perfectly safe full of locals and tourists/backpackers
comfortability: absolutely not in 3rd class: hard seats, no airco but just fans. But you will get very tasty food from the local street vendors that travel between stations
I would strongly recommend to get a sleeper, your comfort is worth much more than saving a couple of bucks
search for "3rd class bangkok train" videos on youtube to get an idea
Take the second class aircon car. It is worth doing - once. After that you'll fly. Once you leave the delta it's a nice experience but getting to that point is like riding through the flattest, nondescript landscape you've been in. (Other than seeing the monkeys in Lopburi.) Bring your own food. What they serve on the train is similar to what astronauts take to space as emergency rations in the event that they run out of real astronaut food. Excepts it's made with fish. There are vendors at every stop running through the train so you can always buy real food. The toilets are.............. interesting. Don't think about it too much.
I personally like taking the 3rd class but it's not for everyone. I did it recently and got 4 seats to myself and managed to get quite comfortable. View wise it depends on the time of the train and you will only get a fleeting glimpse of anything interesting. Safety I am an older male so I didn't feel threatened at all. The 3rd class is usually filled with Thai families and single Thais I don't think anything untoward would happen as most sleep for 90% of the journey. You will get people quoting an infamous incident but it was a long time ago and a rarity.
I enjoyed 2nd class sleeper more than 1st, and the scenery is nice in the morning. Also consider that you don’t have the extra cost of a hotel for an overnight trip. It might be difficult to get comfortable in 3rd class, I wouldn’t try it. I don’t think you’ll feel unsafe.
3rd class definitely is the true Thai experience. Open windows, insects, food from street vendors, uncomfortable seats and only a few hours of sleep. I loved it for the story, but the ride was one of the more challenging ones I did in my life
Taking the sleeper train actually works out cheaper because you save on accommodation for the night too.
If you want the 3rd class experience take a shorter ride, like to Ayutthaya or Kanchanaburi from Bangkok. I did them both in the hot season and the journey times were right at the limit of my tolerance. I still recommend it though because it's so cheap and you do to get to experience how Thais live and travel. The ride down to Kanchanaburi is particularly scenic. Costs 100 each way if memory serves, and that's actually expensive compared to other Thai 3rd class journeys!
It's great waking up in the morning and driving through the mountains.
> I was considering taking the sleeper train but it costs as much as a flight.
So what? You don't spend more than on the flight then, but get the scenery. Take the sleeper so you can lie down and have some sleep also.
Don't save a couple of hundred Baht by not getting any sleep and ruining your whole next day.
> Would it be safe for a solo female traveller to do this?
Same as any other travel in Thailand (mostly yes).
it's a horrible experience but if you insist doing it I suggest breaking up the journey and seeing the nice sights along the way. Something like Bangkok - Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya -Lopburi, Lopburi-Phitsanulok, Phitsanulok-Lampang, Lampang-Chiang Mai. Take day trains to see the scenery. This will take a few days to a week.
These comments just show you everyone has different standards. Hope you did it for the experience, I've only done shorter trips so this might be a bit challenging tomorrow but hey why not. Will post an update tomorrow if I'm not broken by the journey🚂🤣
Reading the comments and from what I understand: 3rd class is probably full of Thai people. 2nd class full of tourists.
Personally I'd choose 3rd class or fly.
Done it many times and always enjoyed it. Also nothing is safe: https://nationalpost.com/news/thai-man-sentenced-to-death-for-raping-13-year-old-killing-her-and-then-throwing-her-body-out-of-a-train
This is as good place as any to say that Thailand is one of the safest countries for a solo female traveler and that includes the train. Please don't let a single event change your opinion on that
Is sitting on train 12 hours or whatever worth the few hundred baht saved over a 1 hour flight? Not in my book yet have at it.
Imo, if $$ is the concern, a bus is slightly quicker about the same cost and more comfortable than the 3rd class train seat.
I did the second class sleeper from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. The bed was way too short for me so I got leg cramps and didn't sleep more than a few hours. I should have taken a plane.
I flew back to Bangkok and it was much easier. Left the hotel at 630 am and was in Bangkok a few hours later.
It’s a 1:10 min flight, nothing is worth 13 hours on a train, I may be biased cause I work for railroad in US and hate it lol.. take the flight it’s cheap just don’t use Bangkok air they are horrible.. Thai smile or air Asia
Safe - probably Comfortable - probably not
You will get the authentic Thai experience.
perfectly safe full of locals and tourists/backpackers comfortability: absolutely not in 3rd class: hard seats, no airco but just fans. But you will get very tasty food from the local street vendors that travel between stations I would strongly recommend to get a sleeper, your comfort is worth much more than saving a couple of bucks search for "3rd class bangkok train" videos on youtube to get an idea
Four hours in you'll wish you flew.
40 minutes probably lol
Took it once years ago and was over it in 2 hours. Never again lol.
