The Hua Lamphong Railway Station or the Bangkok Station was built in 1910 but opened for business in 1916. It can be easily reached via MRT (Hua Lamphong MRT Station). This is where you should go if you want to take the train to northern, eastern, northeastern and southern Thailand.
The Train Station has a very simple layout. It will be Impossible to get lost as when you enter the Ticketing booths will greet you and the Platforms to the trains are just beside it.
There is an Electronic Signboard above the ticketing booths showing the departing and arriving trains. To the left is a Signboard showing all the destinations available and their frequencies.
Below are the Six Types of trains available and their differences (from Bangkok.com)
Special Express: long-distance trains connecting major destinations, such as Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Yala, Bangkok-Surat Thani, Bangkok-Sawankhalok (Sukhothai) and Bangkok-Butterworth (Malaysia)
Types of seats: First and second class air-conditioned sleepers and non-air-conditioned second class sleepers
Express: long-distance trains connecting major regional hubs, such as Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Ubonratchathani, Bangkok-Nongkhai, Bangkok-Trang, Bangkok Udonthani
Types of seats: First and second class air-conditioned sleepers, non-air-conditioned second class sleepers, second and third class seats (either air-conditioned or non-air-conditioned)
Rapid: long-distance trains connecting major regional destinations, making more stops than Express trains, such as Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Pitsanulok, Bangkok-Nongkhai, Bangkok-Ubonratchathani, Bangkok-Yala, Bangkok-Nakhon Si Thammarat, Bangkok-Sugnai Kolok
Types of seats: Second class sleepers (either air-conditioned or non-air-conditioned) and second and third class seats (either air-conditioned or non-air-conditioned)
Ordinary: long-distance trains connecting regional destinations, making every stop, such as Bangkok-Nakhonsawan, Bangkok-Suphanburi, Bangkok-Hua Hin, Thonburi-Ratchaburi, Thonburi-Nakhonpathom, Bang Sue (North Bangkok)-Nakhon Ratchasima
Types of seats: Non-air-conditioned second and third class seats
Bangkok Commuter: short-distance commuter trains running between Bangkok and the outskirts (within the 150km radius), making every stop. This is the train you would take to Don Muang Airport. Other destinations include Bangkok-Lopburi, Bangkok-Ratchaburi, Bangkok-Kaeng Khoi (Saraburi), Bangkok-Ratchaburi, Bangkok-Suphanburi, Bangkok-Prachinburi
Types of seats: Non-air-conditioned third class seats
Rural Commuter: short-distance commuter trains running between rural provinces, such as Lopburi-Pitsanulok, Nakhonsawan-Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya-Lopburi, Surat Thani-Sungai Kolok, Chomphon-Hat Yai, Nakhon Ratchasima-Ubonratchathani, Nakhon Ratchasima-Udonthani, Kaeng Khoi (Saraburi)-Khon Kaen
Types of seats: Non-air-conditioned third class seats
Please Visit the Thai Railways Website, the Official State Railway of Thailand Website for more detailed information including Fare Prices. Do also visit A Man In Seat 61’s Guide to Train Travel in Thailand.
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