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), the official government-owned company that runs the country’s rail network.

Thailand Train Map: Plan Your Route with Ease

To help you plan your trip around Thailand by train, I’ve put together a map of all railway stations across the country. With this map, you can easily:

• See which cities are connected by rail
• Choose a convenient departure point
• Track your journey and avoid missing your stop

The main train station in Bangkok is Krung Thep Aphiwat. This is where most long-distance trains depart — heading north, northeast, and south.

But if you’re planning to visit Pattaya or Kanchanaburi, keep in mind that these trains depart from the old Bangkok station (Hua Lamphong). It’s still in operation and used for certain eastern and local routes.

Where to Buy Train Tickets in Thailand

There are three main ways to buy train tickets in Thailand, and the most convenient one — especially for travelers — is booking online. Here’s what you need to know:

1️⃣ D-Ticket — Official SRT Website and App

This is the official online booking platform from the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).

Website: dticket.railway.co.th

App: D-Ticket (available on the App Store and Google Play)

✅ Pros:

1. Official prices — same as at the station, no extra fees
2. More trains available compared to third-party websites
3. E-tickets accepted — no need to print, just show your phone
4. Advance booking available (recommended!)

❌ Cons:

1. Occasional bugs during card payment — once, my card was charged but I never got the ticket. They promised a refund in 45 days
2. Some card payment icons don’t show up in the app interface
3. Doesn’t support commuter trains (like Bangkok locals)
4. Only works for the Northern, Northeastern, and Southern lines

💡 Payment Tip:

You can also pay using Thai QR via TrueMoney Wallet. I’ve written a guide on how tourists can set it up — here’s the link.

⚠️ Not all stations are available for online booking. The smaller the station, the fewer trains stop there. For example:

• From Phichit, you can board most trains to Chiang Mai (including express trains)
• But from Bang Krathum, only Rapid trains stop — no expresses

👉 Pro tip: Book your train tickets 3–7 days in advance. Once I traveled from Buriram and couldn’t get an air-conditioned carriage — I had to ride in a fan-only car. More on that below.

2️⃣ Buying Tickets at the Station

The classic way: just go to the station and buy your train ticket in person. This is especially useful if:

• You’re taking a commuter train
• You’re traveling on the Eastern Line, or to Mae Klong or Kanchanaburi
• The online booking system isn’t working

✅ Pros:

1. You can buy tickets for any route and any station, including small stations not available online
2. Cheap tickets for regular local trains with frequent stops are sold here too

❌ Cons:

1. You have to go to the station in person
2. There may be long lines
3. Trains can sell out, so you might need to wait for the next departure

💡 All the routes available on D-Ticket (Northern, Northeastern, Southern) can also be booked at the station. But for Eastern routes and popular tourist lines like Mae Klong and Kanchanaburi, tickets are only available at the station.

I personally asked about this at Bangkok station. A lady at the info counter confirmed it: online booking doesn’t work for these specific lines.

3️⃣ 12Go Asia — Easy Online Booking with Card Payment

If you can’t pay using Thai QR code or simply don’t feel like going to the station, you can book your Thailand train tickets online through 12Go Asia. It’s a super convenient platform where you can buy train tickets using a regular credit or debit card.

The interface is available in multiple languages, and the whole process is very intuitive. Basically, it’s a great backup option in case you run into issues with the official SRT booking system.

🧾 Things to keep in mind:

• A small service fee is usually added to the ticket price — you’re paying for convenience
• There are fewer train options compared to the official site

But if you’re a tourist who doesn’t want to set up a TrueMoney Wallet, and just wants to book quickly on your phone — this method works perfectly.

Types of Trains in Thailand

Thailand’s railway system includes several types of trains, and the class you choose directly affects your comfort, travel time, and ticket price.

Let’s break down the main types you’ll see when browsing Thailand train schedules or booking online:

🚄 Special Express DRC (Diesel Railcar)

This is the fastest type of train in Thailand. All carriages are second-class, fully air-conditioned, and designed for seated travel — no sleeper berths here.

What makes these trains special is that each carriage has its own diesel engine, meaning better acceleration and braking. They’re perfect for travelers who want to get there fast without sacrificing comfort.

