By train: Pattaya – Bangkok
It had to happen sometime, because I've been planning it for a long time. Once by train from Pattaya to Bangkok.
I had already driven to the station once to see what time the train left, how much it cost, do you need a reservation, etc. Yesterday was the day, my wife took me and when I walked up the stairs to the station, she was stunned for a few more minutes. By train to Bangkok: who does that?
So I and I have achieved it and now belong to a selective group of foreigners who have been able to put this expedition to their name. I thought I recognized something of that feeling, when someone has completed the marathon or has reached an alpine summit. Because, verily, it is an achievement, four hours and 34 minutes it took this time, third class, only hard seats, windows open, fans in full operation and if you didn't bring your own, without food and drink.
Anyway, what else do you want for the price of 31 (thirty-one) Baht one way travel? The train left almost on time with only a 4 minute delay. Twenty other passengers, including six foreigners, boarded and the heavy diesel locomotive began its long journey to the capital with difficulty. I told you, the train is not really comfortable, hard benches, very old and damaged everywhere, smelly squat toilets, but smoking is not allowed. You could cause a burn mark in the seat.
14.25:XNUMX p.m.Pattaya
There we go, heading north along the new parallel roads, which serve as an alternative to Sukhumvit. It all seems somewhat familiar. The railway crossing at the waterworks, the Colchan resort in the distance, under the road to Rayong, and so on.
- 14.37 Banglamung/Laem Chabang
- 14.57:XNUMX p.m. Sriracha
- 15.04 Khao Phra
- 15.10 Bang Phra
- 15.24 Chonburi
- 15.41 Phan Tong
- 15.59 Don Si Non
- 16.11 Paet Riy
Up to here nothing special, a rustic Thai landscape, the occasional village, in Chonburi we have to wait for a train with containers on its way to Laem Chabang and we also see a long train of oil tank wagons on a side track. Here and there a glimpse of a highway, which I then try to interpret, usually without result. Check the map later.
16.19 Chasungsao
The first larger station, where even a public address system is available. Double track now, because trains also come and depart from here to directions other than Pattaya. The train fills up here with dozens of schoolchildren on their way home.
- 16.30:XNUMX p.m. Bang Toey
- 16.35:XNUMX PM Khlong Bong Phra
- 16.40 Khlong Kwaen Klan
- 16.47:XNUMX p.m
- 16.52 Khlong Udon Chonchorn
- 16.58 Khlong Luang Phang
Up to here we went through a flat, also boring, landscape of rice fields, as far as the eye can see. In the villages that we have now passed, the schoolchildren are being discharged again drop by drop. The train has thus taken over the task of the school bus here.
17.08 Hua Takhe
Here too, the train is filling up again with somewhat older schoolchildren. Judging by the books they are carrying, they are students at a university nearby.
- 17.11 Phra Chom Klao
- 17.17 Lat Krabang
- 17.24:XNUMX PM Soi Wat Lan Boon
- 17.29:XNUMX PM Ban Thap Chang
- 17.37:XNUMX p.m. Huamak
- 17.53:XNUMX PM Khlong Tan
- 18.08 Makkasan
Up to here it is fairly busy with boarding and disembarking passengers, students and office staff. The vast majority of the passengers still present at that time get off here, because there is a connection with the skytrain. With a handful of other passengers I want to get to the end point and that will cost me dearly. The train was reasonably on time, but before it reaches the final station, the train stops and we wait there for half an hour to 40 minutes. Apparently the platform is not yet ready to receive the train. Shame!
18.59:XNUMX PM Hua Lamphong/Bangkok
The big station of Bangkok, I can change at the other side of the platform in the night train to Chiang Mai. Well, not yet, I've trained enough for a while.
Back home (by bus) I tried to follow the aforementioned list of places and villages on the map, but that was almost impossible. You already have to look at Google's satellite map and then carefully follow the route, because the railway lines are not shown on the normal map. Shouldn't that be?
Anyway, it was an experience I wouldn't have wanted to miss, but next time just take a taxi, bus or own car.
For a nice impression of the trip, take a look at the video below:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/hNzdjucXILg[/youtube]
I too have often thought about doing this by train. As an experience. But after your report, I'm thinking of shedding this idea for good. 4,5 hours seems too much to me, also because there is little variety in the landscapes along the way. So I'll stick with bus.
What a nice report. I am spending the winter in Bangkok and the train journey is also on my “to do” list. However, in reverse order. And then I have to get out of bed early because the train leaves around 0700 in the morning. Fortunately, I temporarily live just a few metro stops from Hualampong, so it should work.
You write : Transfer to the skytrain at Makkasan. However, that is not correct, that is the Airport Raillink.
Greetings from Bangkok Sathorn/RamaIV
Kidney
This train ride really is traveling the Thai way.
Train is often used by the Thai.
In the ordinary train it is usually free travel for them. (they have to get a ticket)
You also see a lot of youth traveling back and forth.
The nice thing about the train is that food and drinks are regularly offered on the train.
