Apr 8, 2015, 11:53 am
Last edit by: aBroadAbroad
This consolidated thread is for discussing general rail travel throughout Thailand via State Railway of Thailand (SRT) train routes.
For information on the Bangkok Airport Rail Link (ARL), please see the dedicated Bangkok Airport Rail Link (ARL): Updates, Advice, Discussion thread.
For information on the Bangkok Airport Rail Link (ARL), please see the dedicated Bangkok Airport Rail Link (ARL): Updates, Advice, Discussion thread.
Thailand Train/Rail Travel: News and Advice (excluding BKK ARL)
Mar 13, 2015, 2:23 am
#136
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 10
Thanks everybody so far for the heads-up.
I think i was not quite aware of what to expect...
Thius leads us to think about daytripping to Ayutthaya and prolongating a night in Bangkok.
At least our bags would be “safe” then.
What i couldn’t find out until now, is whtether you can “technically” buy a return ticket already at the train station in Bangkok in order to secure the transportation back into town?
I think i was not quite aware of what to expect...
Thius leads us to think about daytripping to Ayutthaya and prolongating a night in Bangkok.
At least our bags would be “safe” then.
What i couldn’t find out until now, is whtether you can “technically” buy a return ticket already at the train station in Bangkok in order to secure the transportation back into town?
Mar 13, 2015, 4:24 am
#137
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
"What i couldn’t find out until now, is whtether you can “technically” buy a return ticket already at the train station in Bangkok in order to secure the transportation back into town?"
Yes, as previously answered...
You will be able to buy a return ticket (i.e. a round-trip), assuming there is space. Train tickets can be purchased for travel up to 60 days in advance.
I guess it will depend on the exact train you are looking for? If it originates at Ayutthaya, say as an "Ordinary" train then you should be fine. If it originates farther north then who knows?
What time are you looking to depart Ayutthaya? What exact train number are you looking at?
Yes, as previously answered...
You will be able to buy a return ticket (i.e. a round-trip), assuming there is space. Train tickets can be purchased for travel up to 60 days in advance.
I guess it will depend on the exact train you are looking for? If it originates at Ayutthaya, say as an "Ordinary" train then you should be fine. If it originates farther north then who knows?
What time are you looking to depart Ayutthaya? What exact train number are you looking at?
Mar 26, 2015, 8:21 pm
#138
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
It looks like there was a major train collision last evening, luckily no one was killed; the one benefit of SRT trains traveling so slowly...
Two-train collision injures 20
A north-bound passenger train rear-ended another on tracks in Ayutthaya province late Thursday, injuring more than 20 people, authorities said.
The cause of the collision was not immediately clear. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) posted a statement on their Facebook page with bare details of the incident.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gene...ion-injures-20
Two-train collision injures 20
A north-bound passenger train rear-ended another on tracks in Ayutthaya province late Thursday, injuring more than 20 people, authorities said.
The cause of the collision was not immediately clear. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) posted a statement on their Facebook page with bare details of the incident.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gene...ion-injures-20
Apr 2, 2015, 3:45 am
#139
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
Update on the SRT toilet situation...
SRT bids to clean up its toilets Trains, stations to see hygienic overhaul
Filthy, stinking toilets on the train and at railway stations should become a thing of the past as the State Railway of Thailand revamps them over the next six months, SRT governor Wuthichart Kalyanamitra...
Mr Wuthichart said passengers will soon see a jump in the hygiene standards of railway toilets and their squalid states will fade from memory.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gene...up-its-toilets
After series of safety failures, SRT to win hearts with cleaner toilets
Following a week which saw four accidents including many injuries and fatalities involving Thailand’s national railroad, the State Railway of Thailand announced yesterday it’s finally going to clean its .... up. But not regarding safety.
To “boost public confidence in the state railway” its governor Wuthichart Kalyanamitra announced it will clean up smelly toilets and sinks in the station’s restrooms.
http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/03/3...leaner-toilets
(Admittedly news from 2012, but there have been many, many, many incidents of insurgents blowing up train tracks in the restive south.)
