Guide to the new CNR Sleeper Carriages in Thailand

In 2016, the State Railway of Thailand purchased 115 new sleeper carriages from China CNR Corp. The new cars included nine first-class sleeping carriages, 88 second-class sleeping carriages, nine restaurant carriages, and nine power cars to give electricity to the other carriages on the train. Out of the 88 second-class sleeping carriages, nine of them have facilities for the disabled such as wheelchair lift and extra large toilets. These new trains are now being used on four routes around Thailand and all leave Bangkok from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station.

Please note, tickets for all CNR sleeper trains can be bought up to 90 days in advance. Other long distance trains can be bought up to 30 days in advance.

RELATED LINKS: How to Buy Train Tickets in Thailand | How to Check Train Timetables

The four routes were given special names by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn as part of the 119th anniversary of the establishment of the railway in Thailand.

(1) Special Express No.9/10 to Bangkok to Chiang Mai: Utrawithi
(2) Special Express No.23/24 to Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani: Isan Watthana
(3) Special Express No.25/26 to Bangkok to Nong Khai: Isan Makka
(4) Special Express No.31/32 to Bangkok to Hat Yai: Thaksinarat

EACH TRAIN IS MADE UP OF THIRTEEN CARRIAGES

• One power van  
• Nine air-conditioned 2nd Class sleeper coaches  
• One air-conditioned 2nd Class sleeper coach with handicap facilities  
• One air-conditioned restaurant car 
• One air-conditioned 1st Class sleeper coach

NOTES ON TICKET PRICES AND HOW TO BUY THEM

Lower bunks are always more expensive as they are slightly bigger and give more privacy. It also has a window with curtains and so you can enjoy the view in the morning while you lie in bed. The upper bunk doesn’t have a window and is nearer to the light which is on all night. It is also nearer to the air-conditioning and so it can be colder. In 1st Class, there are two berths per cabin. If you only book one berth then you could find yourself in a cabin with a stranger. The only way to solve this problem is to book the entire room for an extra 1,000 baht on top of the cheapest berth. It should also be noted that the SRT have also designated a carriage for just women and young children to make them feel safer. When booking, you need to choose this special carriage.

RELATED LINK: Seat Guru for 1st Class Carriages

Tickets can be bought 90 days in advance from the official D-Ticket website. Some people have reported trouble registering or using their credit cards on the official website and have told me they prefer the agency websites such as 12GO which also have a better interface and support. For more information, please visit my How to Buy Train Tickets page.

NO. 9 FROM BANGKOK TO CHIANG MAI

This train leaves from Krung Thep Aphiwat Station at 6:40 p.m. and arrives in Chiang Mai at 7:15 a.m. the next morning. Click here for the full timetable. Please note, Special Express No. 13 train is also a sleeper train to Chiang Mai that leaves at 8:05 p.m. However, this uses the older sleeper carriages and is slightly cheaper. The following are the ticket prices for the main destinations on this route.

	1ST CLASS			2ND CLASS
DESTINATION	LOWER	UPPER	BOOK ROOM	LOWER	UPPER
Nakhon Sawan	1,218 baht	1,018 baht	2,018 baht	810 baht	710 baht
Phitsanulok	1,354 baht	1,154 baht	2,154 baht	889 baht	789 baht
Sila At	1,427 baht	1,227 baht	2,227 baht	922 baht	822 baht
Den Chai	1,491 baht	1,291 baht	2,291 baht	967 baht	867 baht
Nakhon Lampang	1,572 baht	1,372 baht	2,372 baht	1,004 baht	904 baht
Khun Tan	1,602 baht	1,402 baht	2,402 baht	1,018 baht	918 baht
Lamphun	1,635 baht	1,435 baht	2,435 baht	1,033 baht	933 baht
Chiang Mai	1,653 baht	1,453 baht	2,453 baht	1,041 baht	941 baht

NO. 10 FROM CHIANG MAI TO BANGKOK

This train leaves from Chiang Mai Railway Station at 6:00 p.m. and arrives at Krung Thep Aphiwat Station at 6:50 a.m. the next morning. Click here for the full timetable. Please note, Special Express No.14 is also a sleeper train to Bangkok that leaves at 5:00 p.m. However, this uses the older sleeper carriages and is slightly cheaper. The following are the ticket prices for the main destinations on this route.

	1ST CLASS			2ND CLASS
DESTINATION	LOWER	UPPER	BOOK ROOM	LOWER	UPPER
Lop Buri	1,553	1,353	2,353	996	896
Ayutthaya	1,598	1,398	2,398	1,016	916
Rangsit	1,631	1,431	2,431	1,031	931
Don Mueang	1,635	1,435	2,435	1,033	933
Lak Si	1,638	1,438	2,438	1,034	934
Bang Khen	1,642	1,442	2,442	1,036	936
Bang Sue Junction	1,646	1,446	2,446	1,038	938
Sam Sen	1,650	1,450	2,450	1,040	940
Bangkok	1,653	1,453	2,453	1,041	941

NO. 23 FROM BANGKOK TO UBON RATCHATHANI

This train leaves from Krung Thep Aphiwat Station at 9:05 p.m. and arrives in Ubon Ratchathani at 6:35 a.m. the next morning. Click here for the full timetable. Please note, Special Express No. 139 train is also a sleeper train to Ubon Ratchathani that leaves at 7:25 p.m. However, this uses the older sleeper carriages and is slightly cheaper. The following are the ticket prices for the main destinations on this route.

