Train from Bangkok to Chiangmai

[farang1979]

I heard there was a sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Please can anyone give me the details on where I would get it from and how I get tickets. Also I had heard that there are (I guess like most trains) different classes of each carriage so if you can let me know how much each class is and degree of comfort in each?

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[Iamemjay]

www.thairailways.com/‎

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[orchidlady]

The price of the "first class train" with the sleeper is on par with fare for Lion Air (from Don Mueng) which only takes one hour.

The first class train gets you a private cabin with a small sink. It has a Tv and other extras which broke years ago and were never repaired..It would probably be considered 2cd class in any other country. You need to go down the hall for the toilet. The train comfort is not great unless you can sleep through 15 stops where they blow the whistle at each. I am a somewhat light sleeper so i was awake all night. Just about to fall to sleep when the train stopped at a station and this repeated the whole night.

You could take NakonAir bus (VIP) with big, almost like recliner seats that are very comfortable. The time is about the same as the train. I can sleep in those. Unless you are a real train buff, not much reason to take the train in terms of cost. Many faster or more comfortable ways to get to Chiang Mai.

[thrilled]

I do the 1st class sleeper.If your tired you'll be able to sleep.Um don't go to sleep early.Maybe read A few hours.Even when you do sleep you'll need to sleep as long as you can.When you do wake up you'll still do A few hours before ya get there.

If ya have time to waste check it out.If your pressed for time,get on that plane.

[farang1979]

The price of the "first class train" with the sleeper is on par with fare for Lion Air (from Don Mueng) which only takes one hour.

The first class train gets you a private cabin with a small sink. It has a Tv and other extras which broke years ago and were never repaired..It would probably be considered 2cd class in any other country. You need to go down the hall for the toilet. The train comfort is not great unless you can sleep through 15 stops where they blow the whistle at each. I am a somewhat light sleeper so i was awake all night. Just about to fall to sleep when the train stopped at a station and this repeated the whole night.

You could take NakonAir bus (VIP) with big, almost like recliner seats that are very comfortable. The time is about the same as the train. I can sleep in those. Unless you are a real train buff, not much reason to take the train in terms of cost. Many faster or more comfortable ways to get to Chiang Mai.

Hi orchid lady thanks very much for your detailed reply. Certainly helps to to get a first hand account of the train journey. I too need complete silence when sleeping so the thought of an interrupted sleep doesn't fill me with confidence. I am by no means a train buff I am simply looking for the cheapest way to get from bkk to CM. and when I say "cheap" I mean good value as I know it's a long journey. I recently did a 9 hour minibus ride to Laos and that was brutal. I am interested to know more about the NakonAir bus as this could just what I'm looking for. Please could you let me know where I would get it from (area of BKK) and (if known) if it's served by BTS and how much a ticket is. Also if they serve dinner and snacks on there and what the toilet facilties are like or if there are "toilet stops" on the way? Na Krub

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[Sparkles]

I think the Bangkok to CM train has come off the rails about 10 times in the last 12 months.Its always late arriving in CM, one of the worlds best rail experiences it is not. With a price nearly double of the Nakon Chai bus and comparable with low cost air flights you might like to re consider or at least google the problems on travelweb sites. My son caught it ,against my advice last year, it arrived in CM 3 hours late and the station master said he had no idea where it was.

[farang1979]

I do the 1st class sleeper.If your tired you'll be able to sleep.Um don't go to sleep early.Maybe read A few hours.Even when you do sleep you'll need to sleep as long as you can.When you do wake up you'll still do A few hours before ya get there.

If ya have time to waste check it out.If your pressed for time,get on that plane.

Thanks thrilled. I think if all else fails I could invest in some ear muffs!

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[farang1979]

I think the Bangkok to CM train has come off the rails about 10 times in the last 12 months.Its always late arriving in CM, one of the worlds best rail experiences it is not. With a price nearly double of the Nakon Chai bus and comparable with low cost air flights you might like to re consider or at least google the problems on travelweb sites. My son caught it ,against my advice last year, it arrived in CM 3 hours late and the station master said he had no idea where it was.

Sparkles, wow really?! That's some frightening statistics really. I have to confess I don't actually know enough about the train line and am only going off passing discussions about it with travellers. Guess I've got the romantic specs on but from what I've heard so far it's anything but.

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[Kaoboi Bebobp]

I've taken trains to Ubon and elsewhere years ago, but I would not take a train anywhere in Thailand now. As pointed out, last year there was a serious derailment every month, all over the system. Embarrassingly, the SRT said they fixed it all and took the boss from BKK to CM to prove it. It derailed outside CM.

