Rapid No. 171: Bangkok to Sungai Kolok

This is Rapid No. 171 train from Bangkok to Sungai Kolok (pronounced soo-ngai golok) on the Thai-Malaysian border. This is the longest route in Thailand as the train takes 18 hours and 50 minutes to reach the destination. The train leaves Krung Thep Aphiwat Station (KTW) at 3:10 p.m. and arrives in Sungai Kolok in Narathiwat Province the next morning at 10:00 a.m. The return journey is made by Rapid No. 172 that leaves Sungai Kolok at 1:10 pm.

This train has four kinds of carriages. The cheapest are the 2nd and 3rd Class carriages with seats, fans and open windows. The seats in 2nd Class have more leg room and the seats recline. For the sleeper day and night carriages, both are 2nd Class. However, two carriages have air-conditioning and one is only fans and open windows. For this route I prefer the bed with the open window as it is a nice way to wake up in the morning. However, there are no power sockets unlike the carriage with A/C.

There is no dining car on this train, but it doesn’t matter as there are food vendors coming and going the entire time. Good food stops to look out for include Nakhon Pathom (4:04 pm), Ratchaburi (4:47 pm), Phetchaburi (5:50 pm) and Hua Hin (6:44 pm). In the morning, the train stops at Hat Yai Junction (6:34 am) for around 30 minutes which is enough time to get some of the famous fried chicken and sticky rice.

TRAIN TIMETABLE

No.	STATION	ARRIVE	DEPART
1	Krung Thep Aphiwat		15:10
2	Bang Bamru	15:21	15:22
3	Sala Ya	15:41	15:42
4	Nakhon Pathom	16:04	16:06
5	Ban Pong	16:24	16:25
6	Nakhon Chum	16:30	16:33
7	Rachaburi	16:57	17:07
8	Phetchaburi	17:50	17:55
9	Hua Hin	18:44	18:49
10	Wang Phong	19:06	19:07
11	Prachuap Khiri Khan	20:03	20:04
12	Ban Krut	20:49	20:50
13	Bang Saphan Yai	21:04	21:05
14	Pathiu	21:52	21:53
15	Chumphon	22:17	22:34
16	Thung Kha	22:47	22:51
17	Sawi	23:07	23:08
18	Lang Suan	23:30	23:31
19	Khlong Khanan	23:36	23:40
20	Lamae	23:53	23:57
21	Tha Chana	0:18	0:19
22	Chaiya	0:36	0:37
23	Surat Thani	1:08	1:11
24	Na San	1:43	1:44
25	Ban Song	2:00	2:01
26	Thung Song Junction	2:58	3:08
27	Cha-uat	3:59	4:00
28	Phatthalung	4:38	4:40
29	Hat Yai Junction	5:50	6:30
30	Chana	6:59	7:00
31	Thepha	7:23	7:24
32	Pattani	7:39	7:40
33	Na Pradu	7:47	7:48
34	Wat Chang Hai	7:52	7:53
35	Yala	8:10	8:20
36	Raman	8:36	8:37
37	Ruso	8:50	8:51
38	Marubo	9:08	9:09
39	Tanyong Mat	9:18	9:19
40	Cho Ai Rong	9:30	9:31
41	Sungai Padi	9:48	9:49
42	Sungai Kolok	10:00

Timetable Updated: 15th December 2023

All times are subject to change, Please check with the station master where you bought your ticket or call 1690.

TICKET PRICES AND HOW TO BUY THEM

Tickets cost 526 Baht for seats in 2nd Class and 289 Baht for seats in 3rd Class. For the sleeper carriages, 2nd Class with A/C cost 826/896 Baht and with fan 656/726 Baht. The lower berths are always more expensive as they have windows and are slightly large. Tickets can be bought 30 days in advance from the official D-Ticket website. Some people have reported trouble using their credit cards on the official website and have told me they prefer the agency website such as 12GO which also have a better interface. For more information, please visit my How to Buy Train Tickets page.