What does “Data not found” mean when trying to buy train tickets in Thailand?

A common error that people see when trying to buy train tickets on the official Thai website D-Ticket is “data not found”. Lately the main reason for this is that the new terminal station in Bangkok is called Krung Thep Aphiwat. If you enter Bangkok as your origin station and say Chiang Mai as your destination station, then the system will think you mean the old terminal station Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong). This station is now only for ordinary, local and commuter trains. There is definitely no trains going from there to places like Chiang Mai, Nong Khai, Hat Yai, or Surat Thani. For trains going long distances, you need to enter Krung Thep Aphiwat as your origin station, or destination station if you are going the opposite way.

Pro Tip: You don’t need to remember how to spell the full name. Just start typing “krung” and there will be a drop down for you to choose.

Another time you might see the “data not found” error message when booking Thai trains is when tickets haven’t gone on sale yet for your train. For example, tickets officially don’t go on sale until 30 days before your date of travel. At midnight, the system will automatically allow you to click on the next date. However, you will keep getting the error message “data not found” until office hours start at 8:30 a.m. (UTC/GMT +7). If you are in a different time zone this might be confusing and frustrating if you don’t realize this. Please also note, in Thailand we don’t move clocks back and forth with the seasons.

Pro Tip: Another problem people have found is trying to book tickets in advance for short journeys on long distance trains. If your journey is less than 25% of the total journey of that train then you can only buy one day in advance. There is a workaround tip for this. For example, I tried to book a ticket to Lopburi in advance on Special Express No. 7 but the system wouldn’t let me. But after changing my destination by one stop to Ban Mi, I could then do it.

Another thing you should be aware of is that you cannot buy advance tickets on ordinary and local trains. These can only be bought at the station an hour or two before departure.

RELATED LINK: How to Buy Train Tickets Online in Thailand