Arriving at the station in Pattaya you still have to go to the "center" this can be done by taxi that is at the station upon arrival of the train.
If you wait a little longer, it gets a little more difficult.
The train journey to Hua Hin is with the ordinary train of the same caliber.
The atmosphere and culture on the train is just fun to experience.
I personally prefer to travel by train instead of the mini van.
Good afternoon,
Read the message carefully, I've already made the trip 6 times myself, not because it's cheap but super fun to experience
All those 6 times there was indeed food and drink available, every half hour a woman comes through the train with drinks and food yourself bbq you can get a can of chang beer is just as expensive as the whole journey, that makes it also so nice
Ticket sale starts at 13.50 pm and departure is at 14.20 pm arrival Bangkok 18.30 pm
Definitely make the trip again
Easy to find soi siam country until the railway then turn left for the railway few hundred meters further you have the station can't miss it
Sincerely, k. farmer
I was also surprised that there is no food or drink available on this train.
I've already had a few trips by train (I've just returned from Surin by train for a few days) and I've never experienced people not selling drinks and food.
Incidentally, it was not a saleswoman on the train to Surin, but the train conductor himself who walked around with it. While shouting “Name Yen”, he had a bucket with him with cold bottles of water. It was actually kind of funny to see him, with his oversized kepi that fell down to his ears and the stars on his shoulder he looked like a General.
To call traveling by train in Thailand super fun is going a bit too far for me.
I find it especially more practical than a bus trip because you have more freedom of movement. On the other hand, it almost always takes longer than a bus trip.
I have taken this ride many times and it is always a pleasure. During the trips I did, food and drinks were regularly offered by saleswomen.
Gringo; nice piece of train info, especially if you have the time. I have never stepped on the train in those 20 years of Thailand, but after this video I am completely converted! We won't talk about that small delay you had / no, this is definitely not a link to the NS! Nice train video, would you like more direction isaan?
Thanks for this train info! I'm going to Chonburi soon and then I can take the train at Ladkrabang!
Dear Gringo,
A very nice story and a pleasure to read
Have you ever made the train journey the other way with
a report. I'm curious, I want to do this again.
The "station" Pattaya has something touching, something out of a Lego box.
What I always find funny, the people with the red and green flag on
the end of the train and how the mail is removed before the
train continues.
Sincerely,
Lodewijk
Thanks for the info, I'm definitely going to test this ride, I've already taken the train from Bangkok to Huahin once. was also an experience 😉 And as far as delays are concerned, there are also daily delays at the NMBS in Belgium !!
When I saw the rails and the concrete sleepers through the back of the train I immediately understood why so many trains derail, the German Mainliner tamping machine shown is used for straightening and tamping the track, but after that is a machine normally used in Europe that cleans the sleepers in the middle and applies an amount of crushed stone on the side of the sleepers, which should protect the track to avoid spattering of the track, i.e. upon expansion of heat or cooling, then the track will sway and then a derailment is unavoidable, only gravel has been used instead of crushed stone, the water cannot escape due to pollution and the track will also float with concrete sleepers, with all the consequences that entails.
Dear Gringo
Great fun story! Train travel is always fun (if you have the time).
You can indeed see the stations and railway line in Google Earth.
– Open the sidebar under view if it is not already open.- Under layers is the “primary database”, go to “More” then to “Transport” and check this.
In Google Earth you now see a black line for the railway and a blue / white Icon for the station. If you click on it you will see the name of the station.
However, I do have a Google Earth Macintosh. But I expect it will work the same on Windows.
did the trip pattaya bankok by train 2 times, beautiful if you look at it as an adventure.
also have a bigger adventure 2 times bankok nongkai, you don't experience this in western Europe'
highly recommended for adventurers.
Nice report, have used this train several times, in both directions. Still fun : taking some pictures, hanging out on the benches, the flagmen in the various stations.
And there were saleswomen with some food and drink (even Leo in an ice box).
Going to smoke in the doorways – someone in uniform on the train had shown me that.
Arriving in the heart of Bangkok – what a bliss! Hua Lamphong, a nostalgic station.
Only the timetable is a bit more difficult, towards Pattaya you have to be there around 7 am.
And yes, I enjoy that price : 31 baht. And elders (Thai) are allowed for free. Who wants a TGV then?
But I think the end is coming: the track is slowly being doubled and Hua Lamphong is being replaced by a new station. But that could take years of course.
Soon I will try to get to Pattaya by train from the vicinity of Sakun Nakhom. Should take 2/3 days for me.
The new, replacement station for Hua Lamphong (Bangshit) is progressing quickly, they are now working on the steel construction, I regularly visit it on my scooter and I am always amazed at how quickly they are building it. The construction of the sky train (redline) from Hua Lamphong via Bangshit to Lak-Si, Don Muang and Rangsit is also progressing very quickly.
Here, work has also started on the installation of the steel construction at the first station. Only the first part, built by a French/Thai construction combination, doesn't really get along, but the Italian/Thai firm works for two. Until Don Muang, this has all the piles and transverse construction (beams) ready and also the horizontal rail construction over a huge stretch.