Any train info/photos to share?

[jte 1]

Hi all,

I am thinking about taking a train trip to Chiang Mai from Bangkok on my next trip. I will be traveling with a friend (and maybe my TG). My friend retired from the railroad here and still likes train travel. What would be better to take the day trip and see the country side (and then get a room for the night) or take the night trip and see a little before night and in the morning. Do they have dining cars on the train or do you have to take along food? The main reason to take the train is to see the sights, if any on the way to Chiang Mai. I will still get the "Air-Conditioned sleeper car". Would you reccomend the first class over the second? We will fly back ( 1hr 10 min!). I would like very much to see any photos that anyone may have of the train/ sleeper berths/ scenery or anything else interesting about the trip.

Thank-you

Jim

[upena 2]

http://www.thaifocus.com/travel/train/

 

http://travel-online.to/srt/

[jte 1]

Upena,

Thanks for the info, I had not seen the first site before. Do you have any first hand experiance traveling on the trains in Thailand? I have done the google search thing but do not seem to be able to find many photos or first hand travel experiance listed.  1 site the author said that they had good food cooked on-board and brought to thier room.

Thanks

Jim

[Greg_B 306]

Just from what I'm being told second hand...Go 1st class and do the daytrip, if you want to see the countryside...

[irishman 0]

I can't give you any first hand information because when I was there and in a position to take the train from BKK to Chiang Mai I waited until a couple of days before the event and then tried to get a ticket.  No dice!  The train was fully booked.  And the next opening for the first class day train was over a week away.

 

So if you are serious about taking the train, I would advise you to make reservarions as soon as possible.  

 

Cheers

[OnMyWay 0]

I took the 1st class sleeper car in september. I took the overnight one and unfortunately did not see much of the countryside as it was dark outside.

 

But, the first class sleeper was large enough for me to spend most of the night sportfucking!  ;D When you board, you'll get a menu and you can order food for dinner and for breakfast the next morning. DON'T order the breakfast...it was downright horrible! The dinner was just OK.

 

Be sure to let them know to not disturb you unless you want it. Otherwise, they'll be knocking on your door every 10 minutes for one thing or another.

 

Not a bad trip but wish I had done it during the daytime. As another boardie said...BOOK EARLY!

 

Cheers,

Mark

[torrenova 644]

Never been up north on a train but did the overnight (16 hours) from Bangkok to Trang in the south.

 

Supposed to leave Bangkok around 5pm, eventually on our way at 6pm. It got dark soon after we left and we didn't see anything of the country really. Saved a night's accommodation cost but even in 1st class (the trains are 30 year old Japanese rolling stock), it was no more than bearable.

[Dungheap 243]

Took the train to Chang Mai some 18 years ago (Night trip up, day trip back) and took the train to Hua Hin only two months ago.

 

I love traveling by train and not much has changed.

 

A few tips:

 

As others said, book early.

 

Second class air con is more than adequate for a day trip. First class my prefered option for overnight.

 

In second class, expect two wide lounge like chairs facing each other that slide together to become the bottom bunk. Top bunk is a pull-down and not that comfortable if you a big bloke.

 

There is (was?) a dining car on the Chiang Mai train plus plenty of vendors selling everthing from this fairy floss-like cake to noodles.

 

We were in the last carriage of 18 on the trip to Hua Hin and the waiter/conductor would bring up a bucket of iced beers every 30 minutes. He also took orders for food and brought it up to our seats and set up a table. Food varied: fried rice OK but the Thai style sausage we thought we ordered was some bland pre-made orange sausage that we fed to the passing buffaloes!

 

Take a book, bar girl or some form of entertainment. ;D

[jte 1]

Mark:

Thanks for that tip, I told the honey that I was with last trip that I wanted a t-shirt with   mai ao ( not want) written on it! In Thai of course only the board won't show Thai script (or I can't read it on my computer when I preview it!).

Torrenova:

My friend has his heart set on taking a train trip so I will take along my camera and a TG to keep myself entertained. Boy that sucks don't it, traveling by train through Thailand, drinking beer and playing with a TG, and to think I could be at work (sorry for the use of the 4 letter word on the open section Pete). The things we do for friends!

Roppongi:

What is the set up in the 1st class as far as seating goes? I have seen a photo of the seating in the 2nd class. What do you think the possibility of getting 2 compartments next to each other? Like I said I am traveling with a friend but will likely take along a TG for entertainment. Is there room for 4 people in a compartment to visit, play cards,connect4....? If you have any photos I would like to see them.

Thanks everyone

Jim