Two killed, more than a dozen injured after train ambush in southern Thailand
Just hours before US President Obama’s visit, a bomb was detonated by suspected insurgents causing a train to derail, killing two railway guards and injuring 15 others in southern Thailand.
The insurgents exchanged fire with railway guards before fleeing the scene, Police Col. Dulyaman Yaena told AP.
The explosion occurred in Tue So district of Thailand’s Narathiwat province, causing a disruption to train services.
http://rt.com/news/thailand-obama-visit-ambush-973/
SRT bids to clean up its toilets Trains, stations to see hygienic overhaul
Filthy, stinking toilets on the train and at railway stations should become a thing of the past as the State Railway of Thailand revamps them over the next six months, SRT governor Wuthichart Kalyanamitra...
Mr Wuthichart said passengers will soon see a jump in the hygiene standards of railway toilets and their squalid states will fade from memory.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gene...up-its-toilets
After series of safety failures, SRT to win hearts with cleaner toilets
Following a week which saw four accidents including many injuries and fatalities involving Thailand’s national railroad, the State Railway of Thailand announced yesterday it’s finally going to clean its .... up. But not regarding safety.
To “boost public confidence in the state railway” its governor Wuthichart Kalyanamitra announced it will clean up smelly toilets and sinks in the station’s restrooms.
http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/03/3...leaner-toilets
Two killed, more than a dozen injured after train ambush in southern Thailand
Just hours before US President Obama’s visit, a bomb was detonated by suspected insurgents causing a train to derail, killing two railway guards and injuring 15 others in southern Thailand.
The insurgents exchanged fire with railway guards before fleeing the scene, Police Col. Dulyaman Yaena told AP.
The explosion occurred in Tue So district of Thailand’s Narathiwat province, causing a disruption to train services.
http://rt.com/news/thailand-obama-visit-ambush-973/
Last edited by transpac; Apr 2, 2015 at 8:06 am
May 28, 2015, 9:40 pm
#140
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
Train accident du jour...
All foreign tourists safe - Truck - train collision in Hat Yai
SONGKHLA, 29 May 2015 (NNT) - The Langkawi Express Train No.954, which was a Kuala Lumpur - Hat Yai transnational train, collided with a cement mixer truck near Ban Rai, Moo 5, in Banpru area, Hat Yai, Songkhla on Thursday afternoon.
The train driver and all passengers who were mostly foreigners were safe while a 31-year-old truck driver was slightly injured and now hospitalized at Songkhlanagarind Hospital.
According to preliminary investigation, the Songkhla-registered truck No. 82-2970 operated by Warasiri Concrete Co., Ltd. was running across rail track which usually had no traffic barrier.
He might not have a look carefully that the train was coming with high speed, ending up with the collision. The truck was knocked to the trackside ditch; however, there were no serious injuries and deaths in the accident as the train hit with the bottom of the truck.
After the accident, Hat Yai authorities had to replace the damaged locomotive of the train with a new one so that the train could take all passengers to their destination at Hat Yai Station.
-- NNT 2015-05-29
All foreign tourists safe - Truck - train collision in Hat Yai
SONGKHLA, 29 May 2015 (NNT) - The Langkawi Express Train No.954, which was a Kuala Lumpur - Hat Yai transnational train, collided with a cement mixer truck near Ban Rai, Moo 5, in Banpru area, Hat Yai, Songkhla on Thursday afternoon.
The train driver and all passengers who were mostly foreigners were safe while a 31-year-old truck driver was slightly injured and now hospitalized at Songkhlanagarind Hospital.
According to preliminary investigation, the Songkhla-registered truck No. 82-2970 operated by Warasiri Concrete Co., Ltd. was running across rail track which usually had no traffic barrier.
He might not have a look carefully that the train was coming with high speed, ending up with the collision. The truck was knocked to the trackside ditch; however, there were no serious injuries and deaths in the accident as the train hit with the bottom of the truck.
After the accident, Hat Yai authorities had to replace the damaged locomotive of the train with a new one so that the train could take all passengers to their destination at Hat Yai Station.
