The railways of Thailand form an extensive network. Train travel is notable for its affordability and lack of comfort. The Thai transport sector includes rail, road, aviation and water systems. The most expensive and fastest means of transport is an airplane. Trains and buses are in great demand among the local population and tourists.
Passenger and high-speed trains move around the country. Passenger trains are equipped with seating, and ambulances have carriages of 1-3 classes. There are also special express trains in Thailand.
Train tickets go on sale 90 days before the scheduled departure date. There are pre-sale ticket offices at train stations, where you can buy a pass.
Characteristics of the railway sphere
Railways in Thailand stretch for 4180 km and have a 1000 mm gauge. The owner is the State Railways of Thailand.
The railway connection is oriented towards the center - Bangkok. Hualamphong Station is considered the main station for passengers. The largest freight station with a locomotive depot is Bangsy.
Four main lines diverge from Bangkok: North, South, West and East. The western direction is very poorly developed. In the west, the country has a border with Burma (Myanmar), where many transport links are closed. Therefore, lines in this direction are considered unpromising.
Thai trains run late. The single-track gauge forces trains to stop and pass oncoming trains. Railways in Thailand are not electrified.
Passenger trains
Thai trains have cheap seats in third class carriages. The comfort level is very low there. Such cars are uncomfortable and overcrowded.
First class tickets are expensive, which is why many passengers prefer to take second class seats. In Thailand, second class cars are divided into Railcar (comfortable seating) and Sleeper (berths). The sleeping shelves are located along the carriage and are not divided into separate compartments. Class 2 carriages can be with or without air conditioning.
The cost of travel depends on the distance and class of the carriage. The ticket price includes the cost of bed linen. The lower shelf in sleeping cars is more expensive than the upper one. It is recommended to purchase tickets for 1st and 2nd class seats a few days before departure.
You can buy train tickets at the ticket office at the station. Passengers have access to e-tickets on thairailticket.com. The timetable can be found at railway.co.th.
