Night trains in Thailand
A night train replaces both the journey and the hotel, and drops you off in the morning with a whole day ahead. SRT times and fares verified October 20, 2026.
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Which trains run overnight?
The Thai night train is one of the few rail experiences that truly delivers. Not because it is fast, it is not, but because it replaces both transport and a hotel, with time to settle in and arrive somewhere other than exhausted.
Travellers undervalue it because they compare prices that are not comparable: the plane ticket alone against the train ticket alone, without adding the hotel night, the airport taxi and the day lost on arrival.
The trains that leave in the evening and arrive the next day on the three main lines, with the sleeper classes of each one and the lowest fare, all fees included.
Bangkok - Chiang Mai All trains and fares →
| Train | Times | Sleepers | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 109Rapid | 14:15 → 04:00+113h45m | 792 THB (US$ 23.58) | Book → | |
| 9Special Express CNR | 18:40 → 07:15+112h35m | 1,061 THB (US$ 31.59) | Book → | |
| 13Special Express | 20:05 → 08:45+112h40m | 878 THB (US$ 26.14) | Book → | |
| 51Express | 22:30 → 11:40+113h10m | 835 THB (US$ 24.86) | Book → |
Bangkok - Surat Thani All trains and fares →
| Train | Times | Sleepers | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 171Rapid | 15:10 → 01:11+110h01m | 756 THB (US$ 22.51) | Book → | |
| 37Special Express | 16:10 → 01:49+19h39m | 841 THB (US$ 25.04) | Book → | |
| 45Special Express | 16:10 → 01:49+19h39m | 841 THB (US$ 25.04) | Book → | |
| 31Special Express CNR | 16:50 → 02:20+19h30m | 1,024 THB (US$ 30.49) | Book → | |
| 169Rapid | 17:30 → 04:06+110h36m | 756 THB (US$ 22.51) | Book → | |
| 83Express | 18:50 → 04:58+110h08m | 820 THB (US$ 24.42) | Book → | |
| 85Express | 19:50 → 06:23+110h33m | 820 THB (US$ 24.42) | Book → | |
| 173Rapid | 20:10 → 06:46+110h36m | 756 THB (US$ 22.51) | Book → | |
| 167Rapid | 20:30 → 07:16+110h46m | 756 THB (US$ 22.51) | Book → | |
| 39Special Express | 22:50 → 07:50+19h00m | 616 THB (US$ 18.34) | Book → |
Bangkok - Nong Khai All trains and fares →
| Train | Times | Sleepers | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25Special Express CNR | 20:25 → 06:25+110h00m | 1,013 THB (US$ 30.16) | Book → | |
| 133Rapid | 21:25 → 07:55+110h30m | 766 THB (US$ 22.81) | Book → |
+1 = arrives the next day. CNR = SRT's newest carriages. Classic trains run older carriages, see the train types guide.
Night train or plane: the real maths.
The question keeps coming up for Bangkok - Chiang Mai, the busiest route. The plane takes a little over an hour, the night train around twelve. It looks settled. It is not.
Night train
- One hotel night fewer
- Far more generous luggage (60 kg in first class, 40 kg in second)
- Transport and bed in one price
- A real local experience
- A whole day ahead of you on arrival
- Frequent delays: plan nothing tight on arrival
- Rail noise: earplugs are a must
Plane
- A little over an hour in the air
- Sometimes very low fares when booked early
- Check-in and security: two hours before at least
- Strict luggage limits
- A hotel night to pay on top
- The time saved is often an illusion
A domestic flight looks faster on paper, but a sleeper on the night train remains the cheapest and greenest option: it combines transport and a hotel night, without the luggage fees of low-cost airlines.
For Bangkok - Chiang Mai, I take the night train in first or second class sleeper depending on availability, every time I travel with my wife. The plane costs more once you add the hotel and transfers. And arriving in Chiang Mai at 07:15 with a whole day ahead beats landing exhausted at midnight.
Choosing your berth.
I advise against seats on a night train unless your budget is tight: you will sleep badly and lose the main point of the trip. The real choice is between a private cabin (first class) and an open car with a curtain (second class).
CNR first class sleeper
A private cabin for two, lockable door, individual air-conditioning, washbasin and USB ports. The top of the SRT range.
CNR second class sleeper
An open car with curtained berths, bedding and air-conditioning. The choice of most foreign travellers.
Classic first class sleeper
The same idea as CNR (private cabin, lockable door, washbasin) on older, cheaper carriages.
Classic second class sleeper
An open car with a curtain and bedding. The cheapest berth, on the largest number of trains.
Alone in first class? Get the cabin to yourself.
Without booking the whole cabin, you may share it with a stranger, always of the same gender: SRT does not mix passengers who are not travelling together. Most booking sites make you pay two adult tickets for the cabin, while an official solo cabin fare costs less.
Book a private first class cabin at the right price →Travelling as a family? Connect two cabins.