Nakhon Chai Air, from Mo Chit bus station, leaves frequently for CM.

Farang1979, as I said in another thread, nearly every one of your questions about skeds, fees and locations can be answered easily with a simple Web search. Then when you've got the basics, ask for firsthand experience.

[farang1979]

I've taken trains to Ubon and elsewhere years ago, but I would not take a train anywhere in Thailand now. As pointed out, last year there was a serious derailment every month, all over the system. Embarrassingly, the SRT said they fixed it all and took the boss from BKK to CM to prove it. It derailed outside CM.

Nakhon Chai Air, from Mo Chit bus station, leaves frequently for CM.

Farang1979, as I said in another thread, nearly every one of your questions about skeds, fees and locations can be answered easily with a simple Web search. Then when you've got the basics, ask for firsthand experience.

Kaoboi thanks very much for your reply and the information. The train is out. Yes I'm using an iPhone and haven't got the luxury of a laptop and and my browser is very fiddley for inputting dates and information into. Not ideal, hence my questions around prices something which I'm sure people will be only too happy to oblige divulging. Also Googling even Nakhon Air's website doesn't being up much. Appreciate the info

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[FiFtHeLeMeNt]

I recommend you to go by sleepers bus from Mo Chit 2 bus station. I have traveled by them once to chiang mai and they are very comfortable. much better choice than train

[farang1979]

I recommend you to go by sleepers bus from Mo Chit 2 bus station. I have traveled by them once to chiang mai and they are very comfortable. much better choice than train

Thanks FiFtHeLeMeNt that option is looking highly likely. Can you just turn up at Mo Chit and jump on then? Reason I ask is that I am planning to go for Songkran so am thinking that it might be quite busy? Also are you aware if they have a website? Clicked on a link and it led to a dead end. Or if could let me know roughly how much you paid that'd be great

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[xen]

If you are going for Songhan you should book by which ever means you intend to travel straight away as at least half the population of Thailand goes "home" which is usually somewhere else to where they are living now. The roads are packed during that period.

I usually go on the train ,second class sleeper with fan ,when i go to Chiang Mai. Having said that i have not done that journey in the past 12 months. I don't like the buses as the craziness on the roads scares me to some extent , thanks to some "exciting " journeys on the mini buses.. Flying is probably the safest but airfares go up the closer to Songhan comes.

[cassde]

If you can, always travel about 8 days before Songkran to avoid the traffic jams on the roads with the masses going home. As recommended here, the buses to CM are comfortable and good value for money, as well as numerous during the day. I would not use the train due to the uncertainty of derailments and late arrival.

[farang1979]

If you can, always travel about 8 days before Songkran to avoid the traffic jams on the roads with the masses going home. As recommended here, the buses to CM are comfortable and good value for money, as well as numerous during the day. I would not use the train due to the uncertainty of derailments and late arrival.

I think I'll be travelling just before. What's the traffic like on the roads. I imagine it'll be heavy? From the traffic I've seen so far in Thailand traffic is not uncommon..I've never seen so many Toyotas in one place.

Also generally speaking where else does Nakthon Air Bus go to?

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[chiang mai]

The Bangkok/Chiang Mai train does come off the tracks on a regular basis it seems, it's made me think twice about taking it and I love trains.

[farang1979]

Does anyone have any contact details for Nakhon Air? They don't seem to have a website and an email address I got for them just bounced back?!

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[Kaoboi Bebobp]

Here's a link to Nakhon Chai. It's the BKK-CM sked, as you can see in the URL field at the top of your browser. While it's in Thai, when you hover over the Thai destination links on the lefthand side, they echo at the bottom of the browser in English. Gives you an idea of how many departures there are, all over northern Thailand.

Personally, I wouldn't travel during Songkran. The northern roads are crazy with traffic. Your return from CM will take many hours more, if you can get a bus seat. Unless you come back 4-5 days after Songkran.

Anyway, re iPhone, I've booked travel and done bank accounts via that little screen. So I don't see what your problem is.

[chiang mai]

Good advice to stay off the roads during Songkran, it's downright dangerous and will be really slow going.

[farang1979]

Here's a link to Nakhon Chai. It's the BKK-CM sked, as you can see in the URL field at the top of your browser. While it's in Thai, when you hover over the Thai destination links on the lefthand side, they echo at the bottom of the browser in English. Gives you an idea of how many departures there are, all over northern Thailand.

