Everything you need to know about the opening of Bangkok’s new terminal train station on 19th January 2023
It has been a long time coming, but finally the new terminal station in Bangkok opened on 19th January 2023. You can now buy tickets for long distance trains departing from this station by entering the official name, “Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal” *. Though from experience, you only need to type “Krung” and the full name will pop up. However, it should be made clear that not all trains were moved here in January. It should also be noted that Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong) will not close despite earlier media reports.
Guide to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station
This is the ultimate guide to Bangkok’s new terminal station Krung Thep Aphiwat that opened in January 2023. There are 29 pages with maps, photos and timetables.
* The station used to be called Bang Sue Grand when it first opened as a vaccination center. However, the new name of Krung Thep Aphiwat was recently given to it by King Rama X
For the time being, only long distance trains on the Northern, Northeastern, and Southern lines will depart from the new terminal station. 62 trains such as local, commuter, and tourist trains, as well as all trains on the Eastern Line, will still depart from Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong). Click here for the full list. Despite reports in the media, the old terminal station will not close any time soon. By all accounts, it could still be around seven years from now. This is because they need to extend the Red Line down to a new elevated station next to the present terminal. This will probably take five years to build. As they are experiencing some difficulties with the route (it passes a royal palace), it will most likely be delayed.
The following are the confirmed long distance trains that will leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal. However, it is not confirmed which will be the first train. It will most likely be Express No. 171 to Su-Ngai Kolok leaving at 1:10 p.m. Trains on the morning of 19th January are still expected to leave from Bangkok Railway Station. Which brings me to another important note. As the new terminal is north of the old one and that the tracks are elevated, trains will leave the city much quicker and more efficiently. Trains don’t need to go through a dozen or so level crossings. As a consequence, the start times will be adjusted. For example, Special Express No. 9 to Chiang Mai normally leaves at 6:10 p.m. It will now leave from the new terminal at 6:40 p.m. but it will still arrive in Chiang Mai at the regular time. A second note is that the number of stops leaving the city will be adjusted. More information on that further down.
TRAIN DEPARTURES
The long distance trains will depart from the 2nd floor, the same as the Red Line commuter trains. Passengers have to wait down on the concourse on the ground floor until they are called up to the platform about twenty minutes before departure. Northern and Northeastern trains will depart from Platforms 1 and 2 and arrive on Platforms 5 and 6. Southern trains will depart from Platforms 7 and 8 and arrive on Platforms 11 and 12.
| TRAIN NO. | LINE | DESTINATION | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 21 Special Express | Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani | 06:10 | 14:00 |
| No. 135 Rapid | Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani | 07:10 | 18:00 |
| No. 111 Rapid | Northern | Den Chai | 07:30 | 16:30 |
| No. 43 Special Express | Southern | Surat Thani | 08:10 | 18:50 |
| No. 75 Express | Northeastern | Nong Khai | 08:45 | 17:30 |
| No. 7 Special Express | Northern | Chiang Mai | 09:05 | 19:30 |
| No. 71 Express | Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani | 10:35 | 19:50 |
| No. 3 Special Express | Northern | Sila At | 11:20 | 19:15 |
| No. 171 Rapid | Southern | Su-Ngai Kolok | 13:10 | 10:50 |
| No. 109 Rapid | Northern | Chiang Mai | 14:15 | 04:05 |
| No. 31 Special Express | Southern | Hat Yai | 14:50 | 07:25 |
| No. 37 Special Express | Southern | Su-Ngai Kolok | 15:35 | 12:30 |
| No. 45 Special Express | Southern | Padang Besar | 15:35 | 09:50 |
| No. 145 Rapid | Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani | 15:50 | - |
| No. 169 Rapid | Southern | Yala | 16:10 | 11:45 |
| No. 83 Express | Southern | Trang | 17:30 | 08:50 |
| No. 173 Rapid | Southern | Nakhon Si Thammarat | 18:10 | - |
| No. 9 Special Express | Northern | Chiang Mai | 18:40 | 07:15 |
| No. 167 Rapid | Southern | Kantang | 18:50 | 12:05 |
| No. 77 Express | Northeastern | Nong Khai | 19:05 | - |
| No. 139 Rapid | Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani | 19:25 | 06:15 |
| No. 13 Special Express | Northern | Chiang Mai | 20:05 | 08:40 |
| No. 85 Express | Southern | Nakhon Si Thammarat | 20:10 | 12:05 |
| No. 25 Special Express | Northeastern | Nong Khai | 20:25 | 06:25 |
| No. 107 Rapid | Northern | Den Chai | 20:45 | 05:15 |
| No. 23 Special Express | Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani | 21:05 | 06:35 |
