Booking a Train

[KannikaP]

My bro and his wife want to get a train from Chiang Mai to visit me in Phitsanulok, on Sunday 9th February. On checking online, both he and I did it, it says that the tickets are not bookable. So today I went to P'lok Station and asked, first a young girl in the booking office. Brought up the needed date and time on her computer and said, 'Cannot, it is Full'. Another older lady took me to her window, said the young girl was new to the job, where she checked the same journey with "yes you can book it, but need copies of both the passenger's passports, and must book, and pay for, from Ch Mai to Nakon Sawan, but get off at P'lok. When I questioned this she said that only 40% of the passengers want P'lok, 60% want N Sawan and the rest go on to Bangkok. Hey, it's only Bht 477 per pax so not arguing over a few Baht, but what a silly way to run a railway, eh?

[treetops]

Online sales only open 30 days ahead for journeys between 25% and 50% of a long distance train's journey, which I think Chiang Mai to Phitsanulok would come into.

 

I've booked and travelled from Chiang Mai to Phitsanulok before so unless something has changed she was talking nonsense.

[impulse]

11 minutes ago, treetops said:

Online sales only open 30 days ahead for journeys between 25% and 50% of a long distance train's journey, which I think Chiang Mai to Phitsanulok would come into.

 

I've booked and travelled from Chiang Mai to Phitsanulok before so unless something has changed she was talking nonsense.

 

Or, she may have been offering a helpful suggestion that by the time the ticket sales open up 30 days in advance, all the seats will probably be sold out.  Best to buy what's available right now and burn the $5 worth that they won't be using.

 

[treetops]

1 minute ago, impulse said:

Or, she may have been offering a helpful suggestion that by the time the ticket sales open up 30 days in advance, all the seats will probably be sold out.  Best to buy what's available right now and burn the $5 worth that they won't be using.

 

Not unless something has changed.  When I travelled that route I purchased the tickets at Chiang Mai Station and the OP was trying to book at Phitsanulok Station.  The 30 day restriction is online only.

[steve187]

2 hours ago, KannikaP said:

My bro and his wife want to get a train from Chiang Mai to visit me in Phitsanulok, on Sunday 9th February. On checking online, both he and I did it, it says that the tickets are not bookable. So today I went to P'lok Station and asked, first a young girl in the booking office. Brought up the needed date and time on her computer and said, 'Cannot, it is Full'. Another older lady took me to her window, said the young girl was new to the job, where she checked the same journey with "yes you can book it, but need copies of both the passenger's passports, and must book, and pay for, from Ch Mai to Nakon Sawan, but get off at P'lok. When I questioned this she said that only 40% of the passengers want P'lok, 60% want N Sawan and the rest go on to Bangkok. Hey, it's only Bht 477 per pax so not arguing over a few Baht, but what a silly way to run a railway, eh?

40% of the passengers want P'lok, 60% want N Sawan, so no one left for Bangkok

[KannikaP]

7 minutes ago, steve187 said:

40% of the passengers want P'lok, 60% want N Sawan, so no one left for Bangkok

No, I guess she meant 40% to P'lok, another 20% to N S, and the rest, plus any getting on at P'lok or Ns, go to Bkk. Still pretty stupid.

[sandyf]

On 12/3/2024 at 3:44 PM, KannikaP said:

My bro and his wife want to get a train from Chiang Mai to visit me in Phitsanulok, on Sunday 9th February. On checking online, both he and I did it, it says that the tickets are not bookable. So today I went to P'lok Station and asked, first a young girl in the booking office. Brought up the needed date and time on her computer and said, 'Cannot, it is Full'. Another older lady took me to her window, said the young girl was new to the job, where she checked the same journey with "yes you can book it, but need copies of both the passenger's passports, and must book, and pay for, from Ch Mai to Nakon Sawan, but get off at P'lok. When I questioned this she said that only 40% of the passengers want P'lok, 60% want N Sawan and the rest go on to Bangkok. Hey, it's only Bht 477 per pax so not arguing over a few Baht, but what a silly way to run a railway, eh?

We have booked many trains around Thailand over the years and at the local railway station it has always been that tickets were only available up to 60 days in advance. We usually wanted first class and as they were in short supply it meant going at 60 days for outbound and then back a few days later for the return journey.

Policy may have changed but wouldn't be out of the question for some stations to still be as it was.

If you used 1 2 Go Asia, they would take bookings at any time, but their office was in the station and they just bought the tickets when they became available.

 

[KannikaP]

9 minutes ago, sandyf said:

We have booked many trains around Thailand over the years and at the local railway station it has always been that tickets were only available up to 60 days in advance. We usually wanted first class and as they were in short supply it meant going at 60 days for outbound and then back a few days later for the return journey.

Policy may have changed but wouldn't be out of the question for some stations to still be as it was.

If you used 1 2 Go Asia, they would take bookings at any time, but their office was in the station and they just bought the tickets when they became available.

 

Thanks for your answer. However, it is only available 30 days before. How silly, but T I T.

[KannikaP]

On 12/3/2024 at 4:02 PM, treetops said:

Online sales only open 30 days ahead for journeys between 25% and 50% of a long distance train's journey, which I think Chiang Mai to Phitsanulok would come into.

