SRT Trains, Bangkok

The main terminal for mainline (as opposed to the Skytrain or subway) trains in Bangkok is Hualamphong Station, located on the edge of Chinatown. Thanks to the new Metro system, it's a lot easier to get there from Silom or Sukhumvit these days, but if you have luggage a taxi might be easier - there is quite a walk between the metro platforms and the station. The main hall of the station (before you get to the trains) is cooled, so if you have to wait a while, it's not a bad place to stop - there is a fair amount of seating as well. See my travelogue for some more pictures of the station.

It's important to note that not every train out of Bangkok departs from here (although most do) - trains to Kanchaburi leave from a station over the river in Thonburi. Check your train details carefully! Some of the destinations available from Hualamphong are:

- Ayutthaya
- Hua Hin
- Chiang Mai
- Nong Khai (useful for Vientiane, Laos)
- Surat Thani (useful for Ko Samui)
- Butterworth in Malaysia (handy for Penang, with connections to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore).

The trains and station are run by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).

A good way to travel in Thailand is the nighttrain. Wihtin one night you will be all around Thailand. And this for a reasonable price. But be there soon, at certain days it will take up to three days to get a avaible seat in the 1st class (and I would advise to do that).

Hua Lamphong train station is very well oprganised and international friendly. The station links the whole country with a variety of train options, and also houses shops, restaurants and a bus station for access in to the city. You will also find plenty of taxi drivers around! The actual trains are very comfortable, and I found that the 2nd class train (for my trip to Surat Thani) was perfectly surfice.

well i only used the first class cabin once when i was on the trains in thailand but it was worth it. Although children pay half fare, there is not a bed for them. Which is why, we hung up my hamock for my little bother to sleep in :D It was however, very comfy. They bring u breakfast in bed, serve u with orange juice all night and you have a wash sink in ur cabin. how cool?

My rail experience is mainly confined to travelling up north towards the Central Plains: There is a regular train service heading up to Chiang Mai and it seems to be every few hours. The safest thing is to check at the station control when one is able; the actual schedule and the one we printed out a few days earlier was drastically different.
The cost ranged from 24baht - for our 3rd class seat from Don Muang to Lop Buri - to 360baht, for an overnight sleeper from Phitsanulok to Chiang Mai. Both were comfortable enough.
The only drawback is the timing; both times, the train was late, but both less than half an hour, so that was still bearable.

The Hualamphong train station is a central place where a lot of trains go in and out. The central hall looks like the arrivals and departure hall of an airport.

Just like in many other public places in Thailand there's a big portrait of the King.

There's a ticket office inside the station, but you can also buy a train ticket in one of the many TAT's in the city.

A nighttrain to CM is cool eperience. We took a train that departured 14.30, heading to Chiang Mai(arrived 06.00). We had a 2nd class sleeper, and boys, there were nice feeling! Lot of other backpackers around the world(US, Germany, Sweden,...), enough booze and all the night to have a chat. Just great!
In the 2nd class there arent a/c(but fans), but there is a shower in the back of the train.
Also, you can always open the door and sit on the stairways to watch the sceneries chancing rapidly(well, a lot of stops, though...).
In the train you can buy food, snacks and beverages(beer, sodas, rhum, whisky, ice,...)from the peoples, that are walking back and forth on the aisles. Prices are reasonable.
There is also a restaurant, but the food wasnt so good, well, it was eatable ofcourse.
The one way ticket is appr.450 bahts(and hey! You dont have to pay for accomodation!!).

To the airport the best way to get is a train. It tooks only 15 minutes or so(compared to taxi; around 45minutes to an hour) and is cheap.

The Thai Rail System is extermely well devoloped. Trains are a very cheap and comfortable way to travel around Thailand. Trains run commonlu between Bangkok - Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Ayutthaya, Sokhothai, Lampan, Nong Khai (Vientiane, Laos), Nakhon Si Thamarat (by Koh Samui), Hat Yai, Penang (Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Singapore (Singapore), and Poipet (Cambodian border).

If you are on a night train I personally reccomend getting SECOND CLASS tickets. Why? First of all you get a bed to sleep in (3rd class you only get a seat), and second of all it is a lot cheaper than 1st class. In first class you get a double chamber (bunk bed in a small room with a fold down table and sink). In second class you het a fold down bunk bed (the porters set up the beds when it gets dark, they are comfortable seats until then. You a table, light, and curtains (and a window in the bottom bed* *highly reccomended. And it's just a lot of fun. You are seperated from the other people by curtains, it's a fun trip!!

Costs vary depending on class and where you want to go. A ticket to Chiamg Mai from Bangkok in second class a/c bottom bed is around 700 Baht (3rd class 350 Baht, first 950 Baht or so).