On 7/16/2024 at 8:06 PM, Conan The Barbarian said:

Is it worth it to go by train? I heard the view and experience is worth it need some suggestions.

Take a decent bus, Not one of the tourist buses though. Government bus. Can get them 3 abreast ( 2 on one side ) and lie almost flat.

On 7/16/2024 at 8:37 PM, KhunLA said:

As stated, no train to Phuket.

 

Worth it ... yes & no ...

... for the experience, maybe, did it once, and longest only bkk to Hua Hin, 4 hrs, and once was enough.  it is nice, one time, and scenery is nice, daytime.  Short leg to Bang Saphan also, and OK.  Took the bus back ... nuff said.

 

Did it 2X since, to & from PKK, out of necessity, and couldn't wait for it to be over.  If doing, daytime better.

 

Phuket ... FLY

IF want to experience the train, take the tourist train to Kanchanaburi or sunflower fields & lake (Lopburi & Pasak Chonlasit Lake)

I always went train if I could. I wasn't in LOS to travel in a tube and miss out on the scenery.

 

The day time sprinter was awful though. Hopefully replaced by a decent train now.

9 hours ago, Zack61 said:

I love the trains in Thailand. I’ve travelled on almost every line and can’t say I’ve had a single bad experience. Overnight trains can be convenient as the usually arrive in the mornings and take the hassle out of negotiating the airports. Many of the longer distance trains have a food carriage with drinks and basic fare. I totally recommend the experience if time is not a priority. 

Saves an hotel cost for the night too and is worth it for the culture alone. Tourists that fly are foolish IMO as they miss out on a lot, and why are they in a rush anyway?

9 hours ago, oscarsmum said:

Thai trains are usually late. And not by minutes. And they stop and leave passengers to get to their destinations without assistance. And the lines are often shared with trains coming from other direction. i.e. one line north and south. Fly perhaps.

So what if they are slow. Are you in a rush to get to your funeral? The only time it was a problem was approaching Bkk, easily avoided by getting off at Bang Sue. Has anyone used the new Bkk station? I suppose it eliminates that long last hour getting to Hua Lamphong.

3 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Saves an hotel cost for the night too and is worth it for the culture alone. Tourists that fly are foolish IMO as they miss out on a lot, and why are they in a rush anyway?

Agree about the culture and the overall experience. I haven't tried in Thailand - yet - but did do India last October. Similar experience, it seems. I would think twice before doing something like that again, but am

really glad that I braved it.

1 minute ago, allanos said:

Agree about the culture and the overall experience. I haven't tried in Thailand - yet - but did do India last October. Similar experience, it seems. I would think twice before doing something like that again, but am

really glad that I braved it.

Better than India I think. Don't need bars on the windows.

I don't recall bars on the windows but that might depend on the service provider. I travelled 2ac sleeper in both directions Mumbai - Goa. About 11/12 hours each way, about 2000 Rs or so.

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

<snip>

Using the toilet was also interesting as I could see directly down onto the track sleepers. If I was lucky it was a sit down job, otherwise the squat version.

I remember that experience - sort of disconcerting to be squatting over the toilet, look down and see the track rushing past beneath you! 😲

Another note to self:  "If travelling on a train, don't eat much the day before and keep tissue handy" Having said that, I've done long-ish journeys by bus in Thailand and always follow those 2 rules.

Let's say you forgot to buy an air ticket by advance and you need to fly tomorrow. Air ticket prices are actually a casino with prices about 4000 baht for flights departing in next 4-6 hours.

One might think VIP buses are the best option. But the temperature inside is only slightly higher than in your fridge. And sometimes the door of the gas chamber (e.g. toilet) opens and the content goes out. Even worse, at one moment of time you may need to visit the gas chamber yourself. I would recommend you to buy diving equipment for this - e.g. oxygen tanks etc.

So traveling by train is much better alternative. You should choose the cheapest sleeper train ticket ~400 THB (sleeper with fan). It is about ~24 celsius degrees inside in such a train. Very comfortable to sleep. Clean bed, great views. But you should know that trains in Thailand often arrive late - even 1 or 1.5 hours late - it's a common situation.  No gas chambers inside. Only toilets with fresh air. Toilets do not look very clean in cheap trains. But at least you don't need to buy expensive oxygen tanks to visit them.

You should avoid trains with air conditions. Because the temperature inside is only slightly higher than in your fridge. Even worse - the wind inside is very annoying.

You should use a minivan from Phuket Town to Surat Thani to reach the train station.

Edited July 17, 20241 yr by zmisha

5 minutes ago, zmisha said:

You should use a minivan from Phuket Town to Surat Thani to reach the train station.

God sake No, a big No, I hate minivans and their drivers. Crazy nut heads. Take the plane to Bangkok, 

Edited July 17, 20241 yr by Hummin

On 7/16/2024 at 6:06 PM, Conan The Barbarian said:

Is it worth it to go by train? I heard the view and experience is worth it need some suggestions.

Troll.

Not taken trains in years, always enjoyed 2nd class sleepers to Nong Khai and so many trips to Butterworth. I'd recommend taking the train to Trang and spending a day there visiting day and night markets, book a minivan to Phuket. Andaman will be very rainy this time of year