Buying Train Ticketsfor Travel In Thailand

[praglen]

I want to know if it's possible to buy a train ticket say, between Chiang Mai and Bangkok on-line? If not, is it possible to buy it at a travel agency? Does the ticket have to be used by the buyer or can it have the passenger's name be different?

If the answe to both the above questions is no, if I fly to Chiang Mai from Bangkok, how expensive is it to travel from the Chiang Mai airport to Chiang Rai? Is it simply a matter of taking whatever transportation there is to the bus station in Chiang Mai and then to Chiang Rai or is there a better and faster way?

[hansnl]

Train tickets from anywhere in Thailand to anywhere in Thailand can be obtained on nearly all stations opened for the sale of tickets.

Why bother with a travel agent who will try to charge you more?

Buying through the internet should be possible on the website of SRT

And normally, on 1st or 2nd class tickets there might be a name, but you can buy nameless tickets at the stations

For flying to CM and then on to CR.

Why not fly directly from BKK to CR?

As far as I know you can fly from CM to CR.

Or bus, or mini-bus, or whatever you can get on CM airport or busstation.

[dundas]

Train tickets from anywhere in Thailand to anywhere in Thailand can be obtained on nearly all stations opened for the sale of tickets.

Why bother with a travel agent who will try to charge you more?

Buying through the internet should be possible on the website of SRT

And normally, on 1st or 2nd class tickets there might be a name, but you can buy nameless tickets at the stations

For flying to CM and then on to CR.

Why not fly directly from BKK to CR?

As far as I know you can fly from CM to CR.

Or bus, or mini-bus, or whatever you can get on CM airport or busstation.

Thai railways no longer accept Internet bookings.

http://www.thairailticket.com/esrt/Default.aspx?language=1

Yes, if possible buy your tickets at a railway station. If you are outside Thailand, you can use the services of an internet provider. For more info, try

www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm

[dundas]

And I forgot to mention - if it were me, I'd fly to Chiang Rai direct. Try Air Asia or NokAir.

[lomatopo]

AFAIK, it is not possible to buy SRT tickets on-line, either through the SRT website, as mentioned above this service has been curtailed, or through any other internet site.

One can buy SRT tickets up to 60 days prior to travel, and during peak periods first and second class sleepers will be sold out, so an advanced purchase can be advisable.

If you insist on train travel then you'd be well advised to purchase through an agent or have a friend pick up a ticket for you. Tickets can be purchased at any railway office, and do not have a name associated with the ticket.

It might take you the better part of a day or two to travel from Bangkok to Chiang Rai via Chiang Mai on a train. Via DD or FD for DMK-CEI a flight might take all of 80 minutes, and cost as little as 890 THB all in.