| No. 133 Rapid | Northeastern | Nong Khai | 21:25 | 07:55 |
| No. 105 Rapid | Northern | Sila At | 21:45 | - |
| No. 67 Express | Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani | 22:05 | - |
| No. 39/41 Special Express | Southern | Surat Thani/Yala | 22:20 | 09:25/14:45 |
| No. 51 Express | Northern | Chiang Mai | 22:30 | 12:10 |
| No. 141 Rapid | Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani | 23:05 | 10:20 |
TRAIN ARRIVALS
| TRAIN NO. | LINE | ORIGIN STATION | DEPARTURE | ARRIVAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 4 Special Express | Northern | Sila At | 19:50 | 03:30 |
| No. 78 Express | Northeastern | Nong Khai | - | 03:50 |
| No. 142 Rapid | Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani | 17:35 | 04:10 |
| No. 108 Rapid | Northern | Den Chai | 19:05 | 04:30 |
| No. 24 Special Express | Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani | 19:00 | 04:50 |
| No. 174 Rapid | Southern | Nakhon Si Thammarat | - | 05:10 |
| No. 52 Express | Northern | Chiang Mai | 15:30 | 05:10 |
| No. 134 Rapid | Northeastern | Nong Khai | 18:50 | 05:30 |
| No. 26 Special Express | Northeastern | Nong Khai | 19:40 | 05:50 |
| No. 14 Special Express | Northern | Chiang Mai | 17:10 | 06:10 |
| No. 68 Express | Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani | - | 06:30 |
| No. 10 Special Express | Northern | Chiang Mai | 18:00 | 06:50 |
| No. 168 Rapid | Southern | Kantang | 12:55 | 07:00 |
| No. 140 Rapid | Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani | 20:30 | 07:10 |
| No. 86 Express | Southern | Nakhon Si Thammarat | 15:20 | 07:45 |
| No. 170 Rapid | Southern | Yala | 12:35 | 08:25 |
| No. 42/44 Special Express | Southern | Yala/Surat Thani | 15:10/21:05 | 08:45 |
| No. 84 Express | Southern | Trang | 17:00 | 09:25 |
| No. 172 Rapid | Southern | Su-Ngai kolok | 12:00 | 10:30 |
| No. 32 Special Express | Southern | Hat Yai | 17:45 | 10:50 |
| No. 38/46 | Southern | Su-Ngai Kolok/Padang Besar | 14:20/17:00 | 12:05 |
| No. 106 Rapid | Northern | Sila At | - | 14:10 |
| No. 72 Express | Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani | 05:40 | 14:30 |
| No. 76 Express | Northeastern | Nong Khai | 07:45 | 16:35 |
| No. 112 Rapid | Northern | Den Chai | 07:30 | 17:20 |
| No. 136 Rapid | Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani | 07:00 | 17:55 |
| No. 8 Special Express | Northern | Chiang Mai | 08:50 | 18:55 |
| No. 102 Rapid | Northern | Chiang Mai | 06:30 | 20:25 |
| No. 40 Special Express | Southern | Surat Thani | 10:25 | 20:30 |
| No. 146 Rapid | Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani | - | 20:45 |
| No. 22 Special Express | Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani | 14:50 | 22:35 |
Long distance trains on the Northern and Northeastern lines will leave the city from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal on the same elevated tracks as the Red Line electric trains. This will be quicker as there are less stations to stop at and no level crossings that often cause delays. In fact, after leaving the terminal station, there is only one other stop in Bangkok. This is the new elevated Don Mueang Station at the international airport. The next stop after this is the elevated Rangsit Station which is already outside of Bangkok. Other stations at ground level, such as Bang Khen and Lak Si will eventually be closed. This is because there are already ten new stations on the Red Line from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Rangsit (see map and details here). So, if you want to go to any of these stations in the future on your return journey, you can change to the Red Line at Rangsit. From what I understand, for a limited time, people with long distance tickets can ride the Red Line for free to help them get home. For trains on the Southern Line, they will leave on the elevated Red Line tracks with a stop at Bang Bamru Station.
I will do another update to this page soon with more details about how to get to and from Krung Thep Aphiwat and what facilities it has. I can tell you at the moment there is a Blue line MRT station in the basement called Bang Sue Station. There is also a Red Line Station here on the 2nd floor called Bang Sue Grand, though that may change to the new name. Next door is Bang Sue Junction which is another way to get here.
As for facilities, there are no shops or restaurants yet. However at the far end there is a small food court. When I went at the weekend only three shops were open. There should be a lot more in January. In the basement there is also a massive car park. At the moment it is free but that will change once the station officially opens. The concourse for buying tickets is on the ground floor. Shops and offices are on M1 and M2. There is nothing there yet. The Red Line and long distance trains will go from the 2nd floor. This is a closed platform system meaning you cannot go up unless you have a ticket for that train. The 3rd floor is for the airport rail link and the high speed trains. That floor won’t open for some years to come and is off limits.
