Thailand Train Tickets
On this page you will find all you need to know about Thailand Train Tickets - Where to buy, how to calculate your fare, cargo, rail passes, refunds and how to change your ticket.
An Example Ticket
SRT train ticket in Thailand
When looking at a Thai train ticket you can see the following information (reading from from Top Left to Bottom Right):
- Type of train: Ordinary, Rapid, Express, Special Express…
- Origin station and Destination station
- Train Number
- Departure Date, Departure Time, Arrival Time (expected arrival time)
- Class and Coach type
- Car and Seat number - Each carriage on the train will have a "Car Number" card on the outside of the carriage in the middle.
- Ticket price
- Sex of the person travelling
- Type of berth: lower or upper
- Ticket number (left lower corner of the ticket)
- Train Station from where the ticket was purchased
- Date and Time of purchase of the train ticket (right lower corner)
Sometimes when purchasing a train ticket you are asked to provide your name and your passport number or ID card number, so take some form of TD to the station.
It
mostly happens when travelling on the trains that are used by many
tourists or on the trains heading to the deep South-Eastern provinces of
Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla where terrorist attacks by
Islamist Separatist groups have sometimes occurred on trains passing
through this troubled area .
In these cases the train ticket also shows:
- Name of the traveller
- Passport or ID card number
Thai train ticket are written using the Thai alphabet and so you might need help from a local to read your ticket, however it can also be printed with a mix of English words for the main pieces of information and Thai (as shown on the picture above).
How to Calculate Fares for Thailand Train Tickets
Thai trains fare calculation can be a little confusing if you have just arrived in the country, especially if you are coming from Malaysia where the fare structure is very simple.
Hopefully by reading the following you will understand the fare structure a little more, helping you to chose which train to travel on, on each particular journey you want to take.
Like most train journeys there is a set fare for the distance you want to travel and class you want to travel in.
Class of coach you want to travel in:
On Thai trains you can choose to travel in either 1st, 2nd or 3rd class.
However, each train type may not offer all three classes.
The DRC services (Special Express Diesel Railcars) are just 2nd class seat only services.
Special Express trains are usually only 1st and 2nd class A/C sleeper services.
Express trains usually have a much greater choice with 2nd class A/C sleepers and 2nd class seats with either A/C or Fan, as well as 3rd class fan seats.
Rapid trains usually have just 2nd class sleepers with Fan and 2nd and 3rd class fan seats.
Most Ordinary trains are made up of just 3rd class fan coaches, but there are a few exceptions, with the occasional service also having 2nd class fan seats.
Then on top of that there are a variety of additional fees you have to add:
Type of Train:
The most expensive trains are the Special Express Trains, including the Diesel Railcars (DRC) also known as Sprinter Trains. The fee for Special Express trains ranges from 170 - 190 Baht for any distance.
These trains are also usually all A/C, so with both fees to add, you should really only use these services for longer distances.
The fee drops, along with the speed of the train, in the following order - Express, Rapid, Ordinary. There is no additional fee for the Ordinary trains.
Express trains attract an extra fee of 150 Baht for any distance, so again these are better if used only for long distances.
Rapid trains attract fees depending on distance of your journey :
| Train Type | Distance km | Fee in Baht |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid Train | 1 - 50 | 20 |
| Rapid Train | 51 - 150 | 30 | Rapid Train | 151 - 300 | 50 |
| Rapid Train | Over 301 km | 110 | Express Train | Any | 150 |
| Special Express Train | Any | 170 | Special Express Train Number 1 / 2, 13 / 14, 35 / 36, 37 /38 | Any | 190 |
So, in conclusion. If you are on a budget, use either the Rapid or Ordinary services on shorter journeys (under 300 km) to avoid paying all the high fees.
Fee for Air-Conditioned Coaches:
If you like to travel with Air-Conditioning then like most hotel rooms in Thailand you have to pay an extra fee. This can make quite a difference to your fare. For example : if you are travelling up to Chiang Mai from Bangkok on the overnight Express service you would have to pay 821 Baht for a Lower Berth with A/C and 581 Baht for the same bed with just a fan.
Fee for Sleeper Coaches:
As you would expect beds on the trains come at an extra price. Fees for beds start from just 100 Baht for an upper berth in a 2nd class fan coach. Lower berths are much wider and usually cost an extra 50, 70 or 90 Baht in 2nd class, compared to the upper berth.
