Thailand's night trains leave Bangkok's Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in the evening and arrive in Chiang Mai, the northeast or the south the next morning, with you asleep in a proper berth. They are slower than a flight but save a night's hotel, and on the main routes the newest carriages are clean and comfortable.
The basic choice is between a private first-class compartment and a berth in an open second-class sleeper carriage, where seats turn into upper and lower bunks behind curtains at night. Second class is what most travelers take, and it is the one that sells out first.
Our article on booking Thai trains online explains the D-Ticket system and the train classes step by step, and our comparison for Bangkok to Chiang Mai weighs the train against flying. This page is about the night itself: which routes run overnight, which berth to choose, and what to expect on board.
Night trains from Bangkok at a glance
- Departure station
- Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (long-distance trains since 19 January 2023)
- Newest sleeper trains
- Special expresses 9/10 (Chiang Mai), 23/24 (Ubon Ratchathani), 25/26 (Nong Khai), 31/32 (Hat Yai)
- Through to Laos
- Rapid 133/134, Bangkok to Vientiane (Khamsavath), since 19 July 2024
- Booking
- D-Ticket app and dticket.railway.co.th, or station ticket offices
- How far ahead
- 90 days for the four special expresses above, 30 days for most other trains
- SRT call center
- 1690, 24 hours
The overnight routes from Bangkok
All three long-distance lines out of Bangkok have overnight trains. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) website could not be reached from outside Thailand in October 2026, so we do not print departure times or fares here; check them in the D-Ticket app when you book, as timetables change.
| Line | Main overnight destinations | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Northern | Chiang Mai | Chiang Mai, and onward to Pai and Chiang Rai by road |
| Northeastern | Nong Khai and Vientiane; Ubon Ratchathani | Laos, the Mekong, Isaan |
| Southern | Surat Thani, Hat Yai | Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao; the deep south |
The Tourism Authority of Thailand lists the four newest sleeper services by train number: 9 and 10 between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, 23 and 24 to Ubon Ratchathani, 25 and 26 to Nong Khai, and 31 and 32 to Hat Yai. These are the special express trains SRT opens for booking 90 days ahead, which tells you how popular they are.
Since 19 July 2024 there is also a through train to Laos. Rapid 133 leaves Krung Thep Aphiwat in the evening and reaches Khamsavath station in Vientiane the next morning, with Rapid 134 coming back. According to TAT, it carries a second-class air-conditioned sleeper carriage with 30 berths, a second-class air-conditioned seat carriage and third-class fan carriages, so book the sleeper early. Our guide to Nong Khai and the Mekong covers the border area.
For the islands, the southern line gets you to Surat Thani, where buses and boats continue; see our guides to getting to Koh Samui and getting to Koh Tao.
South of Hat Yai, read the travel advice first. The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel on the railway line between Hat Yai and Padang Besar at the Malaysian border, and in the provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat. Hat Yai city itself is not on that list. Check your own government's advice and your insurance before booking beyond Hat Yai.
First class or second class?
First class is a lockable compartment for two people, with an upper and a lower berth. It suits couples, parents with a child, and anyone who wants a door to close. Traveling alone, check in the booking system whether you will share the compartment with a stranger. There are far fewer first-class places than second-class berths on a train, which is why they go quickly.
Second-class sleepers are open carriages. By day you sit in pairs of facing seats along the windows; in the evening the attendant turns them into a lower berth and pulls down an upper berth above, each with its own curtain. It is sociable, it is cheaper, and on the newer trains it is comfortable. You hear more: people talking, announcements at stations, the attendant moving through the car. Earplugs and an eye mask are worth packing.
Avoid sleeping in a seat on a long overnight journey if you can. Second-class seat carriages and third class are fine by day, but a whole night upright is tiring, and you lose the main advantage of the night train: arriving rested.
Upper or lower berth?
In second class, the lower berth is the one most people want. It is formed from the two facing seats, so it has the window, it is easier to get in and out of during the night, and you can sit on it in the evening before the berths are made up. The upper berth folds down from the wall and you climb a short ladder to reach it.
The upper berth has its fans: it is a little more private, nobody sits on it in the evening, and you are further from the aisle. It is also the cheaper of the two. If you are tall, travelling with a large bag or need the toilet at night, take the lower berth. If you are booking late and only uppers are left, take one rather than switching to a seat.
