We love traveling by train and have explored much of Thailand using this method of transport. Read on for our comprehensive guide to getting around Thailand by train. We start with this map of Thailand’s main train lines.
Map provided by Johomaps.com
Bonus: How to buy Thailand Train tickets online
There are four main train lines in Thailand (Northern, Northeastern, Southern and Eastern) and three smaller lines (Mae Klong, Namtok Branch and the Airport Rail Link). Note that you can get to Namtok via the Southern line (from Hua Lamphong station) as well the Namtok Branch (from Thonburi station).
Northern Line | Thailand Trains
This is the line that will probably be most familiar to many tourists, as it’s the main line between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand’s two most popular destinations. Ticket prices range from around 230 baht ($8) for a 3rd class seat (no aircon or fan) to 1,453 baht ($48) for a 1st class sleeper. Typical journey time is around 12 hours, although this varies depending on the train. It’s advisable to buy your tickets in advance, as they are often sold out and not available on the day of travel. This train also passes through Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Thailand, where you can visit many temples and ancient monuments.
More info on RenegadeTravels:
How To Get From Bangkok To Chiang Mai By Train
Northeastern Line | Thailand Trains
The Northeastern line has two routes. One runs from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), and then on to Khon Kaen and Udon Thani, which is near the Laos border. The other route also runs from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), and then runs onto Buriram, Surin, Sisaket and Ubon Ratchanthani (near the Cambodia border).
Typical journey times are around 10 hours to Udon Thani and 12 hours to Ubon Ratchathani. There are four trains a day to Udon Thani and six to Ubon Ratchathani. Typical prices to Udon Thani are 245 baht ($8) for 3rd class, 479 baht ($16) for 2nd class with aircon, and berths for 519 baht ($17) for 2nd class no aircon, 739 baht ($25) for 2nd class aircon, and 1,277 baht ($43) for 1st class with aircon. Typical prices to Ubon Ratchathani are 205 baht ($7) for 3rd class, 331 baht ($11) for 2nd class, 581 baht ($19) for 2nd class with aircon, and 481 baht ($16) for a berth. Different trains have different seating arrangements, so not all of these will be available on every train.
We’ve taken the train on the Ubon Ratchathani line as far as Surin many times, and also as far as Nakhon Ratchasima a few times. Recently we visited the Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival and got the train back from there to Surin. We are planning to travel on the route to Udon Thani in a week or so. We’ll update this page once we’ve completed that journey.
More info on RenegadeTravels:
Bangkok To Nakhon Ratchasima By Train
Ubon Ratchathani To Surin By 3rd Class Train
Khon Kaen To Udon Thani By Train
Southern Line | Thailand Trains
The Southern line is interesting because of the fact that you can travel all the way from Bangkok to Singapore by train. We’ve traveled along this route from Bangkok to Hua Hin, and from Butterworth (in Malaysia) to Singapore.
The Southern line trains run from Bangkok to Butterworth (via Hat Yai), Sungai Kolok, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Kantang and Nam Tok. Typical journey time for Bangkok to Sungai Kolok (the southernmost station) is around 20-22 hours. Currently there are two trains per day on this route. The 13:00 train from Bangkok that arrives at 10:45 the next day, and the 15:10 that arrives at 11:20 the next day. Tickets cost 290-370 baht ($10-12) for 3rd class, 527-607 baht ($18-20) for 2nd class no aircon, 677 baht ($23) for 2nd class berth no aircon, 917-977 baht ($31-33) for 2nd class berth with aircon, and 1,753 baht ($60) for 1st class with aircon. Different trains have different seating arrangements, so not all of these will be available on every train.
More info on RenegadeTravels:
Eastern Line | Thailand Trains
The Eastern line has two main routes – Bangkok to Aranyaprathet, and Bangkok to Ban Phlu Ta Luang. One of the main tourist destinations on the Aranyaprathet route is Pattaya.
Maeklong Line | Thailand Trains
The Maeklong trains are famous as being the ones that run right through the middle of a market in the small town of Maeklong. This line is actually split in two sections. The first section is from Wongwian Yai (in Bangkok) to Mahachai, from where passengers need to take a ferry across the Tha Chin River.
The line then continues to Maeklong. This train line is separate from the rest of the national rail network. If you take the train there you’ll have to hang around for a few hours waiting for the next train to arrive, as there are only around five a day.
More info on RenegadeTravels:
Train Runs Through Maeklong Market
Namtok Branch | Thailand Trains
As the name suggests, this line runs from Thonburi station in Bangkok to Namtok, which is where the Death Railway is located. The train also stops at Kanchanaburi, and crosses the River Kwai Bridge and the famous Wampo Viaduct. This is an interesting journey that we did last year. Tickets only cost 100 baht ($3) and are available on the day of travel. Getting from central Bangkok to Thonburi station is almost as interesting as the train journey.
We got there by BTS (skytain), boat and taxi. There are also special tourist trains that run from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong station to Kanchanaburi. I think these only run at weekends though.
More info on RenegadeTravels:
Bangkok To Kanchanaburi For River Kwai Bridge & Death Railway.
Airport Rail Link | Thailand Trains
This is a fairly new train line that runs between Makkasan station and Suvarnabhumi airport. Trains take 15 minutes and cost 150 baht ($5) – no need to purchase tickets in advance. There’s also a separate City Line train that runs from the airport to Phaya Thai BTS (skytrain) station, costs 45 baht ($1.50) and takes 30 minutes.
If your hotel is near a BTS station, then this is probably a better option than the express train.
More info from RenegadeTravels:
To And From Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport By Train
Where To Buy Train Tickets In Thailand
You can buy train tickets at any train station and also at some travel agencies throughout Thailand. Some agencies charge a booking fee and some don’t, you’ll just have to ask.
Of course, it’s entirely possible to purchase tickets online using a service like 12go.asia. To help, we’ve written an in-depth guide to how this works.