-- NNT 2015-05-29
Aug 16, 2016, 10:23 pm
#141
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Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
This photo is drawing the ire of Thai rail enthusiasts as being 'unfair'. The good news is that it is still on the tracks.
Train Shamed: Photo of shabby Thai locomotive next to fancy Malaysian train gets attention
A photo of a run-down old Thai train next to a fancy, shiny new Malaysian locomotive has sparked shame, laughs and lots and lots of comments on social media this week.
The photo, posted to Jaroensook Pone Limbanchongkit’s personal Facebook account from Padang Besar, a town on the Malaysian side of Thailand-Malaysia border, was widely believed to be of a Malaysian high-speed bullet train next to an outdated (but still in use) Thai diesel train, reported Manager.
http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/08/1...gets-attention
Train Shamed: Photo of shabby Thai locomotive next to fancy Malaysian train gets attention
A photo of a run-down old Thai train next to a fancy, shiny new Malaysian locomotive has sparked shame, laughs and lots and lots of comments on social media this week.
The photo, posted to Jaroensook Pone Limbanchongkit’s personal Facebook account from Padang Besar, a town on the Malaysian side of Thailand-Malaysia border, was widely believed to be of a Malaysian high-speed bullet train next to an outdated (but still in use) Thai diesel train, reported Manager.
http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/08/1...gets-attention
Aug 17, 2016, 10:22 am
#142
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Omaha
Posts: 1,674
Believed to be a bullet train?
In a thread on a Facebook page for Thai train fans, however, posters said that the Malaysian train is not a high-speed bullet train but simply a Chinese long-distance train that moves at 140kph.
Aug 17, 2016, 1:05 pm
#143
Join Date: Dec 2002
Programs: UA MM, Hilton-Dia
Posts: 1,480
No. The Malaysian-Singapore bullet train isn't going to come online until 2025 and when it does, it will only be between KL-Singapore. It's the Malaysian railways operator (KTMB or Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad) electric train (ETS) that operates from Butterworth to Padang Besar (the signboard in the picture is a giveaway as to location).
While top speed is claimed to be 160 kmh, in reality it doesn't travel at those speeds much because of the curvature of the rail lines (which were double-tracked and electrified in the last 10 years) due to perennial land-acquisition issues.
Padang Besar is Malaysia's border town on the way to Hat Yai.
While top speed is claimed to be 160 kmh, in reality it doesn't travel at those speeds much because of the curvature of the rail lines (which were double-tracked and electrified in the last 10 years) due to perennial land-acquisition issues.
Padang Besar is Malaysia's border town on the way to Hat Yai.
Aug 17, 2016, 3:25 pm
#144
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Omaha
Posts: 1,674
I guess my post was incorrect after learning the history.
I was thinking "believed to be"....well it either is or it isn't, there's no guessing needed.
Besides, an explanation really isn't needed for the photo except, "A Thai train can be seen next to a Malaysian train".
I was thinking "believed to be"....well it either is or it isn't, there's no guessing needed.
Besides, an explanation really isn't needed for the photo except, "A Thai train can be seen next to a Malaysian train".
Aug 17, 2016, 5:41 pm
#145
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
Not sure who called it a "bullet train"? It was simply a photo of two trains: one Thai, one Malaysian. The contrast is what seemed to have sparked people's ire?
The Sino-Thai high speed rail project(s) have been derailed nearly as often as a Thai train. The latest "plan" is to build a 3.5 Km high speed line as a demo for the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchsima line.
The Sino-Thai high speed rail project(s) have been derailed nearly as often as a Thai train. The latest "plan" is to build a 3.5 Km high speed line as a demo for the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchsima line.
Jan 29, 2017, 10:44 pm
#146
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Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
BOOK THAI TRAIN TICKETS ONLINE AGAIN STARTING FEBRUARY
BANGKOK — Hustling to the railway station to buy train tickets – an oddity in the 4G era – will soon end with the reintroduction of the state railway’s online booking system.
