How to get from Surat Thani to Bangkok by train

After spending time exploring Thailand’s spectacular islands, many travellers find themselves in Surat Thani in need of a ride back to the capital city, Bangkok. This well-established transport route has plenty of train options available between the two cities, with most departing and arriving at convenient times.

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Route map and details

The journey from to Surat Thani train station to Bangkok’s Krung Thep Aphiwat station takes nine or ten hours, with sleeper carriages available on most services.

Apart from Special Express 40, which departs at 9.00am, all the other trains to Bangkok depart Surat Thani after 6.00pm. Keep this in mind when planning your transfers from the islands as there isn’t much to do in Surat Thani other than wait for your train.

Thanks to their more convenient arrival time into Bangkok the following morning, the later trains (departing after 8.00pm) are the most popular.

Timetables

Click here to check all Thailand train times

There are ten trains per day from Surat Thani to Bangkok, all of which have sleeper carriages apart from SP40 and SP44.

Average journey time: 9 hours 52 minutes

How to buy tickets

The easiest way to buy train tickets in Thailand is online rather than going to the station. You do pay a very small commission but the ease and convenience makes it worthwhile in our opinion.

Baolau is the best site to use for buying train tickets, they have access to the live Thai Railways booking engine, so you can easily see availability, timetables and prices.

Payment can be made using international credit cards and PDF confirmation tickets are sent to your email address within a few minutes. This is the actual ticket you need to board the train, so there’s no need to exchange it at the station before travel. You may prefer to print the pdf out, but it’s also fine to show it on your mobile phone to the conductors and station staff.

Surat Thani to Bangkok train tickets

How much does it cost?

There are several different classes available from Surat Thani to Bangkok, although our recommendation is a second-class berth (AC):

¹ Air-conditioned carriages
² Non-AC berths also available

The prices for each class are:

What to expect on board

Two of the services (SP40 and SP44) only have seated carriages, the rest have a combination of first and second-class sleepers, plus third class seats. Special Express 40 is a good choice if you don’t mind a long daytime journey and want to see something of central Thailand’s attractive scenery.

Second-class air-conditioned carriages are comfortable, with tray tables, reclining seats and charging points. They work well during the day but it can be difficult to get much sleep on the overnight train. For that reason, Special Express 44, which departs at 6.25pm and arrives at 3.45am, is uncomfortable and arrives into Bangkok at an unpleasant hour. It should be avoided unless you have no other option.

Third-class seats aren’t really designed for long-distance travel, although it’s an experience you’ll probably never forget (not necessarily for the right reasons). If you absolutely have to get to Bangkok ASAP then go for it, otherwise hang back and choose an alternative service.

First-class sleeper compartments are always popular with tourists and this makes them very hard to book; they’re usually only available if you book weeks in advance. If you value privacy and some extra comfort, they’re recommended, but second-class is perfectly adequate and many people actually prefer it.

One definite advantage of first-class is the ability to control the lighting and AC levels yourself. In the second-class carriage, both are left on at full power for the entire journey. First-class carriages also have their own toilet and washing facilities, and are a step up from the second-class versions.

Depending on your style of travel, the privacy and lack of social interaction in first-class can either be a positive or negative. If you prefer your own space and are travelling solo, you can book the entire compartment (also known as a ‘room’ on the Thai booking engine), if you’re prepared to pay for the privilege.

Second-class carriages don’t offer the same level of privacy as first-class, but they do have privacy curtains for when you want to go to sleep. Set either side of the central corridor, the berths are converted to seats during the day and create a sociable atmosphere, especially if you’re travelling in a group of four and have booked adjacent seats. Sometime around 7.30pm, attendants will make their way down the carriage and convert the seats into berths, ready for sleeping.

It’s worth spending the extra money on a lower berth if they’re still available (not always the case as they’re the most popular option). Wider and easier to access, they have sole use of the large window and aren’t as badly impacted by the bright overhead lights. Upper berths are fine if you’re nimble enough to climb the metal ladder, and don’t mind a slight squeeze to get under the covers.

What are the toilets and wash facilities like?

First-class carriages have their own toilet and wash facilities, which are kept in good condition with plenty of supplies. Some of the newer carriages even offer hot showers.

In the other carriages, toilets are clean and tidy for most of the journey, although they can become less so around the rush hour just before bedtime. Attendants sometimes use the area to store their items so it can get a little cramped, but there’s enough space to brush teeth and have a quick wash.

It does make sense to bring your own toilet paper and hand-sanitiser though, just in case the supplies run out during the journey.

Catering options

Food and drinks vendors wander up and down the train offering everything from biscuits and donuts to fried chicken and pad thai. You should feel quite safe eating this food and it’s usually excellent quality.

For something slightly more formal, a restaurant car is attached to most of the services and is a fun place to eat and meet other travellers. Meals might look unappetising when they’re displayed on the plastic menu but they’re tasty and filling when they arrive. You can also order with train staff as they walk along the carriage and have the meal delivered to your berth (tips appreciated).

Expect to pay around THB40 – 120 for a meal and THB20 for soft drinks. Alcohol is prohibited on all Thai trains and there are fines if you’re caught drinking.

Journey description

Surat Thani is both a major tourist hub and transport junction, so the station is often a lively place with touts, tourists, train staff and food vendors. Once you depart the station, the train makes its way up the coastline of the Gulf of Thailand, passing Chumphon and Hua Hin along the way.

It then turn eastwards towards Bangkok, edging through the suburbs and towards the city centre. Krung Thep Aphiwat station is all shiny metal and glass, very much the modern Southeast Asian transport hub. It’s practical and efficient, but sadly lacking any of the old-world glamour of Hualamphong Station, which it replaced several years ago.

After making your way up from the platforms, head for either the MRT or Grab to travel the final few kilometres into the exciting chaos of Bangkok city centre.