Personally, I wouldn't travel during Songkran. The northern roads are crazy with traffic. Your return from CM will take many hours more, if you can get a bus seat. Unless you come back 4-5 days after Songkran.

Anyway, re iPhone, I've booked travel and done bank accounts via that little screen. So I don't see what your problem is.

Hi Kaoboi Bebobp well one thing you can't do on an iPhone is "hover" over links. Is there an English language version available?

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[fishbrando]

I took the train in the "first class" sleeper cabin once, never again. It's impossible to sleep as others have mentioned, not just because of the whistles at the stops, but also the severe vibration of the train itself.

There were also roaches everywhere. I made sure to hang all my bags on the walls - not that this is much safer, as roaches can scale the walls, but at least it makes it more difficult for them. I was definitely wishing for some bug spray.

The bathroom is pretty disgusting. Useable for sure, but not pleasant. I ended up using the little sink in the cabin.

Had a friend who took the same train and it broke down in the middle of nowhere. He was stuck without air conditioning for 16 hours before they got it fixed.

These are all first world problems for sure, but why do it when a plane ticket is comparable in price?

[scorecard]

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Here's a link to Nakhon Chai. It's the BKK-CM sked, as you can see in the URL field at the top of your browser. While it's in Thai, when you hover over the Thai destination links on the lefthand side, they echo at the bottom of the browser in English. Gives you an idea of how many departures there are, all over northern Thailand.

Personally, I wouldn't travel during Songkran. The northern roads are crazy with traffic. Your return from CM will take many hours more, if you can get a bus seat. Unless you come back 4-5 days after Songkran.

Anyway, re iPhone, I've booked travel and done bank accounts via that little screen. So I don't see what your problem is.

Many Thais use Nakorn Chai Air bus services because the owner is very safety conscious and their vehicles are well maintained.

All of their bus services Bkk to CM and return have two drivers on the bus. Their on board service is good and friendly. They also have different classes, their best service, as already mentioned here is very comfortable individual seats which are close to total recline. There is no all night blaring TV, they turn it off perhaps 9.30 pm.

I've used this service many times overnight between BKK and Cm and return, always had good experiences, always on time. My Thai adult son is very fussy about travel / bus safety, he and his wife use Nakorn Chai Air several times every year.

Their website is not in full English however by my own experiences there is always someone in their call center and at their actual bus stations with good English, additionally they always seem to listen well, friendly, and give clear information.

Good luck.

Edited April 5, 2014 by scorecard

[RAZZELL]

Fly!

RAZZ

[mcfish]

The train is fine at least you can get up and walk about, go to the restaurant car and grab a few beers or a bite to eat and stretch your legs and no matter how much you talk up a recliner seat on a bus it does not come close to a full berth where you can completely stretch out. Just take some ear plugs and you wont hear a thing

[millwall_fan]

I've travelled between Chiang Mai and Bangkok countless times over the years by plane, train, bus and car. If you just want to get there at an economical price and can book well in advance, the 670 Baht one way fare on Thai Lion Air takes some beating. The 750 baht for the deluxe bus is good value and timings are generally reliable. The 2nd class air-con sleeper on the train is an experience not to be missed if you want to meet people, enjoy trains and are a good sleeper - the last two anyway you say you are not! At under 600 baht its the cheapest option (other than the very cheap government buses) The beds are comfortable and the Thais will quieten down and start to sleep around 9pm. Some foreigners may have different ideas. Rail travel like this is dying out. but from the sound of things is may not be for you!

BTW as Sparkles says above, the trains are routinely 3 or 4 hours late arriving!

Edited April 7, 2014 by millwall_fan

[arunsakda]

I have never done the train to CM.

Thought maybe take the 1st class sleeper if I happened to be in BKK with time to kill

Would it be worth it just to say ones' done it? Are the cabins freezing cold requiring warm clothes?

Are there people foisting cigarette smoke on all and sundry?

[Changwatchap]

I also recommend nakhon air bus. It's a few hours faster (no stops on the way) and comfier seats than anywhere on the train. I've taken both, they each cost about 800 baht, but the bus was way more pleasant.

[smokie36]

I also recommend nakhon air bus. It's a few hours faster (no stops on the way) and comfier seats than anywhere on the train. I've taken both, they each cost about 800 baht, but the bus was way more pleasant.

Old thread but only those watching the satang would take the train over flying.

[arunsakda]

So be it No interest in busses and apparently no fun taking a 1st class sleeper, just for kicks. Will continue to fly only.

[SoiBiker]

I like the sleeper trains. Would do it over the bus every time, and even over flying unless I was in a real hurry.