First class cabins come in pairs: 1 and 2, 3 and 4... Open the partition and you get a four-berth suite. If strangers are next door, the partition locks from both sides.
Connect two first class cabins →Travelling as a woman alone?
Second class on CNR trains has a whole car reserved for women, with the same air-conditioned berths.
The ladies-only carriage →Upper or lower berth?
The lower berth is wider, has the window and turns into a bench by day. It costs about 113 THB (US$ 3.36) more and always sells first. If you sleep badly up high or you are tall, take the lower one.
How to book?
Long-distance night trains open for booking 90 days before departure, at 08:30 Bangkok time. In high season (November to February, Songkran in April), second class lower berths and CNR first class cabins on the busiest trains go within days of opening. See the SRT booking window.
To book: the official SRT D-Ticket system (English and Thai), or YesMyTrips, with the official fares and live availability. The station counter means going in person. It is all in the guide to booking tickets.
Your date is not open yet? Book it ahead
What to pack.
Earplugs
The rail noise never stops. The most underrated item on the list, a must even in first class.
Sweater or light jacket
The air-conditioning runs hard all night. It gets properly cold in the cars, even in the middle of summer.
Eye mask
Corridor lights sometimes stay on at night for ticket checks. If light keeps you awake, it is essential.
Something to eat
The dining car closes around 10 pm and value is average. Buy before you board or from vendors at stations. See the food on board guide.
A big bottle of water
A small bottle is sometimes provided with a berth, far too little for the night. The air-conditioning dries you out too.
Toiletries
Towel and soap are never provided, even in CNR first class.
Charger and power bank
Sockets are not always there or always working. A power bank saves the day.
Small padlock
To lock your bag in the rack or under the berth in an open car. Optional but reassuring.
Flip-flops
For trips to the toilet without walking barefoot. Basic, often forgotten.
The mistakes not to make.
Planning a tight connection on arrival
Delays are part of the SRT network: a night train can arrive one to two hours late. Never book a flight, bus or tour within four hours of the scheduled arrival.
Mixing up upper and lower berths
On the SRT D-Ticket site, upper berths are sometimes drawn at the bottom of the plan. Trust the ladder icon. On YesMyTrips, the "upper" and "lower" labels are explicit.
Waiting to book in high season
Booking your night train "once in Bangkok" is like booking your hotel from the airport: it rarely works. Sales open 90 days ahead, at 08:30.
Going to Hua Lamphong
Since January 2023, every long-distance train on the Northern, Southern and Northeastern lines leaves from Krung Thep Aphiwat. Only the Eastern line (to Pattaya) still leaves from Hua Lamphong. Check the station on your ticket.
Boarding without food
The dining car closes around 10 pm and vendors at night stations are not guaranteed. Buy something to eat before you board.
Picking a non-CNR train when you want CNR first class
Not every Special Express runs CNR carriages. Check the CNR mention in the train table above before you book.
Booking before your dates are firm
Changing or cancelling an SRT ticket is expensive. All the rules are in the changes and cancellations guide.
Quick answers.
Plane or night train for Bangkok - Chiang Mai?
On a moderate budget, the night train is often the best option: it saves a hotel night and leaves you a whole day on arrival. Once airports and transfers are added, the plane's time saving is often an illusion. If every hour counts or you travel with cabin luggage only, the plane still makes sense.
Which class for a night train in Thailand?
Having tried both on Bangkok - Chiang Mai, CNR second class (from 1,061 THB (US$ 31.59)) is my pick for most travellers: air-conditioned, bedding included, a curtain. CNR first class (from 1,632 THB (US$ 48.59)) is worth the extra as two, if you sleep lightly, or for a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Classic second class is fine but less comfortable.
How far ahead should I book?
Sales open 90 days before departure, at 08:30 Bangkok time. In high season, book on opening day: lower berths and CNR cabins go fast. In low season, book within the first days after opening for CNR first class, the first week for CNR second class and the first two weeks on the other trains. Weekends stay busy all year.
Is the night train safe?
Yes, the SRT night train is safer than most overnight land transport in Southeast Asia. Reported incidents almost always involve belongings left unattended.
Which Bangkok station do night trains leave from?
Since January 2023, from Krung Thep Aphiwat (Bang Sue) for the Northern, Southern and Northeastern lines, reached by the MRT Blue Line, Bang Sue station. Hua Lamphong only serves the Eastern line now. It is the most common mistake, check your ticket.
Is there food on board?
Yes, a dining car runs on night Special Express and Express trains, usually until 10 pm, but value is average. Buy food before you board or from vendors during station stops. See the food on board guide.
Are there showers on board?
Only CNR first class cars have shared hot showers, at the end of the car. The other sleeper cars have none. Every car has toilets and every first class cabin has its own washbasin.
Sources & verification. Times and fares verified with the SRT D-Ticket system, last checked October 20, 2026. On-board details from my own trips.
Book your night train
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