Book Bangkok to Ban Krut Train Tickets Online
Schedules & Ticket Prices
There are 6 trains operating daily from Bangkok to Ban Krut, more departures than most single beach town routes on the Thai rail network. The current timetable mixes one fast daytime option with several afternoon, evening, and night departures:
• Daytime Option: The Special Express DRC #43 is the only daytime departure and the fastest train on the route, ideal if you want to see the Gulf of Thailand coastline in daylight and check in to your hotel before dark.
• Afternoon and Evening Departures: Trains #171 and #169 leave Bangkok in the afternoon and evening and arrive at Ban Krut before midnight.
• Night Departures: Trains #173 and #167, plus the Special Express DRC #39, leave late and arrive between roughly 2:20 and 3:56 in the morning. These are the only trains offering a 2nd Class air conditioned sleeper berth, but arriving at a small coastal station at that hour is best planned in advance with your accommodation.
Prices start at 176 THB for a 3rd Class fan seat and go up to 542 THB for a 2nd Class air conditioned sleeper berth.
Which Train Should You Choose? (2026)
Choosing Your Class: Sleepers vs. Seats
On the Bangkok to Ban Krut route specifically, you will find 3rd Class and 2nd Class fan seating plus a 2nd Class air conditioned sleeper berth on the Rapid trains, and a 2nd Class air conditioned seat on the Special Express DRC service. There is no 1st Class sleeper cabin on this route. For reference, here is the full SRT class breakdown used across the network:
Key Stops Along the Southern Line
The Bangkok to Ban Krut train is not just a point to point trip. The Southern Line crosses the Central Plains before reaching the Gulf of Thailand coast. Each stop is a potential detour:
• Ratchaburi: Riverside provincial town known for its pottery and nearby floating markets. A quiet stop off the main tourist trail.
• Phetchaburi: Historic town with cave temples and an old royal palace on a hilltop. A good half day detour for history focused travelers.
• Hua Hin (about 229 km from Bangkok): Thailand's original beach resort town, with a lively night market and a long beachfront promenade. Many travelers break their journey here.
• Prachuap Khiri Khan (about 318 km from Bangkok): A quiet fishing town wrapped around a scenic bay, with a hilltop temple overlooking the water. Far less touristy than Hua Hin.
• Bang Saphan: The district town just before Ban Krut, with its own stretch of coastline and a growing expat community.
All these stops are served by long distance trains on the Southern Line. If you plan to hop off, check station facilities and train frequency before committing, since some of these stops only see a handful of trains per day.
Worth considering if you are adding a stop: Prachuap Khiri Khan. It has bay views similar to Hua Hin, without the crowds.
Timing Your Trip: The 90-Day Booking Rules
If you are booking a full-route sleeper, you can now reserve your spot up to 90 days in advance. However, for shorter commuter distances, the booking window is much narrower to prevent local trips from taking up seats intended for overnight travelers.
Thailand Train Booking Windows (SRT 2026)
| Trip Distance / Type | Booking Opens | Example Route |
|---|---|---|
| Long Distance (Over 60% of route) |
60 to 90 Days Ahead | Bangkok to Chiang Mai |
| Medium Distance (25% – 59% of route) |
30 Days Ahead | Bangkok to Phitsanulok |
| Short Distance (Less than 25% of route) |
1 Day Ahead | Bangkok to Ayutthaya |
Tickets not open yet? Don't miss out.
If your travel date is still outside the official booking window, you can still search for your trip on YesMyTrips today.
Simply find your desired route, and if tickets aren't available yet, register for our Ticket Open email alerts. We will monitor the SRT system for you and send an immediate notification the moment reservations become active for your specific date. It’s the easiest way to ensure you get the exact cabin or seat you want without checking back every day.