Lower berths on the Chiang Mai trains go first. On the popular 9 and 10, and around Thai holidays on any line, book the day sales open if you want a lower berth or a first-class compartment. Our page on Thai public holidays shows the dates to avoid.
Boarding at Krung Thep Aphiwat
Since 19 January 2023, SRT's long-distance express and rapid trains leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in the north of Bangkok, not from the old Hua Lamphong station, which still handles ordinary, commuter and some tourist trains. The new station is huge. When it opened, TAT described separate platforms for northern and northeastern departures and for southern departures, so check the departure screens on arrival rather than following the crowd.
Get there at least 45 minutes before an evening departure, especially if you are coming by road in rush hour. The MRT Blue Line and the SRT Red Line both serve the station, and the Mo Chit 2 bus terminal is nearby. Buy dinner, water and breakfast before you board; food is sold on most long-distance trains, but the choice is limited and prices are higher than at the station.
What the night is like on board
For the first hours after an evening departure, most people sit, eat and watch the suburbs pass. At some point in the evening the attendant comes through and makes up the berths with sheets, a pillow and a blanket. Once your berth is made, the seat is gone until morning.
The air conditioning in sleeper cars is strong. Even in the hot season, wear long trousers and keep a warm layer within reach. The train stops at stations along the way, so expect some noise and light during the night.
In the morning the attendant packs the berths away again before arrival. On the Chiang Mai line, the last stretch climbs through hills and forest, which is the best part of the trip in daylight.
Keeping your things safe
The UK Foreign Office warns travelers to avoid sleeping on buses and trains because people have had items taken from bags while asleep. On a sleeper, keep your passport, phone, cards and cash inside the berth with you, ideally in a small bag at your head end, not at the foot of the berth by the curtain. Put the big bag on the rack or under the lower berth, locked. In first class, lock the compartment door from inside.
Booking: how far ahead and what can go wrong
SRT sells tickets through its D-Ticket app and website and at station ticket offices. According to TAT, the four special express pairs (9/10, 23/24, 25/26 and 31/32) open for booking 90 days ahead, and other trains 30 days ahead; TAT also reported a 180-day window for the Vientiane train when it launched. Use the name exactly as in your passport, and carry the passport on board. The booking article linked at the top of this page covers payment and refunds.
Weather can stop trains. After heavy rain in late September 2026, TAT reported on 29 September that SRT trains were running and that the Northern Line had reopened on 27 September. In the rainy season, check for service notices the day before you travel. If the train is cancelled, overnight buses (see our guide to long-distance buses) and domestic flights are the fallback.
Frequently asked questions
Where do night trains leave from in Bangkok?
From Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, which took over SRT's long-distance express and rapid trains on 19 January 2023. Hua Lamphong, the old central station, still handles ordinary, commuter and some tourist trains, but not the sleeper trains to Chiang Mai, the northeast or the south.
Is first class worth it on a Thai night train?
For couples and families, often yes, because you get a private compartment with a door that locks. Solo travelers should check whether they will share the compartment. Second-class sleepers are cheaper, sociable and comfortable on the newer trains, and they are what most travelers book.
Is the upper or lower berth better?
Most people prefer the lower berth: it has the window, it is easier to get in and out of at night, and you can sit on it in the evening. The upper berth is cheaper and a little more private. Take whatever is left rather than a seat.
How far in advance can I book a sleeper train in Thailand?
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the special express trains 9/10, 23/24, 25/26 and 31/32 can be booked 90 days ahead and most other trains 30 days ahead, through the D-Ticket app, its website or station ticket offices.
Can I take a night train from Bangkok to Laos?
Yes. Since 19 July 2024, Rapid 133 runs overnight from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Khamsavath station in Vientiane, with Rapid 134 in the other direction. It has a second-class air-conditioned sleeper carriage, so book early.
Sources
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – Long-distance trains to operate from new Bangkok rail hub from 19 January 2023 (checked October 2026)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – SRT opens 90-day advance booking (checked October 2026)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – Train from Vientiane to Bangkok (checked October 2026)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – Weather and travel conditions in Bangkok, visitor information (checked October 2026)
- UK FCDO – Thailand travel advice: safety and security (checked October 2026)
- UK FCDO – Thailand travel advice: warnings and insurance (checked October 2026)