Bangkok's Red Line is two short commuter railways that both start at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal: the Dark Red line runs north through Don Mueang airport to Rangsit, and the Light Red line runs west across the river to Taling Chan. Together they have 13 stations, run from 05:00 to midnight and cost 12 to 42 baht a trip (October 2026).
The Red Line is run by SRT Electrified Train Co. (SRTET) for the State Railway of Thailand, on raised tracks of its own, so street traffic never slows it down. For most visitors it is simply the train from Don Mueang, but it also reaches the Pink and Purple metro lines and the northern suburbs. This page covers both lines station by station, where to change, what is being built and who will find the trains useful.
SRT Red Line in brief (October 2026)
- Operator
- SRT Electrified Train Co. (SRTET)
- Dark Red line
- Krung Thep Aphiwat – Rangsit, 10 stations, about 23 minutes end to end
- Light Red line
- Krung Thep Aphiwat – Taling Chan, 4 stations, about 24 minutes
- Hours
- First train 05:00, last train 00:00
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes at peak times (about 07:00–09:00 and 16:40–19:00), every 15 minutes otherwise
- Fares
- 1.50 baht per km, 12–42 baht adult; Krung Thep Aphiwat – Rangsit 42 baht
- Extensions
- None open; Rangsit – Thammasat and Taling Chan – Salaya due in 2029
The Dark Red line: Krung Thep Aphiwat to Rangsit
The Dark Red line is the longer and busier of the two. It follows the old northern railway alignment on an elevated track, past Chatuchak and the northern districts, through Don Mueang and out to Rangsit in Pathum Thani province, just beyond the city boundary. The whole trip takes about 23 minutes, according to the operator's timetable.
| Station | Change here for |
|---|---|
| Krung Thep Aphiwat | MRT Blue Line (Bang Sue), Light Red line, long-distance trains |
| Chatuchak | – |
| Wat Samian Nari | – |
| Bang Khen | – |
| Thung Song Hong | – |
| Lak Si | MRT Pink Line (Exit 1) |
| Kan Kheha | – |
| Don Mueang | Don Mueang Airport, by skywalk |
| Lak Hok | – |
| Rangsit | End of the line (extension to Thammasat due 2029) |
The stop most visitors use is Don Mueang. The walk to the terminals, the exit to use and the onward connections are explained in our guide to getting from Don Mueang into the city, so we do not repeat them here.
The Light Red line: Krung Thep Aphiwat to Taling Chan
The Light Red line is a short branch heading west. It has only four stations: Krung Thep Aphiwat, Bang Son, Bang Bumru and Taling Chan, and the operator gives about 24 minutes for the full run. It crosses the Chao Phraya River to the Thonburi side and ends in Taling Chan, a district of canals, orchards and housing estates on the western edge of the city.
The useful stop for most people is Bang Son, where the line meets the MRT Purple Line to Nonthaburi. Beyond that, the Light Red line mainly serves residents. It does not yet reach Siriraj Hospital or Salaya; that is the extension now under construction.
Changing to the MRT, the Pink Line and long-distance trains
The Red Line touches four other rail systems, and each change works differently:
- MRT Blue Line at Krung Thep Aphiwat. Both lines are in the basement of the terminal, where the Blue Line station is called Bang Sue. This is the change for Chatuchak Park, Sukhumvit, Silom and Chinatown. The building itself, with its long walks, is described in our Krung Thep Aphiwat station guide.
- MRT Pink Line at Lak Si. Use Exit 1. The Pink monorail runs east to Min Buri and west to Nonthaburi, and it stops at the Government Complex on Chaeng Watthana Road; see our page on the Pink and Yellow Line monorails.
- MRT Purple Line at Bang Son. On the Light Red line, for Nonthaburi and the north-western suburbs.
- Long-distance trains at Krung Thep Aphiwat. Sleepers to Chiang Mai, the north-east and the south leave from the floor above the Red Line platforms; our guide to Thailand's night trains compares the berths.
Every change means leaving one system and paying a new fare, because each line has its own operator. How the BTS and MRT network fits together is explained in our older guide to using the BTS and MRT.
For Chaeng Watthana immigration, change at Lak Si. From the Dark Red line, take the Pink Line from Lak Si to the Government Complex station. Our guide to the Bangkok immigration office gives the exit, the free shuttle and the opening hours.
Fares, tickets and hours
Fares are set by distance at 1.50 baht per kilometer, from 12 baht to 42 baht for an adult (SRTET, October 2026). Krung Thep Aphiwat to Don Mueang is 33 baht and the full run to Rangsit is 42 baht. Children up to 14 years old and between 91 and 120 cm tall pay a reduced fare, and children under 4 and no taller than 90 cm ride free. The 50 % senior discount is for Thai nationals aged 60 and over only.
