steff

@ThaiTrainGuide hi there! i bought a ticket bkk to suratthani but i would assume it's acceptable to get off at chumphon instead? (headed to islands, transfer here seems easier and faster than s.t.)

Tonight I’m on Rapid No. 167 which goes from Bangkok to Kantang along the Southern line. The train left Krung Thep Aphiwat at 7:50pm. Kantang is actually on a branch line in Trang Province. I don’t think many people will go all the way. I will get off in Chumphon at 4:45am (yes I know). Others will get off in Surat Thani at 7:47am. Both of these stops are popular for people making a bus/boat connection to the islands. I might do No. 167 again in May or June but go down to Surat Thani instead. This train is a cheap way for heading south. The complete route is 17 hours. There are five carriages for 3rd Class seats and one carriage for 2nd Class seats. No A/C, just fans. Tickets to go all the way cost 247 Baht and 426 Baht. I wouldn’t survive in 3rd Class but one day I will try 2nd Class seats for an overnight trip. As this train has 3rd Class the food vendors can get on and sell food and drinks. For example, the one I spoke to got on at KTW and she will get off at Sala Ya 30 minutes later. Ticket price is 20 Baht. She walked up and down at least 5 times. I don’t think she sold anything. Maybe because the spicy basil and minced pork with fried egg was 60 Baht. A bit expensive for something not freshly cooked. There is no dining car on this train but I knew in advance and so I bought something at KTW. There are a lot of choices there now and prices are not bad. There are three 2nd Class sleeper carriages. One is fan with open window for 526/576 Baht. I’ve actually done this once before and it wasn’t bad. Though the privacy curtains were blowing all over the place as I wanted the breeze from an open window. But it was nice to walk up in the morning with an open window. The other two sleepers have A/C and cost 726/796 Baht. There are no 1st Class carriages. Both types of sleeper carriages are the old style. Clean enough but the toilets drain onto the track and were smelly right from the start. I’ve mentioned this before but it is worth repeating, don’t get a berth or seat at the far end as you will be able to smell the toilets. The carriage attendant made up our berths straight away with clean sheets. He also gave us a thin mattress and a pillow. No complaints from me. The berths on these older sleepers are slightly wider than the newer CNR sleepers. I think also softer. Length wise it is fine and I’m 190 cms tall. As usual I went for the lower berth as I want a window, and it is slightly darker and further away from the cold A/C. There are no plug sockets on this sleeper carriage. Some sleeper carriages have been upgraded with sockets but you never know when you book. So bring a power bank. I have a reading light but it doesn’t work! There are also hooks for hanging things. The back rest for the seats lift up which I do to provide myself with a shelf to put my small bag. Each berth has privacy curtains. This train has a cargo car and so you can bring your bicycle or motorbike. Or extra large baggage. You can track my train here: ttsview.railway.co.th/searchresult.p… I’m actually hoping it will arrive a little late as 4:45am is too early. But not too late as I don’t want to miss my boat connection. More about boats on @ThaiBoatGuide. Good night! #Trains #Thailand