Thailand by train
Thai train guides
Which Bangkok station to leave from, what each class costs, and how to turn a train ride into a day out. Written from the published SRT timetable, updated when the timetable changes.
Start here
The single thing that trips people up on Thai railways is not the trains, it is the stations. Bangkok has three, and they serve different directions: Krung Thep Aphiwat for the north and south, Hua Lamphong for the east, Thon Buri for Kanchanaburi. Each guide below states clearly where the train actually leaves from.
Northern Line · about one hour
Ayutthaya by train: the old capital, an hour from Bangkok
Every train from Bangkok to Ayutthaya, which station to leave from, what tickets cost, and how to see the ruins in a day without a tour.
Southern Line · three to four hours
Bangkok to Hua Hin by train: the beach town without the airport
Ten trains a day from Bangkok to Hua Hin, from cheap third class to air-conditioned railcars. Which station to leave from, what each class costs, and when to travel.
Eastern Line · three to four hours
Bangkok to Pattaya by train: the slow, cheap way to the coast
The train to Pattaya leaves from Hua Lamphong, not the new central station. Here is the timetable, the fare, and why the bus is usually faster.
Death Railway · about three hours
Bangkok to Kanchanaburi by train: the Bridge on the River Kwai
Trains to Kanchanaburi leave from Thon Buri, not central Bangkok. Times, tickets, and how to ride the Death Railway over the Bridge on the River Kwai.
Mahachai Line · a half-day from Bangkok
Maeklong Railway Market: the market that folds up for the train
Eight times a day a train runs through a covered market and the awnings come down. How to reach Maeklong by train, and what actually happens when it arrives.
Sleepers · choosing a berth
Bangkok to Chiang Mai by sleeper: which train and which berth
Four overnight trains, three classes of berth, and one decision that matters more than the rest: upper or lower.
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