The documented way from Kanchanaburi to Ayutthaya by public transport is two trains with Bangkok in the middle: the morning train from Kanchanaburi to Thonburi station, the MRT across the city, then a northbound train to Ayutthaya, arriving in the early afternoon. The other practical option is a car with a driver, which can stop at Nakhon Pathom on the way.
Kanchanaburi and Ayutthaya are the two classic side trips from Bangkok, and many first-time itineraries go straight from one to the other. There is no railway between them that avoids Bangkok, because both lines run into Bangkok. Booking websites also list minivans, some via Suphan Buri, but we could not find an operator or Transport Company timetable for a direct service in November 2026, so we cannot recommend one.
The train times on this page come from seat61 and from an enthusiast timetable built from the State Railway of Thailand's (SRT) schedules, checked on 9 November 2026. Confirm them in the SRT's D-Ticket system or at the station before you travel.
Kanchanaburi to Ayutthaya by train (checked November 2026)
- Train 1
- Kanchanaburi 07:05, Thonburi 09:35 (train 260, third class only)
- Across Bangkok
- Walk about 750 m to MRT Bang Khun Non, then the Blue Line
- Train 2
- Hua Lamphong 11:15, Ayutthaya 12:57 (ordinary 209)
- Afternoon option
- Kanchanaburi 14:43, Thonburi 17:40 (train 258), then an evening train north
- Direct minivan
- Listed by booking sites; no operator timetable found
- Car with driver
- Door to door; agree the price and any stops first
Step one: the train from Kanchanaburi to Thonburi
The ordinary trains from Kanchanaburi do not go to Hua Lamphong or Krung Thep Aphiwat. They end at Thonburi station on the west bank of the Chao Phraya. Two run each day: train 260 leaves Kanchanaburi at 07:05 and reaches Thonburi at 09:35, and train 258 leaves at 14:43 and arrives at 17:40. Both are third class only. Seat61 reports a flat 100-baht fare for foreigners on this line, which the SRT has not confirmed on its own site.
The same line runs through Nakhon Pathom, so you pass the great chedi without stopping unless you break the journey. Our guide to Bangkok to Kanchanaburi covers the line in the outbound direction, the minivans from the Southern Bus Terminal and the weekend excursion train, which only helps if you travel the route the other way round.
Step two: across Bangkok by MRT
Thonburi station is about 750 meters from Bang Khun Non station on the MRT Blue Line, about a nine-minute walk. The Blue Line serves both Hua Lamphong and Bang Sue, the stop inside Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal; depending on the direction you may change trains at Tha Phra, so follow the signs or ask the station staff. You can pay at the gates with a contactless card.
Which station you head for decides your next train. Slow ordinary and commuter trains to Ayutthaya leave from Hua Lamphong; the rapid and express trains and the new air-conditioned SRT Bangkok Connex service leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat. Our page on the train from Bangkok to Ayutthaya explains the classes, the Bangkok Connex trains and the ferry from Ayutthaya station to the old city, and our Krung Thep Aphiwat station guide covers the platforms.
Step three: the train to Ayutthaya
After the morning train from Kanchanaburi, the first comfortable connection is ordinary train 209 from Hua Lamphong at 11:15, arriving in Ayutthaya at 12:57. The ordinary 201 at 10:15 is too tight after a 09:35 arrival at Thonburi. If you would rather have lunch in Bangkok, later trains from Hua Lamphong include:
| Train | Leaves | From | Arrives Ayutthaya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary 209 | 11:15 | Hua Lamphong | 12:57 |
| Ordinary 211 | 12:55 | Hua Lamphong | 14:34 |
| Rapid 109 | 14:15 | Krung Thep Aphiwat | 15:18 |
| Ordinary 207 | 14:20 | Hua Lamphong | 16:07 |
| Commuter 301 | 16:45 | Hua Lamphong | 18:38 |
On the afternoon train from Kanchanaburi, arriving at Thonburi at 17:40, the realistic connections are commuter 313 from Hua Lamphong at 18:20 (Ayutthaya 20:08) or Special Express 9 from Krung Thep Aphiwat at 18:40 (Ayutthaya 19:43). Both are tight if the first train is late. Later night trains from Krung Thep Aphiwat also stop at Ayutthaya, such as Special Express 13 at 20:05, which arrives at 21:09. Reserved seats on express trains can be booked as our guide to booking Thai trains online describes.