Starting on Wednesday, passengers will again be able to book and buy train tickets from two hours up to 60 days before departure time. Printing physical tickets is still required as the State Railway of Thailand said it will not accept those shown on smartphone screens.
The website www.thairailwayticket.com launched in 2009 before being taken offline a year later, relaunched for awhile, and then shut down in 2013 when the service operator’s contract expired.
http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/t...ting-february/
BANGKOK — Hustling to the railway station to buy train tickets – an oddity in the 4G era – will soon end with the reintroduction of the state railway’s online booking system.
Starting on Wednesday, passengers will again be able to book and buy train tickets from two hours up to 60 days before departure time. Printing physical tickets is still required as the State Railway of Thailand said it will not accept those shown on smartphone screens.
The website www.thairailwayticket.com launched in 2009 before being taken offline a year later, relaunched for awhile, and then shut down in 2013 when the service operator’s contract expired.
http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/t...ting-february/
Feb 8, 2017, 12:17 pm
#147
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 383
Malaysian Trains
Spent a couple of weeks in Malaysia and traveled their public transportation systems. They have a good in city (Kuala Lumpur) transportation system and the trains that go to other areas of Malaysia are really excellent. Most modern high speed trains. Unfortunately Thailand has totally neglected its train systems. I know that it is embarrassing to Thai people (I'm married to one and have a house in Nonthaburi to the north of Bangkok). The Bangkok BTS Skytrain and MRT Subway line are first world systems and just as good as Japan or South Korea. However, their out of town trains are 3rd world at best. Hopefully the high speed rail system, that is being projected for Thailand, is on the drawing board and will not take forever to build. Thailand needs a comprehensive rail system throughout the country.
Feb 9, 2017, 3:05 pm
#148
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Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Feb 9, 2017, 5:48 pm
#149
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
HSR, or even MSR, or even Not so High Speed Rail is a non-starter here for myriad reasons, not the least of which is there is no customer base to support the resulting fares. The people who can afford the fares will fly; those that can't will utilize trains, buses and pick-up trucks.
Thai-Chinese train faces design delay
The Thai-Chinese high-speed train project could face a construction delay due to different measurement systems of the track specifications.
Speaking after a meeting on the project, Chaiwat Thongkamkoon, director-general of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), said the office has instructed the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to expedite the design of the tracks, which will be put to the test on a 3.5km-track section from Klang Dong to Pang Asok in Nakhon Ratchasima.
The section is part of the 252.5km Thai-Chinese high-speed train project, from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, worth about 179 billion baht.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gene...s-design-delay
A 3.5 Km HSR "train section"? That pretty much says all you need to know about Thailand and "face".
Thai-Chinese train faces design delay
The Thai-Chinese high-speed train project could face a construction delay due to different measurement systems of the track specifications.
Speaking after a meeting on the project, Chaiwat Thongkamkoon, director-general of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), said the office has instructed the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to expedite the design of the tracks, which will be put to the test on a 3.5km-track section from Klang Dong to Pang Asok in Nakhon Ratchasima.
The section is part of the 252.5km Thai-Chinese high-speed train project, from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, worth about 179 billion baht.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gene...s-design-delay
A 3.5 Km HSR "train section"? That pretty much says all you need to know about Thailand and "face".
Feb 23, 2017, 1:44 am
#150
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Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
State Railway governor, board replaced
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha used Section 44 to sack the governor and entire board the State Railway of Thailand on Thursday and appoint a new team, with a highways deputy chief now acting governor.
Wearing his hat of chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) said the sweeping change was intended to improve the management and efficiency of the state enterprise and facilitate national reform.
The new board chairman is Voravidh Champeeratana, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gene...board-replaced
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha used Section 44 to sack the governor and entire board the State Railway of Thailand on Thursday and appoint a new team, with a highways deputy chief now acting governor.
Wearing his hat of chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) said the sweeping change was intended to improve the management and efficiency of the state enterprise and facilitate national reform.
The new board chairman is Voravidh Champeeratana, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gene...board-replaced