You will also read about a 20-baht maximum fare on the Red and Purple lines. That was introduced as a government measure in October 2023, but the operator's timetable page in October 2026 shows only the standard fares, and we could not confirm whether the cap still applies or to whom. Expect to pay the fare shown on the machine. How to pay, from single tokens to stored-value cards and bank cards, is covered in our guide to paying for Bangkok's trains.
Trains run from 05:00 to midnight every day. That first train at 05:00 is the reason the Red Line is useful for early flights from Don Mueang, and the last one at 00:00 is the reason not to rely on it after a late landing.
Extensions: Thammasat, Salaya and what is only on paper
On Tuesday 19 May 2026 SRT signed contracts for two extensions, according to Bangkok Biz News:
- Dark Red: Rangsit to Thammasat University (Rangsit campus), built by Unique Engineering and Construction for 6,057 million baht.
- Light Red: Siriraj to Taling Chan to Salaya, plus three extra stations (Rama 6 Bridge, Bang Kruai–EGAT and Ban Chimphli), built by the UT joint venture for 14,720 million baht.
Both have a 36-month construction period, and the target for opening is 2029. Older articles that promised Salaya in 2026 are out of date.
A third idea, the "Missing Link" from Bang Sue via Phaya Thai and Makkasan to Hua Mak, is only a proposal. SRT is reviewing the design, wants to put it to the cabinet by 2028 and links it to removing Bangkok's level crossings by 2034. No Red Line extension to Hua Lamphong is under construction.
The Red Line does not reach Hua Lamphong, Salaya or Thammasat in 2026. The operator's timetable of 19 October 2026 lists only the 13 existing stations. Between Hua Lamphong and Krung Thep Aphiwat, use the MRT Blue Line.
Who the Red Line is for
For a typical sightseeing trip in central Bangkok you may never ride it. It earns its place in a few cases:
- You fly in or out of Don Mueang with light luggage and want to avoid the traffic.
- You arrive at Don Mueang and continue on a night train the same day: the Red Line runs straight to the long-distance platforms.
- You live or work in the northern suburbs, around Lak Si, Rangsit or the Government Complex.
- You are heading to Nonthaburi or the Purple Line from Taling Chan or Bang Son.
It is less useful if your hotel is far from the MRT, because the transfer at Krung Thep Aphiwat is long; choosing a hotel near a metro line is easier with our Bangkok neighborhoods guide. The planned high-speed line to Korat will also start at Krung Thep Aphiwat; our page on Thailand's high-speed rail tracks it. Heavy rain can disrupt the service too: during the floods of 26 and 27 September 2026, TAT reported disruptions on the Red Line and the SRT Northern Line.
Frequently asked questions
How many stations does the Bangkok Red Line have?
Thirteen in October 2026. The Dark Red line has ten stations from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Rangsit, and the Light Red line has four from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Taling Chan, sharing the Krung Thep Aphiwat station.
How much is the Red Line from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Rangsit?
The adult fare is 42 baht, the highest fare on the line, and the trip takes about 23 minutes. Fares are charged at 1.50 baht per kilometer, from 12 baht for the shortest trips (SRTET, October 2026).
What are the Red Line's first and last trains?
The first train leaves at 05:00 and the last at midnight. The operator's timetable shows a train every 10 minutes at rush hour and every quarter of an hour the rest of the day.
When will the Red Line reach Salaya and Thammasat?
The contracts were signed on 19 May 2026 with a 36-month build, and SRT's target is to open both extensions in 2029. Until then the lines end at Rangsit and Taling Chan.
Does the Red Line go to Hua Lamphong?
No. No extension to Hua Lamphong is being built; a link through central Bangkok is only a proposal. To travel between Krung Thep Aphiwat and Hua Lamphong, take the MRT Blue Line.
Sources
- SRT Electrified Train Co. – Red Line fares and timetable (page dated 19 October 2026) (checked October 2026)
- SRT Electrified Train Co. – Fare information (checked October 2026)
- SRT Electrified Train Co. – Passenger types and discounts (checked October 2026)
- Bangkok Biz News – SRT signs Red Line extension contracts to Thammasat and Salaya (19 May 2026, in Thai) (checked October 2026)
- Northern Bangkok Monorail – Pink Line FAQ and interchanges (checked October 2026)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – Long-distance trains move to Krung Thep Aphiwat (checked October 2026)