We could be tell you the details about seat types and facilities on Thailand trains, however, instead we would like to tell you about a train trip taken by one of our readers. Here is their story.
About a train journey in Thailand
I had flown in from London arriving at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport at 16:00 and then made my way to Bangkok’s main train station (Hua Lamphong) by taking the Airport Link to Makkasan and then changing to the MRT (underground). The journey took about 50 minutes and cost me a total of 70 THB (£1.40 or $2). I made it about an hour before my 19:30 train. I knew I could get a seat because I booked it in advance through Thailand Trains.
- Use the Search Box below to buy train tickets in Thailand online ready for your arrival in Thailand.
Waiting at Bangkok’s Main Railway Station
Hua Lamaphong train station is a beautiful building built in Neo-Classical style in the centre of Bangkok’s China Town. Leave your luggage at the station if you have a few hours and have a stroll around China Town. I could have done this except it was dark and I was tired from travelling so instead I sat down at an outdoor restaurant opposite the station and had dinner: chicken and rice, and two large Singha beers, for the princely sum of 240 THB (£5 or $7).
When I finished my meal at 19:00 I did not have far to walk back to the station, as you can see from the picture below I took whilst I was eating.
Once you enter from the grand front of the station you walk through the station to the back to get to the platforms. There are 12 platforms at Hua Lamphong and it is a good idea to ask one of the very helpful train staff to point you in the direction. Have your tickets at hand to show them. You need to get the right carriage as well. There are also electronic display boards with final destinations, departure times and train numbers in English. I found the right train very easily, despite the two bottles of Singha beer I had drunk very quickly just before.
Differences Between European and Thai Trains
There are a few things to understand about Thai trains that are a bit different to European or North American trains:
- There are a number of different types of train with very different facilities. Most inter city trains (but not all) have 3 classes. Seats in 2nd and 1st class are transformed into beds at night. The exception to this rule are ‘sprinter’ trains where all seats are 2nd class and do not fold into beds at night,
- Most have a restaurant car but since the incident in 2014 they serve no alcohol. You can bring your own purchased from the 7Eleven on the road in front of the station, but do it secretly because if the police or train guards see you (and they enforce this rule) they will at best take the alcohol away from you and possibly issue a fine.
- The beds tend to come down early into the trip at around 20:00, sometimes earlier. Before that you sit on a normal seat facing someone or your own compartment in 1st Class.
- Thai Trains are very clean, but the toilets are basic.
- On occasion it gets noisy at night, however, best not to get annoyed as it normally dies down quite quickly and people go to sleep. Bring a book and a bottle (just don’t let anyone see it).
- There is going to be a delay. Plan for it by not booking short connection times between the train scheduled arrival time and any onward travel connections.
Train from Bangkok to Surat Thani
This was my standard 2nd class sleeper seat on Train #85 from Bangkok to Surat Thani. Meant for just 1 person but wide enough to fit two slim ones.
This is my upper bunk folded down. They add sheets and pillows and it is clean and comfortable. So much so I went straight to sleep. 24 hours awake had taken its toll as had the beers.
Apologies for no photos of the beds made up as I went to sleep immediately. Trust me the white sheets really were white.
Arrival at Surat Thani Railway Station
The next thing I know I am being woken up by the train guard shouting ‘Surat Thani, Surat Thani’. I jumped out of bed to rush to the exit but fortunately the train guards in Thailand are very kind and they wake you up 30 minutes before your station, which is when the restaurant staff come round with steaming urns of coffee. Great start to the day.
My train was a mere 30 minutes late and I arrived at Surat Thani railway station at 07.30. I was not worried because I had also booked my onward ticket for travel to Koh Phangan in advance online. I knew I had time for another coffee, and to check my e-mail, before getting onto the bus.
Journey from Surat Thani to Koh Phangan
The journey I did onward to Koh Phangan was with the Lomprayah High Speed Ferry Company. The journey from Surat Thani train station to Koh Phangan with the Lomprayah High Speed Ferry Company has two stages:
- Stage 1: They pick you up by at 08:30 at the car park in front of Surat Thani railway station for the 1 hour 30 minute drive in to Donsak Ferry Pier.
- Stage 2: At Donsak Ferry Pier you board one of their large modern catamaran ferries at 10.10 and arrive at Koh Phangan for 11:45.
Conclusions about Train Travel in Thailand
Train travel in Thailand is great. It was very cheap, quick and easy to get from the International Airport to Bangkok train station.
I had a cheap tasty meal and a couple of beers on a street side table in front of the train station. Both my train and my ferry was on time, and the journey was cheap: I got from Bangkok to Koh Phangan on a Thai train, and then with a joint bus/ferry service, all for less than 1,500 THB (£30 or $42) all booked in advance on the internet.