[Photo from bangkoktourist.com]

The Kingdom of Thailand has a good inter-province connecting railway system which provides comfortable value travel for Thais and visitors alike. The State Railways of Thailand system connects with the Singapore line which runs along peninsular Malaysia. Chiang Mai is the principle Northern city where the railway line finishes at the rail networks most northern point and North Eastern Nong Khai connects with the Lao capital of Viengtaine.

Trains connect with bus and boats to cover travel to Phuket, Koh Tao, Koh Samui, Koh Phanghan and other tropical islands of Thailand's coast. Japanese trains are mainly used. They are slower than their European or American counterparts. The 700 km, 9 hour road journey from Chiang Mai to Bangkok takes around 14 hours on most overnight trains. The comparative slow speed of the train can be viewed as a bonus for those who truly appreciate the slow rolling lush country-side which takes them into the heartlands of Thailand. Thailand train travel is a good way to enjoy the natural scenery in a relaxed manner.

Thailand Train Classes The state railway of Thailand operates three different train classes.

First Class contains one small private air conditioned compartment for two persons. Each cabin includes a sink and a stow away table. This class is available only on selected trains and tends to get booked out first. The compartment consists of two beds, one upper and one lower.

Second Class Fan or air-conditioned coaches are available in either seat or sleeper form with around 40 seats. Fan cooled sections tend to get a little hot at night and air-conditioning coaches are the more comfortable.

Third Classhard wooden bench seats suitable for only the more hardened traveller. Third class tickets are sold a few hours prior to departure. No pre-booking is possible in this class.