Please follow @ThaiTrainGuide on social media on Twitter and Facebook for latest updates.
LAST UPDATE: 20th December 2022
Can you get to Ayutthaya from
Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station?
Yes you can: https://www.thaitrainguide.com/routes/bangkok-to-ayutthaya/
Do you know where I can find a map of the entire system with the planned lines as well, that is all in English? At the moment, I am interested especially going from either station in Bangkok to the routes below and knowing the English names of the stops along the way. Also can one get off at some small stop and then get back on a train going in the same direction a couple of days later? Are there stations to buy tickets there or does a conductor ask where you are going and collect cash? :
Pattaya , Rayong and to Chanthaburi, the eastern route. When will there be anything past Pattaya?
The southern route, Phtetchuburi past Hua Hin and as close as I can get to Krabi, want to see the English hames of stops along the way.
Thanks in advance! Long live Trains, probably the most efficient and clean mass transportation there is, if only people USE them!
There’s an app you can download called RailMap that seems to be uptodate for Thailand. Has all the lines plus future lines.
You can buy tickets on the train if there is no ticket office at that station.
The Eastern route goes past Pattaya to Chuk Samet in Sattahip. I’m on this train now so check my social media.
Most stations have English but not all. But you can follow along with google maps.
Hi! I am asking my friend to buy ticket for me at the station a week before my travel because I’m arriving a week later. When he buys the ticket, is it possible that I will claim it at the station?
I won’t be able to meet my friend the day of my travel and I want to buy the ticket in advance, without booking online. It’s big saving since I am with other 4 people.
Thank you!
He would have to send it to your hotel and you pick it up there. Also, he cannot just buy tickets for you as officially everyone needs to show their passport. But a photocopy will be fine. Or at the least a list of names.
Thanks so much for all this info.
Appreciated
Thank you for all this comprehensive information about which services now use the new station and which still use Hua Lamphong. My (Thai) fiancee and I are just planning my fourth visit to Thailand and as usual we will be making many journeys by train; so your lists will be of immense value (we like The Quarter hotel at Hua Lamphong so it’s re-assuring to see that we can still arrive from Pattaya and depart for Hua Hin with an overnight stay in a great location).
If you have time I wonder if you could answer this question, but I appreciate it’s very detailed knowledge! We hope to do Chiang Mai to Lampang in a day, breaking the journey to look at Khun Tan – would we be able to leave luggage at Khun Tan station?
Many Thanks and good wishes, David and Jane.
Do you mean leave it there for a short period while you look around? Yes, for sure, you can leave it with the station master. He will put it in his office for free. I did exactly that.
Hi Richard, thank you for the article. Do you have any information on putting a motorcycle in cargo on the southern train route (BKK to Hatyai). Where will be the entrance for the motorcycle into the station? In the old station, it was simply riding into the main entrance and directly park beside the platform.
I am still trying to confirm this. You cannot load at Krung Thep Aphiwat. They told me to go to Bang Sue Junction next door. I haven’t had time to go there yet. However, when I was on the Su-Ngai Kolok train the other day, our first stop out of KTW was Bang Bamru where I saw a motorcycle being loaded.
Hi Richard, I am currently on my way to Hatyai from Krung Thep Aphiwat (Special Express No. 31). Relating to the above, I can confirm that motorcycle loading unable to be done here. It has to be done at bang Sue station. I have just placed my motorcycle there this morning awaiting loading. I have several pictures of the process and motorcycle entry point to the loading station. Hope this helps the reader’s here.
Can you sens a link to the picture and info? Where exactly to load motorcycle? Thanks!
Thanks for the information about the new train station. Do you know anything about a 12GO office to pick up train tickets? I can’t find any information about it on the 12GO asia website.
I will check for you.
Richard, I found this article very interesting, thanks. I wonder if any consideration has been given to the large amount of freight that gets carried on the long distance passenger trains. Last Thursday I took my bicycle to Saraburi on the morning Ubon train, and by the time we reached my destination there were six motorbikes, a dozen heavy sacks and many sundry other things in the guards van. Bangsue Junction, Bangkhen, Laksi and Don Muang all have a luggage office to receive accompanied and unaccompanied items. I wonder how the new Bang Sue station will cope with that. Cheers. Peter.
I cannot answer that question yet as they haven’t released any information. I will be there on the first day and I will try and find out.
Thanks for this informations ! Do you have some news since?
I would like take a place from Surat Thani to Bangkok the 25 of January and no train possibility again…
You need to choose Krung Thep Aphiwat as your destination and not Bangkok.
Congratulation! Very happy by train travel!!