So we're going to take the night train (1st class private sleeper) to Chiang Mai from Bangkok.

We have two choices: the 'express' train that leaves at 6 PM and arrives at 6:30 AM or the local train that leaves at 7:35 PM and arrives at 9:20 AM. It seems like a no-brainer, I know...but there are a few things to take into consideration:

-We're heading to the train station in Bangkok from our flight from Siem Reap that gets into BKK at 2:15 PM. Which would probably make the difference between rushing to the express train or taking our time to get to the local.

-Our guide, Poon, will be picking us up at the train station in Chiang Mai to do some shopping and sightseeing before we head to our hotel (Baan Rai Lanna) which is an hour outside of Chiang Mai. We want enough time to see some of CM that day, but don't need an exhaustive tour, either...basically want enough time to see some things/shop and get to our hotel with enough time to relax a bit before dinner.

So if we take the later train (getting in at 9:20 AM), is 3 or 4 hours enough time to see some quality things in Chiang Mai before heading off to our hotel? Or if we take the early train (getting in at 6:30 AM) is that too early to really do/see anything in CM?

PS--thanks for the heads-up on the train, everyone. We'll be bringing plenty of warm clothing to protect against the sub-polar A/C.

We will be taking the train to Chiang Mai, too. My daughter wants to have the experience of sleeping on a train, so why not. Our intention is to take the one that departs at 7:35 and arrives in CM at 9:20.

At 6:30 in the morning what would you do? I'm a morning person, and what I usually end up doing is just walking around...not much at all open that early. You could have breakfast at a market maybe, go up to Doi Suthep - it might be nice in the early morning light with no crowd. Shopping won't happen until after 10:00 or 11:00.

The other bonuses of taking the later train are :

- no rushing to get to the train station after just arriving.
- time to have a look around near the train station (chinatown) and grab something to eat
- the scenery is meant to be beautiful the last few hours of the trip, so you will see it all and be able to appreciate it

See: this is why I love using these boards.

Problem solved: we will take the later train.

Kim, thanks AGAIN for the great advice...many thanks to you as well, Reeta.

Wow! I would rush to take the express train. On either train, you might find that you will do more trying to sleep than actual sleeping. Of course the local train might travel slower, but the extra two hours is travel time means lots of stops. The slow down, stop, station hubbub, and acceleration is not as comfortable as cruising through the stations on the express.

What would I do at 6:30 AM? An extra 2 hours on land doing anything instead of on a local train sounds better. Nodding off in the hotel lobby, e.g.

Maybe the first class private sleeper is the same on the local as it is on the express. I don't know. Hopefully, the local is the same kind of train as the express, but I would expect the express to be smoother and quieter than the local (even if they made the same speed and stops).

So, yes, I thought it was a no-brainer even with the schedule differences.

But a good reason to take the later train is that it will be easier on Poon! Let her sleep in a bit.

Hi, sorry to butt in, but we are also taking the over night train from BKK to CM after arriving from Siem Reap!
However I found out that both trains at 6pm and 7.35 are special express trains and have 1st & 2nd class only.... the only difference seems to be the arrival time. The 6pm arrives @ 5am and the 7.35pm arrives @ 9.20am... both have equal amount of stops...? You can find the timetable below... please someone could explain why one is faster and better than the other?

http://www.railway.co.th/English/Time_HTML.asp

Personnaly I would prefer to go on the train that leaves BKK @ 7.30pm to have a bit of extra time in BKK...

Thanks for your help.

Kind regards,
Katerina

That's not my understanding. Both trains have 1st class sleeper coaches and those sleepers, unless I'm missing something, do not vary from train to train. I think the only difference is one train is slower than the other...one of life's great mysteries

We're going to take the overnight train from BKK to Chiang Mai, too -- not sure which one yet. Are you all purchasing your tickets before you arrive in Thailand? How? Thanks!

We took the 7:35 train in July 2005. I can't remember why we took that time, but I think it was too avoid arriving in CM too early in the morning. Our kids (6 and 9) loved it and we slept pretty well. We had 2 1st class sleeper compartments which connected to each other and gave us a total of 4 bunks. There was a tiny sink in each room. The train was actually late arriving to CM, around 10:30am I think, but don't recall why. We used the extra time to eat breakfast on the train. I tried to buy tickets online before going to Thailand, but couldn't get any answer. We ended up going to the train station on our 1st day in BKK to buy the tickets.

Amelia,

I would highly recommend using the service we used, Traveller 2000. You can find them here:

http://www.traveller2000.com/train/reservation.htm

They're based in Bangkok (but you can buy your tickets online now) and they specialize in selling rail tickets. The price difference is minimal between doing this and going to the train station and buying in person (maybe $5 more).

Major bonus: they will deliver your tickets to your hotel for no additional cost. Beats the heck out of taking the time to get yourself to the train station days before you actually leave just to get tickets. Not to mention guaranteeing you seats in case anything sells out.

Hope that helps!

Best,
Bill

The best scenery is after Den Chai, so if you take the later one you wont arrive in the dark and see some spectacular scenary. There is a very large tresle bridge the train goes over and it is quite a drop. The difference between the trains is one is an ordinary train with 2 classes and the later one is a diesel rail car. I have travelled on the DRC and they are quite good. I will be on the morning train to Chiang Mai on december 23rd. I always go one way by train and one by air.

Kacenka and tnnc information is spot on. The only difference between trains is that the early one (#1) has 2nd class fan sleeper cars as well the 1st and 2nd class a/c ones. Train #13 has a/c only. The DRC mentioned above leaving at 19.20 (7.20) is 2nd class a/c seats only.