Comfortable on long distances

The North-Southern route, starting from Bangkok, is serviced by comfortable trains. On the Southern Line the trains go to Hat Yai and hence on to Sungai Golok on the Malaysian border near Kota Bharu, and another line crosses that border to Butterworth. The Northernmost terminal is Chiang Mai. There are two North-Eastern Lines; one to Nong Khai on the border with Laos, and one to Ubon Ratchathani. An Eastern Line runs to Aranyaphrathet on the Cambodian border and from Chachoengsao there is a line to Phattaya.

Especially the air-conditioned night sleepers are in demand. By saving a nights’ hotel accommodation some consider the journey as almost free. Viengtravel can arrange tickets for all these trains. When traveling during the peak season, but particularly on national holidays it’s advisable to book in advance. Beverages and food are available on the trains.

Besides a few branch lines used by the locals only, there’s a famous one from Nong Pladuk on the Southern Line from Bangkok. This is a leftover of the once notorious Thailand – Burma Railway and passes the ‘Bridge over the River Kwai’ and the famous ‘Khra Sae trestle’.
In Bangkok there’s also a city railway, the so called ‘Sky train’, an elevated railway which is very popular among Thais, an efficient and fast mode of transportation.