In general, train travel in Thailand is both straightforward and rare, at least for foreign travelers. Well, let me back up a bit.
Foreigners who can travel through Thailand without getting on a train usually do, especially as flights on low-cost carriers get more numerous and even cheaper. Those who have no other option—usually backpackers, and usually because of money—take trains in Thailand relatively often.
Of course, even this is too simplified an explanation of a relatively nuanced topic. Let’s delve more into it, then, shall we?
Where in Thailand Can You Travel by Train?
Compared to other countries, both in Southeast and Northeast Asia, trains in Thailand have relatively limited utility. This might seem counterintuitive, given that the list of destinations accessible by train in Thailand is fairly long:
- Ayutthaya
- Phitsanulok (Sukhothai)
- Chiang Mai
- Nong Khai (Laos border)
- Aranyaprathet (Cambodia border)
- Hua Hin
- Surat Thai
- Padang Besar (Malaysia border)
To be sure, a variety of factors hold trains in Thailand back, from slow travel times and inconvenient schedules, to the decidedly un-modern infrastructure for procuring train tickets in Thailand.
5 Things to Know About Thailand Trains
You don’t (necessarily) need to make reservations in advance
Up until a few years ago, I never bothered making Thailand train reservations in advance. Whether I was riding an overnight departure to Chiang Mai, or just taking a day trip to Ratchaburi, I was more than willing to roll the dice at the ticket window. If you do want to book in advance, you can either go early, in-person, to Hua Lamphong Station, or use an online service like 12Go.
Yes, Thailand’s sleeper trains are comfortable
Overnight trains in Thailand are an experience everyone should have at least once. They’re also one that, in spite of having been upgraded over the years, is far from luxurious. With this being said, there are worse things than having a lie flat bed in an air-conditioned car, or being able to dine on Thai food while riding the rails.
Trains in Thailand often don’t run on time
Train travel in Thailand, like any other sort of travel in Thailand, is not always reliable. I’ve taken many train journeys that lasted hours longer than planned, even without any obvious delays. To echo what I said in the previous section, trains in Thailand are about the experience, not (necessarily) the utility.
There are no fast trains in Thailand (yet)
I’ll speak more about the prospect (or the specter, depending upon who you ask) of bullet trains in Southeast Asia in a couple of paragraphs. What I’ll say for now is that in addition to being delayed more often than not, Thailand’s trains are not what you can call fast. Even the “Express” service of the Airport Rail Link has ceased operating, for God’s sake!
It’s safe to travel by train in Thailand
The more general question of “is Thailand safe?” is a pretty murky one. However, I will say that in all my years of traveling in Thailand, I’ve never heard of a derailment or any other major incident. This is the upside of how slow trains in Thailand are, I guess! Perspective, it seems, is the key to making sense of things.
Thailand’s (Maybe) High-Speed Future
If you’ve spent time in Thailand over the past decade, you might have realized that high-speed rail service is always “just a few years away.” You might also be aware that whether Thailand’s future bullet train can take you to China and Singapore or just to Isaan, it will be hubbed at Bang Sue Grand Central, a new station that opened in December 2021.
Train travel in Thailand, of course, is the same as anything else in the Kingdom: You should largely only believe developments when you see them with your own eyes, and maybe not even then. I would personally be shocked if meaningful high-speed rail travel exists within Thailand’s borders before 2030—but that’s just me. As of 2025, construction has barely begun, after all.
Other Ways to Travel in Thailand
The good news? Thailand domestic flights largely make up for train travel’s deficiencies, particularly in terms of frequency and your choice of airlines. Moreover, increased service and competition (at least, again, before Covid) has caused the prices of the flights to dip lower with every year. Some were kind of expensive when I first started traveling in Thailand!
Which is not to say that land transport in Thailand isn’t useful. For smaller cities and towns, especially in the North and Isaan, buses in Thailand are one of the only ways to travel (assuming you can’t take a song-thaew instead). Within cities (except for Bangkok, whose ever-expanding BTS SkyTrain and MRT lines are increasingly convenient), taxis and Grab are the best option.
Other FAQ About Train Travel in Thailand
Can you travel by train in Thailand?
You can absolutely travel by train in Thailand, although it’s not always possible or advisable. For example, while you can easily take a train direct between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, the journey to Phuket is more complicated. Namely, you need to ride an overnight train to Surat Thani, then get a bus or van to Phuket. Flying is easier and these days anyway, is cheaper!
How much is a train ticket in Thailand?
Train ticket prices in Thailand are generally low, but then you get what you pay for. For instance, you can get a lie-flat bed in an air-conditioned bunk from Bangkok to Udon Thani or Chiang Mai for around 1,000 THB. While this is a comfortable way to travel, it’s not quick. For the moment anyway, you won’t find any Shinkansen in Thailand.
How do I book a train in Thailand?
Most local travelers buy their Thailand train tickets at the station on the day of departure. If you’re organizing your trip in advance, and want to book train tickets now for peace of mind, consider using a third-party travel agency (such as 12goAsia) to book tickets up to 60 days before your journey.
The Bottom Line
Trains in Thailand are relatively straightforward, especially since they’re unnecessary in most cases. While a bullet train (to somewhere) may eventually be built, today’s Thai trains are largely utilitarian, and represented an authentic, if outdated form of transport. With this being said, even if you don’t “need” to ride a train in Thailand, I’d recommend doing so at least once. It’s not always comfortable and it’s certain not efficient, but it’s definitely an experience. Need personalized help putting together the transportation piece of your trip to Thailand? Hire me to plan your Thailand itinerary!