 

I've booked and travelled from Chiang Mai to Phitsanulok before so unless something has changed she was talking nonsense.

Cannot book for 100% of a long distance, Ch Mai to Bkk until 30 days before. 

[sandyf]

24 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Thanks for your answer. However, it is only available 30 days before. How silly, but T I T.

Didn't your OP say you could book at the station.? More than 30 days till February.

 

""yes you can book it, but need copies of both the passenger's passports, " 

 

Passports/ID cards are standard requirement at a station.

[sandyf]

This may explain it

 

ADVANCE TICKETS: Starting from 1st July 2024, you can buy train tickets 180 days in advance for all long distance Special Express, Express and Rapid trains. However, you must be travelling at least 60% of the entire route to book 180 days in advance. If it is between 25% and 59% of the entire route, then you can book 30 days in advance. Less than 25% of the route, you can only buy one day in advance.

https://www.thaitrainguide.com/tickets/

[KannikaP]

22 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Didn't your OP say you could book at the station.? More than 30 days till February.

 

""yes you can book it, but need copies of both the passenger's passports, " 

 

Passports/ID cards are standard requirement at a station.

That's what I was told last Tuesday, today......30 days only.

 

30 minutes ago, sandyf said:

This may explain it

 

ADVANCE TICKETS: Starting from 1st July 2024, you can buy train tickets 180 days in advance for all long distance Special Express, Express and Rapid trains. However, you must be travelling at least 60% of the entire route to book 180 days in advance. If it is between 25% and 59% of the entire route, then you can book 30 days in advance. Less than 25% of the route, you can only buy one day in advance.

https://www.thaitrainguide.com/tickets/

Thanks. Yes, Nakon Sawan is about 60% of Ch Mai to Bkk. so can book 180 days ahead. Only a few baht more.

[sandyf]

3 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

That's what I was told last Tuesday, today......30 days only.

 

Thanks. Yes, Nakon Sawan is about 60% of Ch Mai to Bkk. so can book 180 days ahead. Only a few baht more.

Would P'lok be 60% of BKK to CM?

I have a friend there and have thought about going up on the train. What has put me off so far is that it gets in about 4 in the morning.

Been a few times in the car but wife doesn't want to drive that far any more.

[KannikaP]

3 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Would P'lok be 60% of BKK to CM?

I have a friend there and have thought about going up on the train. What has put me off so far is that it gets in about 4 in the morning.

Been a few times in the car but wife doesn't want to drive that far any more.

Yes, P'lok is half way down, so N Sawan will be 60%, but Bkk to P'lok is only 50%. More complicated than British Rail.. Leaves at 08.50 arriving 14.30. All sorted, thanks.

Driving Bkk to P'lok isn't too bad, only about 4 hours as most of it is 120. But P'lok to Ch Mai is a PITA but a lovely view most of the way.

[GypsyT]

I have a question regarding long distance trains; Can you adjust cabin/sleeper temp by yourself?

 

I plan to try trains and  don't like too cold.

[marin]

No you can not. 

[sandyf]

23 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Yes, P'lok is half way down, so N Sawan will be 60%, but Bkk to P'lok is only 50%. More complicated than British Rail.. Leaves at 08.50 arriving 14.30. All sorted, thanks.

Driving Bkk to P'lok isn't too bad, only about 4 hours as most of it is 120. But P'lok to Ch Mai is a PITA but a lovely view most of the way.

Not in BKK, about 5 & half hours driving from here. Used to get minibus to HL for train, bit more awkward now at Grand Central.

If only 50%,  would need to bear that in mind if we go,  thanks.

[sandyf]

19 hours ago, GypsyT said:

I have a question regarding long distance trains; Can you adjust cabin/sleeper temp by yourself?

 

I plan to try trains and  don't like too cold.

Yes if you travel first class, cabins are 2 berth but you can have single occupancy for about an extra 50%.

In second class it is curtain partioning so whole carriage the same.

[jippytum]

apparently all including advanced bookings now require passport evidence for all forgeign passengers. 

[Real Name Hidden]

I took the 1st class sleeper train to Chiang Mai and booked single occupancy.  It was chilly at night and there wasn't any way to adjust the temperature.  i used the extra blankets to keep warm.

[KannikaP]

28 minutes ago, jippytum said:

apparently all including advanced bookings now require passport evidence for all forgeign passengers. 

Which is a PITA when I am here, trying to book tickets for bro & wife to travel in February.

Hope the copies they have sent to me are sufficient, together with my Pink Card.

[jippytum]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

Which is a PITA when I am here, trying to book tickets for bro & wife to travel in February.

Hope the copies they have sent to me are sufficient, together with my Pink Card.

i don't know your location. For example in Chaing Mai or Pattaya a visit to the local station  is recommended. The staff are helpful at both locations. 

[KannikaP]

1 hour ago, jippytum said:

i don't know your location. For example in Chaing Mai or Pattaya a visit to the local station  is recommended. The staff are helpful at both locations. 

I am in Phitsanulok and was told last week that I CANNOT buy from Ch Mai to P'lok more than 30 days in advance. But if I bought Ch Mai to Nakon Sawan, ie more than 60% of the Ch Mai to Bkk train journey, I could book 180days ahead. Yes, the lady was very helpful and took more money off me!