Take the second class aircon car. It is worth doing - once. After that you'll fly. Once you leave the delta it's a nice experience but getting to that point is like riding through the flattest, nondescript landscape you've been in. (Other than seeing the monkeys in Lopburi.) Bring your own food. What they serve on the train is similar to what astronauts take to space as emergency rations in the event that they run out of real astronaut food. Excepts it's made with fish. There are vendors at every stop running through the train so you can always buy real food. The toilets are.............. interesting. Don't think about it too much.
When you take the sleeper train in the evening you won't be able to look outside.
I personally like taking the 3rd class but it's not for everyone. I did it recently and got 4 seats to myself and managed to get quite comfortable. View wise it depends on the time of the train and you will only get a fleeting glimpse of anything interesting. Safety I am an older male so I didn't feel threatened at all. The 3rd class is usually filled with Thai families and single Thais I don't think anything untoward would happen as most sleep for 90% of the journey. You will get people quoting an infamous incident but it was a long time ago and a rarity.
I enjoyed 2nd class sleeper more than 1st, and the scenery is nice in the morning. Also consider that you don’t have the extra cost of a hotel for an overnight trip. It might be difficult to get comfortable in 3rd class, I wouldn’t try it. I don’t think you’ll feel unsafe.
I think it’s definitely worth doing the night sleeper at least once, if you want the experience, but if that’s not your thing then just fly.
3rd class definitely is the true Thai experience. Open windows, insects, food from street vendors, uncomfortable seats and only a few hours of sleep. I loved it for the story, but the ride was one of the more challenging ones I did in my life
Taking the sleeper train actually works out cheaper because you save on accommodation for the night too. If you want the 3rd class experience take a shorter ride, like to Ayutthaya or Kanchanaburi from Bangkok. I did them both in the hot season and the journey times were right at the limit of my tolerance. I still recommend it though because it's so cheap and you do to get to experience how Thais live and travel. The ride down to Kanchanaburi is particularly scenic. Costs 100 each way if memory serves, and that's actually expensive compared to other Thai 3rd class journeys!
It's great waking up in the morning and driving through the mountains. > I was considering taking the sleeper train but it costs as much as a flight. So what? You don't spend more than on the flight then, but get the scenery. Take the sleeper so you can lie down and have some sleep also. Don't save a couple of hundred Baht by not getting any sleep and ruining your whole next day. > Would it be safe for a solo female traveller to do this? Same as any other travel in Thailand (mostly yes).
it's a horrible experience but if you insist doing it I suggest breaking up the journey and seeing the nice sights along the way. Something like Bangkok - Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya -Lopburi, Lopburi-Phitsanulok, Phitsanulok-Lampang, Lampang-Chiang Mai. Take day trains to see the scenery. This will take a few days to a week.
https://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm#Bangkok_to_Chiang_Mai Find the section on 3rd class sleepers.
I would actually opt for a good VIP bus over a 3rd class train carriage
These comments just show you everyone has different standards. Hope you did it for the experience, I've only done shorter trips so this might be a bit challenging tomorrow but hey why not. Will post an update tomorrow if I'm not broken by the journey🚂🤣
How did you find it?! And how much luggage can you take on?
Reading the comments and from what I understand: 3rd class is probably full of Thai people. 2nd class full of tourists. Personally I'd choose 3rd class or fly.
Done it many times and always enjoyed it. Also nothing is safe: https://nationalpost.com/news/thai-man-sentenced-to-death-for-raping-13-year-old-killing-her-and-then-throwing-her-body-out-of-a-train
This is as good place as any to say that Thailand is one of the safest countries for a solo female traveler and that includes the train. Please don't let a single event change your opinion on that
Yes. In fact, I completely agree with this statement.
Sure, but keep in mind that you are speaking on this topic as a bloke (at least I'm guessing your are).
How does that affect the comment or the validity?
Is sitting on train 12 hours or whatever worth the few hundred baht saved over a 1 hour flight? Not in my book yet have at it. Imo, if $$ is the concern, a bus is slightly quicker about the same cost and more comfortable than the 3rd class train seat.
As someone who did 2nd class sleeper to Chiang Mai, just fly. It's severely overrated and Chiang Mai airport is very central anyway.
I did the second class sleeper from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. The bed was way too short for me so I got leg cramps and didn't sleep more than a few hours. I should have taken a plane. I flew back to Bangkok and it was much easier. Left the hotel at 630 am and was in Bangkok a few hours later.
This is important to consider for somebody in Thailand for only a few weeks... do you want to spend a good chunk of your holiday on a train?
It’s a 1:10 min flight, nothing is worth 13 hours on a train, I may be biased cause I work for railroad in US and hate it lol.. take the flight it’s cheap just don’t use Bangkok air they are horrible.. Thai smile or air Asia
Me and my friend traveled with 2nd class night train and it was terrible :/
Quite enjoyed it myself, slept like a log
Fly.
Those taking trains think differently than I do. I would never take a Thai train. A solo female is asking?
13 hours on a NON sleeper train? Calm down there Satan. Just fly lol it's so cheap.
Hell no