The Scenic Journey: A Timeline
| Timeline | Region | Best Side | What to Look For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 1 hr | Leaving Bangkok | LOOK BOTH | Suburbs give way to rice fields as the train crosses the Central Plains south of the city. |
| 1 to 2 hrs | Ratchaburi & Phetchaburi | LOOK RIGHT | Limestone hills and Phetchaburi's old hilltop royal palace, Khao Wang, in the distance. |
| 2 to 3 hrs | Cha-am & Hua Hin | LOOK LEFT | First glimpses of the Gulf of Thailand coastline near Hua Hin's beachfront hotels. |
| 3 to 3.5 hrs | Pranburi & Sam Roi Yot | LOOK LEFT | Limestone karst peaks of Sam Roi Yot National Park rising near the coast. |
| 3.5 to 4 hrs | Prachuap Khiri Khan | LOOK LEFT | A wide, curved fishing bay with a hilltop temple overlooking the water. |
| 4 to 4.5 hrs | Thap Sakae & Bang Saphan | LOOK BOTH | Coconut plantations and quieter stretches of coastline with fewer villages. |
| Final 30 min | Approaching Ban Krut | LOOK LEFT | Open beach visible through the coconut trees as the train slows toward the station. |
| Arrival | Ban Krut | LOOK BOTH | A small platform a short ride from the beach, with motorcycle taxis waiting for arriving passengers. |
What to Expect Onboard
Southern Line trains to Ban Krut use a mix of Rapid carriages and Special Express DRC railcars, simpler than the newer CNR fleet used on some other SRT routes. Here is what to expect depending on your class:
• 2nd Class Air Conditioned Sleeper: Available on trains #173 and #167. Bunk style beds with curtains for privacy, the classic SRT sleeper carriage design.
• 2nd Class Air Conditioned Seat: The only class on the Special Express DRC trains (#43 and #39), a diesel railcar with air conditioned reclining seats and no sleeper option.
• Fan Seating: 2nd and 3rd Class fan seats on the Rapid trains are the cheapest option, cooled by open windows instead of air conditioning.
• Food: A food trolley or vendor service runs on most long distance trains, and station vendors at Hua Hin and Prachuap Khiri Khan are worth a look during longer stops.
• Toilets: Both Western style and squat toilets are available. Bring tissues and hand sanitizer.
• Power and connectivity: Power outlets are not guaranteed on the Rapid trains used on this route. Charge your devices before boarding and download entertainment in advance.
One practical note: if you book a sleeper on trains #173 or #167, you will be woken to disembark between roughly 2 and 4 in the morning. Bring a phone flashlight or headlamp, and confirm with your accommodation that someone will be awake to let you in.
Best Time to Travel to Ban Krut
Ban Krut sits on the Gulf of Thailand, and the coast here follows its own seasonal pattern:
• Cool and dry season (roughly November to February): The most popular time for the beach, with mild temperatures and calm seas. Book ahead around Christmas, New Year, and Thai public holidays.
• Hot season (March to June): Still good beach weather, though the fan only classes on the Rapid trains can feel warm during the day. A 2nd Class air conditioned seat or sleeper is worth the difference if you are sensitive to heat.
• Rainy season (roughly July to November): The Gulf coast around Prachuap Khiri Khan generally sees less rain than Thailand's Andaman coast, but showers pick up, especially around October and November. Pack a light rain layer.
Because the only daytime train (#43) is a single daily departure, book it early if you are set on arriving in daylight, particularly around Thai public holidays and long weekends.
Thai Train Travel Requirements for Foreigners
| Category | Requirement | Pro-Tip / Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Identity Document | Original Passport | Must match the name on the ticket exactly. |
| Ticket Format | Mobile E-Ticket | PDF on phone is sufficient. No printing required. |
| Boarding Time | 30 mins before | Arrive early; no airport-style check-in counters. |
| Offline Access | Screenshot/Save | Save PDF locally; station Wi-Fi can be unreliable. |
Arrival & Logistics: Navigating the Stations
Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal - Bangkok Railway Station
Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal is located approximately 10 kilometers north of Bangkok’s city center. To get there, most travelers opt for a taxi, ride-sharing service, or a local bus, with the journey usually taking around 30-45 minutes depending on traffic. Expect to pay roughly 150-200 THB for a taxi from central Bangkok.
Ban Krut Railway Station
Ban Krut Railway Station is a small Class 3 station about 1 kilometer from Ban Krut Beach, an easy walk with light luggage or a short ride away. Motorcycle taxis typically wait for arriving trains and can take you to your hotel in a few minutes. If you are arriving on one of the night trains, arrange your pickup with your accommodation in advance since the town is very quiet after dark.
Modifications: Changes and Refunds
Eligibility: Normal days only (No festivals); Issued less than 90 days ago; At least 24h before travel.
| Timeline | Fee |
|---|---|
| 3 days prior | 20% of fare |
| 2 days prior | 30% of fare |
| 1 day prior | 50% of fare |
Timeline: Normal days only; Issued < 90 days ago; Minimum 24h before travel.