Take the 07:05 train, not the 14:43. The morning train leaves a margin of well over an hour for the walk and the metro and gets you to Ayutthaya in daylight. The afternoon train leaves you an evening arrival and little room for delays.
Your luggage on the way
On this route you keep your bags with you on both trains and the MRT, so travel as light as you can. If you want a few hours in Bangkok between trains, Krung Thep Aphiwat has self-service lockers near the ticket office; the left-luggage office at Hua Lamphong has closed. Our guide to luggage storage in Bangkok covers lockers, hotels and the airports.
A car with a driver, with a stop at Nakhon Pathom
For a family or a small group with luggage, a car and driver is the simplest choice: door to door, no stations and no carrying bags through the metro. Grab lets you book a GrabCar between provinces, with a fare based on distance, and lists both Kanchanaburi and Ayutthaya among its locations; local drivers and hotels also arrange the trip. We have no reliable price to print, so get more than one quote and agree the route, the stops and the waiting time before you leave. Our guide to hiring a car with a driver lists what to settle first.
A driver also lets you stop at Nakhon Pathom, home of Phra Pathom Chedi, which the Tourism Authority of Thailand calls the country's biggest and highest stupa. Say you want the stop when you book, since it changes the route. Our general page on minivans in Thailand covers safety and luggage if you decide to try a van instead.
Which way to choose
Trains suit travelers on a budget who enjoy rail travel and can start early; the whole trip costs little and runs on fixed times. A driver suits groups, families and anyone with big suitcases, and lets you see Nakhon Pathom on the way. A van booked online may work, but without an operator timetable, ask the seller for the company name, the pickup point and whether you change vehicles in Suphan Buri or Bangkok.
Before you go, our Kanchanaburi guide covers what to see before you leave, and the Ayutthaya city guide covers the temples you are heading for. The next leg north, by train to Phitsanulok and bus to Sukhothai, is in our page on getting from Ayutthaya to Sukhothai.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct train from Kanchanaburi to Ayutthaya?
No. The Kanchanaburi line ends at Thonburi station in Bangkok, and Ayutthaya is on the northern main line, so you change in Bangkok. The morning train from Kanchanaburi at 07:05 connects with ordinary train 209 from Hua Lamphong at 11:15, arriving in Ayutthaya at 12:57.
Is there a minivan from Kanchanaburi to Ayutthaya?
Booking websites list vans, some via Suphan Buri, but we could not find an operator or Transport Company timetable for a direct service in November 2026. If you book one, ask for the operator's name, the pickup point and whether you change vehicles on the way.
How long does it take from Kanchanaburi to Ayutthaya by train?
About six hours from the 07:05 departure to the 12:57 arrival, including the walk, the metro ride across Bangkok and the wait at Hua Lamphong. The two train rides together take a little over four hours.
Can I do Kanchanaburi to Ayutthaya in one day?
Yes, easily on the morning train, which gets you to Ayutthaya in the early afternoon. On the afternoon train you arrive in the evening, and any delay can make you miss the connection, so book a hotel in Ayutthaya that is easy to reach after dark.
Sources
- Seat61 – Train travel in Thailand (Kanchanaburi line and Thonburi station) (checked November 2026)
- Thai Train Guide – Northern Line timetable, ordinary 209 (checked November 2026)
- Thai Train Guide – Timetables for all lines (checked November 2026)
- Grab Thailand – Transport services and coverage (checked November 2026)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – Phra Pathommachedi festival (checked October 2026)