🚆 Special Express CNR (China National Railway)

These are modern, Chinese-made sleeper trains — among the most comfortable options in Thailand. They come with:

• First and second-class carriages
• Sleeper berths
• Air-conditioning
• Clean interiors and well-maintained facilities

They’re a great option for overnight travel, especially if you want to get some sleep and wake up at your destination.

🚨 Heads-up: They’re a bit slower than DRC trains.

For example, the route from Bangkok to Chiang Mai takes:

• 10h 25m by DRC
• 12h 35m by CNR

🚈 Special Express

These trains are similar in speed to the CNR sleepers, but the comfort level is more basic. They usually come with a mix of carriage types:

• First class: Sleeper cabins with air-conditioning
• Second class: Seats or sleepers, with either A/C or fans
• Third class: Fan-only, hard seats — the most budget-friendly option

Tickets on Special Express trains are cheaper than CNR, making them a solid choice for travelers who want to save money without going full budget.

🚃 Express

Express trains are a step down from Special Express in terms of speed. For example, while a Special Express train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai takes about 12 hours 35 minutes, the Express version needs around 13 hours 40 minutes — over an hour longer.

💸 But the price difference? Only about 30–50 THB (roughly $1).

In my opinion, it’s not really worth the savings — especially if you’re traveling a long distance.

There are no first-class carriages on Express trains. You’ll find:

• Second class: Seats or sleepers, with either A/C or fans
• Third class: Basic fan-cooled seats only

🚋 Rapid

Rapid trains are very similar to Express trains — the main difference is that they make more stops along the way. A trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, for instance, takes about 13 hours 50 minutes — just 10–15 minutes longer than the Express.

Inside, the train setup is the same:

• Second class: Sleeper or seated, with either A/C or fan
• Third class: Basic seats with fans only

There’s no real difference in comfort, but the extra stops make the journey slightly longer.

🐢 Ordinary

Ordinary trains are the slowest and most basic type of train in Thailand. They stop at nearly every single station, and honestly, they remind me of those old-school electric trains.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Hard wooden or plastic benches, facing each other
• No A/C — just windows you slide down by hand
• Fans spinning on the ceiling (if you’re lucky)

This is by far the cheapest way to travel by train in Thailand — but also the most exhausting, especially on long-distance routes. These trains are really only suitable for short trips or for travelers who want to save every possible baht and don’t mind sacrificing comfort.

🚉 Commuter

Commuter trains in Thailand serve short-distance routes around Bangkok and nearby provinces. In terms of comfort, they’re pretty much the same as Ordinary trains — basic benches, fans, open windows, no frills.

The main difference is the route: Commuters are designed for local travel, with lots of stops along the way. That’s why they’re mostly used by locals — heading to work, the market, or running errands.

For tourists, commuter trains might be useful for quick day trips around the outskirts of Bangkok, but that’s about it.

Train Car Classes in Thailand

Let’s start with the most comfortable option — First Class.

🛏️ First Class (Sleeper Cabin)

All first-class carriages are air-conditioned and come with sleeper compartments. Each private cabin has two berths — an upper and a lower bed. The lower one is usually about 200 THB more expensive.

For example, on the popular Bangkok → Chiang Mai route:

• Upper berth: 1,446 THB
• Lower berth: 1,646 THB
• Private cabin for one: 2,446 THB

What’s inside your cabin?

• Sink with running water
• Mirror
• Soap
• Bottle of drinking water
• Mattress, bedsheets, pillow, and blanket
• Power outlets
• Folding table with cup holders
• Light and A/C controls
• Lockable door

Extras:

• You can order food from the dining car (combo meals cost 190 THB, and they’ll bring the menu to your cabin)
• A staff member will come around before 10 PM to make your bed
• There’s a call button inside the room if you need assistance
• Cabins have connecting doors between them — handy if you’re traveling as a group of 3–4 people

🚻 Bathrooms are shared for the whole carriage but well thought out:

• One toilet with a seat
• One urinal
• One women-only toilet

🚆 Second Class (Sleeper – Open Plan)

Second class sleepers are a great choice for overnight train travel in Thailand, especially if you want to lie down and sleep but don’t want to splurge on First Class.

Each carriage has about 30 beds arranged in an open-plan layout (think soft sleeper style). During the day, the lower bunk is set up as two seats facing each other. At night, it folds down into a full-size bed. The upper bunk is always in bed mode. For privacy, each bunk gets a curtain that’s pulled across at night.