+ US$ 0.46 processing fee
⚠️ Service & payment fees are non-refundable.I booked a sleeper train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok during my trip to Thailand. As a solo female traveler, I was a bit nervous at first, but I was able to reserve a women-only cabin through Yesmytrips, which made me feel safe and comfortable throughout the journey. Everything went smoothly! I highly recommend their service for solo travelling women.
Siri St. Louis, USThe booking process was easy, information are clear and process was smooth. Great support, our train was delayed and my wife and I were a bit stressed about it, we contact the support and they replied almost instantly giving us explanation, telling us what to do and keeping us updated.
Garry Oldom, DEThe Destination, by AboutBanKrut.com
Ban Krut is the stop most people sleep through. It sits on the southern railway line in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, roughly two hours south of Hua Hin and one hour north of Chumphon, where the ferries for Koh Tao leave from.
What's actually there is twelve kilometres of beach, a working coastline with fishing boats at one end and coconut groves behind it, not a resort strip. At the northern end, Khao Thong Chai rises straight out of the coast, and on top of it sits Wat Thang Sai, worth the climb for the view over the whole bay. There's a morning market opposite the old station, a couple of small seafood places, and very little else after dark. That's the appeal, not a shortcoming.
If your ticket has you changing at Ban Krut, or you're weighing whether to break the Bangkok-islands run somewhere along the way, this is a real option, not just a dot on the line. Bring cash; almost nothing here takes cards.
The full guide, in eleven languages, is at aboutbankrut.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
The journey takes between 4 hours 54 minutes and 6 hours 10 minutes depending on the train. The fastest and only daytime service is the Special Express DRC #43 (07:30 departure, 4h54m). The four Rapid trains and the late Special Express DRC #39 take between 5h39m and 6h10m.
Tickets start at 176 THB for a 3rd Class fan seat on a Rapid train. A 2nd Class fan seat is 262 THB, a 2nd Class air conditioned seat on the Special Express DRC is 392 THB, and a 2nd Class air conditioned sleeper berth on a Rapid train is 542 THB, the most expensive option on this route.
For most travelers, the Special Express DRC #43 (07:30 departure) is the easiest choice. It is the fastest train and the only one that arrives in daylight (12:24), which matters in a small town with limited late night transport. If you want a sleeper berth and do not mind an early morning arrival, trains #173 or #167 offer a 2nd Class air conditioned sleeper.
Yes. Three of the six daily trains, numbers 173, 167, and the late Special Express DRC #39, depart in the evening or at night and arrive at Ban Krut between roughly 2:20 and 3:56 in the morning. Only the Rapid trains (#173 and #167) offer a 2nd Class air conditioned sleeper berth for this stretch. There is no 1st Class sleeper cabin on this route.
The train covers approximately 381 km between Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok and Ban Krut Railway Station on the Southern Line.
The route is well used by both tourists and locals, and staff are onboard throughout the journey. Unlike the CNR fleet used on some northern routes, there is no ladies only carriage on this line. If you are traveling solo and would rather avoid a small, quiet station in the middle of the night, the 07:30 daytime train is the more comfortable choice. If you do take a night train, confirm in advance that your accommodation can arrange or expect a late pickup.
Book in advance where possible, especially for the 2nd Class air conditioned sleeper berths, which sell out first. The SRT opens bookings up to 90 days ahead for long distance routes. Since only one train per day covers this route in daylight, the 07:30 Special Express DRC #43 is worth booking early if that is your preference.
The train is the better choice. There is no commercial airport at Ban Krut, and buses and minivans from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal cost around 300 THB for a bumpier 6 to 7 hour ride, about the same price as a Rapid class train ticket but far less comfortable over that distance. The train gets you there in an actual seat or berth, and on the daytime Special Express DRC #43, it is also the most scenic way to reach the coast.
Pack light since overhead storage is limited, and bring a light layer for the air conditioned carriages. If you are on one of the three trains arriving after midnight, let your accommodation know your arrival time in advance, since Ban Krut is a small, quiet town and services wind down early. The station is about 1 kilometer from the beach, and motorcycle taxis typically meet arriving trains.
