Chiang Mai to Bangkok Train Schedule 2026
| Train Type | Duration | Price Range | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleeper Train | 12–14h | 1,000–2,000฿ | 10/10 |
| Special Express #8 | 10–14h | 230–1,038฿ | 10/10 |
State Railway runs 5–6 trains daily from Chiang Mai Railway Station. Departures spread between 6:30am and 6pm. Train #8 is the speed demon at 10 hours if you grab a seat. Sleepers take 12–14 hours but you’re flat on a berth instead of upright in a chair.
Chiang Mai Railway Station sits about 3km east of the Old City. Grab a red songthaew for 40฿ or walk if you’re crazy and it’s not April heat. Platform signs are in Thai and English but the English is tiny. Get there 30 minutes early for seats, 60 minutes for sleepers because lower berths vanish fast.
Cheapest vs Fastest vs Most Reliable Trains
Cheapest is a 3rd class seat on any train for 230฿. You’re sitting on a wooden bench next to someone’s chickens. It’s an experience. Fastest is Train #8 Special Express at 10 hours 5 minutes if the schedule gods smile. Most reliable? They’re all State Railway so delays happen but cancellations are rare. Sleepers and expresses both score 10/10 for showing up.
Train #8 leaves around 8:30am and rolls into Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal by 6:30pm. You’ll see rice fields, mountains near Lampang, then flat nothing for hours. Overnight sleepers depart between 5pm and 6pm, arrive Bangkok around 6–7am. That timing saves you a hotel night but dumps you in Bangkok morning rush.
If you’re heading to Nimmanhaemin before your train, leave 90 minutes for traffic. After Bangkok, some people continue to islands down south. Check getting around Chiang Mai for post-trip transport back north.
Ticket Prices, Classes & Booking Guide
2nd class AC sleeper runs 1,000–2,000฿ depending on lower vs upper berth. Lower is always 200–300฿ more and worth it. 2nd class AC seat is 500–600฿. 3rd class seat is 230฿ but you’re in a fan car with no reservations so good luck finding space during holidays.
Book on Baolau or the State Railway app if you read Thai. Baolau charges a small fee but shows live availability. Don’t wait until the day before Songkran or Loy Krathong. Trains sell out 2 weeks ahead during festivals.
Comfort & Amenities Comparison
Sleeper berths convert from seats during the day. Attendant flips them around 8pm. You get a thin mattress, pillow, blanket. Lower berth has a window. Upper berth has a ceiling 40cm from your face. AC cranks cold so layer up. Power outlets exist but half don’t work. Bring a power bank.
Special Express seats recline maybe 15 degrees. That’s it. Your knees hit the seat in front if you’re over 180cm. Toilet is a squat style that gets rank by Phitsanulok. Snack cart comes through twice selling instant noodles, chips, warm Leo beer. Meals on sleepers are included but it’s bland fried rice or a sad chicken leg.
No WiFi on any train. 4G works until you hit the mountains near Lampang then it’s patchy. Download stuff before you board. If you’re doing this route after exploring Doi Inthanon, you’ll appreciate the AC after mountain cold.
Stations, Tips & Booking Links
Chiang Mai Railway Station is one platform with a small waiting hall. Toilets are outside to the left, cleanish in the morning, disaster by noon. 7-Eleven across the street for last-minute snacks. Don’t buy the 80฿ sandwiches, they’re stale.
Bangkok end dumps you at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (new name for Bang Sue Grand Station). It’s north of the old Hua Lamphong. MRT connects to the city but it’s a 10-minute walk inside the terminal to the subway. Grab works here but surge pricing hits hard at 7am.
Luggage limits aren’t enforced. I’ve seen people haul massive boxes. Just don’t block the aisle. Store bags under your berth or in the overhead rack for seats. Sleeper attendants sometimes grumble if your bag is huge but they won’t kick you off.
Best months are November to February when it’s cool and trains run on time. April is burning season so haze cuts the views and AC struggles. Rainy season July to October means occasional track delays near Uttaradit when rivers flood.
Book early. Show up early. Bring snacks. Lower berth or go home. That’s the Chiang Mai to Bangkok train in 2026.
12h-14h