Facilities in second class:

• Two sinks at the end of the car
• Two shared toilets with seated toilets (unisex)
• A separate urinal room for men
• Power outlets
• Personal reading lights
• Fold-out tray tables with cup holders

🚻 One of the second-class cars is wheelchair-accessible, with a special space for wheelchairs and an adapted restroom.

🍱 Dining: You can order food directly to your seat. Staff will bring the menu, and later deliver a combo meal from the dining car.

🛏️ Around 8 PM, the attendant will come by to make up your bed.

💺 Second Class (Air-Conditioned Seats)

This is a solid option for daytime train trips over medium distances. I took one of these from Bangkok to Buriram — about a five-hour ride. Overall, it was comfortable, but the seats weren’t very wide. If you’re a larger person, it might feel a bit tight.

The air-conditioning works, but in some spots, it still felt a bit warm — especially in the middle of the day.

🚻 At the end of the carriage, there’s a shared toilet with:

• A sink
• Soap
• A western-style toilet

It’s a bit more spacious and cleaner compared to third-class toilets.

💺 Second Class (Fan Seats)

This is a budget-friendly option for short daytime trips. The main difference from third class is that each passenger gets an individual seat. In third class, you’ll often find bench seating shared by two or three people — less personal space.

Comfort is basic: ceiling fans spin overhead, and windows are kept open for airflow. But if your trip isn’t too long and you don’t mind skipping the A/C, it’s totally manageable.

🪑 Third Class (Fan Seats)

Third class with fans is the least comfortable train option in Thailand — but also the cheapest. Yes, the ceiling fans work, but they’re not powerful enough to keep the car cool, especially in the afternoon heat.

Seats are tight and close together, and on busy routes, standing passengers often pack in as the train approaches larger stations. Things can get cramped very quickly.

I rode one of these from Buriram to Bangkok, because second-class tickets were sold out. It was hot and not exactly comfortable, but still bearable. I sat near a window, which helped — the breeze made a real difference.

🍱 Food and Drinks on Thai Trains

On Special Express CNR trains, there’s a full dining car on board. You can even order food directly to your cabin or seat — a staff member will bring you a menu, then deliver your meal.

On other train types, there’s no dining car — but no worries, food and drinks are still easy to find. Local sellers often board the train at larger stations and walk through the aisles selling everything from bottled water and rice with meat to instant noodles, coffee, and snacks.

🛒 You can also buy food at the station before boarding. Prices are totally normal — no tourist markups. For example:

• At Krung Thep Aphiwat station, I bought a bottle of water for 10 THB, a hot meal for 60 THB, and three sausages for 20 THB
• At Buriram station, a bottle of water cost just 7 THB

🚄 Train Speeds in Thailand

The fastest trains in Thailand are the DRC (Diesel Railcars). Their maximum speed is 120 km/h, which makes them the quickest option on the Thai railway network.

All other train types — including Special Express, Express, and Rapid — are generally limited to 90–100 km/h, and they make more frequent stops.

I once took an Express train and checked the speed on Google Maps — at one point, it hit exactly 99 km/h. Not bad!

⏰ Are Thai Trains on Time?

Surprisingly — yes! Thai trains are generally quite punctual. They usually leave on time, and if there are delays, they’re rarely a big deal.

For example, when I traveled from Bangkok to Buriram, the train arrived just 10 minutes late — barely noticeable.

I also saw a video of a guy traveling for nearly 24 hours from Bangkok to the Malaysian border. His train arrived 30 minutes late, which, considering the laid-back Thai sabai-sabai attitude, basically counts as “on time.”

📶 Mobile Signal While Traveling by Train in Thailand

You’ll be happy to know that mobile internet usually works just fine on Thai trains. The signal is especially strong near big stations and cities.

It may drop out in tunnels or when the tracks pass through hilly areas with high walls on both sides — but aside from that, I had internet access most of the time.

🏢 Station Facilities in Thailand

Thai railway stations are surprisingly well-equipped for travelers.

• You’ll find free phone charging stations — super handy if your battery’s dying before the trip
• At Krung Thep Aphiwat, Bangkok’s main train station, you can even:
  • Take a shower for just 20 THB
  • Store your luggage in a secure locker area