1st class beds / berths attract a fee of either 300 Baht (upper) or 500 Baht (lower). You could also if you wish book the whole 2 berth first class cabin to yourself for an extra 500 Baht on top of the fare for the lower berth ticket price.
To make things as simple as possible, you will find all the most popular railway journeys for tourists, with both Departure / Arrival times and all the fares for each trip and train type on our website, with individual pages for each route.
Just use the navigation bar on the left hand side of this page or our website search box below.
Discounts for Senior Citizens: Unfortunately there are no discounts for pensioners unless you are a Thai citizen.
Train Fares for Children: Child fares for children aged 3 to 11 years old and less than 150cm offer a discount of 50% off of the basic fare, but you have to pay all the added fees.
Children under 3 years old and below 100cm travel for free, but must travel on the same seat as the accompanying adult.
Thailand Rail Pass
The State Railway of Thailand sells two rail passes valid for 20 days and offering unlimited travels on 2nd Class and 3rd Class:
- The Red pass = Adult 3000THB (2nd class sleeper A/C or fan pass)
- The Blue pass = Adult 1500THB (3rd class seat pass)
You can buy these Rail passes at Bangkok Hualamphong train station counter number 1 only and at authorized travel agents.
At the time of purchase you have to show your passport.
You have to validate your Rail pass at the train station of your very first boarding.
To book a seat just show your Rail pass at the ticket counters of any train stations.
If you want to travel on 1st Class coach using your Rail pass, you will have to pay a surcharge as Rail passes are only valid on 2nd Class and 3rd Class.
These passes are for tourists only and are not for sale to Thai people and to foreigners residing in Thailand.
Where to Buy Thailand Train Tickets
To book your train tickets online from either Bangkok or Chiang Mai click here>>>
Changing your Tickets and Refunds
If you need to change your date of travel or cancel and refund your ticket, note that it can be done at any train stations and not necessarily at the station of origin of your journey or at the train station where the ticket was purchased.
Change of date:
If you are travelling on a sleeper train you will have to pay 50THB to change your departure date.
If you are travelling on a seater train you will have to pay 20THB to change your departure date or 50THB for any Air-Conditioned seat.
Note that you can only change your departure date one time per ticket.
Cancellation and refund:
If you want to cancel your Thailand train tickets and get a refund note the following rules:
- Cancellations made 3 days before the departure mean that you will loose 20% of the ticket fare.
- Cancellations made less than 3 days up to one hour before the departure mean that you will loose 50% of the ticket fare.
- Cancellations made less than one hour or after the departure are non-refundable.
Take your Passport / ID card along with you when changing ticket dates or cancelling your ticket.
Boarding a Train Without a Ticket
If you decide to board a Thai train without a ticket, you should know that you may have to pay an extra fee:
- On Special Express trains / Express trains / Rapid trains = Normal ticket fare + 250THB
- On all the other trains = Normal ticket fare + 100THB
Women and Children Coaches
Sign announcing the new coaches reserved for women and kids only at BangkokAs mentioned on the picture above, since the 1st of July 2014, the State Railway of Thailand has reintroduced coaches reserved for women and children only on 8 trains:
- Trains 1 and 2 travelling in between Bangkok and Chiang Mai
- Trains 37 and 38 travelling in between Bangkok and Sungai Kolok
- Trains 67 and 68 travelling in between Bangkok and Ubon-Ratchathani
- Trains 69 and 70 travelling in between Bangkok and Nong Khai
In the future this special service might be extended to other long-haul trains.
Luggage and Cargo
All Thai trains have sufficient luggage storing areas that are close to your seat or berth.
Officially there is a luggage limit, but don't worry about it and just take your luggage along with you in your compartment if you travel 1st Class, in the luggage racks by your seat if you travel in 2nd Class, or in the racks above you if you travel 3rd Class.
The official luggage limit on Thai train is:
- 1st Class passengers are allowed up to 50 kg
- 2nd Class passengers are allowed up to 40 kg
- 3rd Class passenger are allowed up to 30kg
If you are travelling with some extra luggage that cannot be stored in the passenger car because their size or weight: a bicycle, a motorbike, some very large boxes...
These special items must be stored in the freight car and it will mean a small surcharge.
You must buy a cargo ticket if you are travelling with such items.
Want to know what the food is like on Thai trains?
See the full menu with prices here>>>