	1ST CLASS			2ND CLASS
DESTINATION	LOWER	UPPER	BOOK ROOM	LOWER	UPPER
Nakhon Ratchasima	1,230 baht	1,030 baht	2,030 baht	815 baht	715 baht
Lam Plai Mat	1,324 baht	1,124 baht	2,124 baht	875 baht	775 baht
Buriam	1,346 baht	1,146 baht	2,146 baht	885 baht	785 baht
Surin	1,376 baht	1,176 baht	2,176 baht	899 baht	799 baht
Sikhoraphum	1,402 baht	1,202 baht	2,202 baht	910 baht	810 baht
Uthumphon Phisai	1,431 baht	1,231 baht	2,231 baht	924 baht	824 baht
Sisaket	1,476 baht	1,276 baht	2,276 baht	961 baht	861 baht
Kanthararom	1,498 baht	1,298 baht	2,298 baht	971 baht	871 baht
Ubon Ratchathani	1,520 baht	1,320 baht	2,320 baht	981 baht	881 baht

NO. 24 FROM UBON RATCHATHANI TO BANGKOK

This train leaves from Ubon Ratchathani at 7:00 p.m. and arrives in Krung Thep Aphiwat Station at 4:50 a.m. the next morning. Click here for the full timetable. Please note, Special Express No. 140 train is also a sleeper train to Bangkok that leaves at 8:30 p.m. However, this uses the older sleeper carriages and is slightly cheaper. The following are the ticket prices for the main destinations on this route.

	1ST CLASS			2ND CLASS
DESTINATION	LOWER	UPPER	BOOK ROOM	LOWER	UPPER
Nakhon Ratchasima	1,298 baht	1,098 baht	2,098 baht	863 baht	763 baht
Pak Chong	1,357 baht	1,157 baht	2,157 baht	890 baht	790 baht
Saraburi	1,409 baht	1,209 baht	2,209 baht	914 baht	814 baht
Ayutthaya	1,468 baht	1,268 baht	2,268 baht	957 baht	857 baht
Rangsit	1,498 baht	1,298 baht	2,298 baht	971 baht	871 baht
Don Mueang	1,505 baht	1,305 baht	2,305 baht	974 baht	874 baht
Lak Si	1,509 baht	1,309 baht	2,309 baht	976 baht	876 baht
Bang Khen	1,513 baht	1,313 baht	2,313 baht	977 baht	877 baht
Bang Sue Junction	1,517 baht	1,317 baht	2,317 baht	979 baht	879 baht
Sam Sen	1,517 baht	1,317 baht	2,317 baht	979 baht	879 baht
Bangkok	1,520 baht	1,320 baht	2,320 baht	981 baht	881 baht

NO. 25 FROM BANGKOK TO NONG KHAI

This train leaves from Krung Thep Aphiwat Station at 8:25 p.m. and arrives in Nong Khai at 6:25 a.m. the next morning. Click here for the full timetable. The following are the ticket prices for the main destinations on this route.

	1ST CLASS			2ND CLASS
DESTINATION	LOWER	UPPER	BOOK ROOM	LOWER	UPPER
Mueang Phon	1,346 baht	1,146 baht	2,146 baht	885 baht	785 baht
Ban Phai	1,368 baht	1,168 baht	2,168 baht	895 baht	795 baht
Khon Kaen	1,398 baht	1,198 baht	2,198 baht	909 baht	809 baht
Nam Phong	1,424 baht	1,224 baht	2,224 baht	920 baht	820 baht
Kumphawapi	1,491 baht	1,291 baht	2,291 baht	967 baht	867 baht
Udon Thani	1,517 baht	1,317 baht	2,317 baht	979 baht	879 baht
Nong Khai	1,557 baht	1,357 baht	2,357 baht	998 baht	898 baht

NO. 26 FROM NONG KHAI  TO BANGKOK

This train leaves from Nong Khai at 7:40 p.m. and arrives in Bangkok at 5:50 a.m. the next morning. Click here for the full timetable. The following are the ticket prices for the main destinations on this route.

	1ST CLASS			2ND CLASS
DESTINATION	LOWER	UPPER	BOOK ROOM	LOWER	UPPER
Ayutthaya	1,502 baht	1,302 baht	2,302 baht	972 baht	872 baht
Rangsit	1,535 baht	1,335 baht	2,335 baht	987 baht	887 baht
Don Mueang	1,539 baht	1,339 baht	2,339 baht	989 baht	889 baht
Lak Si	1,542 baht	1,342 baht	2,342 baht	991 baht	891 baht
Bang Khen	1,546 baht	1,346 baht	2,346 baht	992 baht	892 baht
Bang Sue Junction	1,550 baht	1,350 baht	2,350 baht	994 baht	894 baht
Sam Sen	1,553 baht	1,353 baht	2,353 baht	996	896
Bangkok	1,557 baht	1,357 baht	2,357 baht	998 baht	898 baht

NO. 31 FROM BANGKOK TO HAT YAI JUNCTION

This train leaves from Krung Thep Aphiwat Station at 4:50 p.m. and arrives at Hat Yai Junction at 7:05 a.m. the next morning. Click here for the full timetable. The following are the ticket prices for the main destinations on this route.

	1ST CLASS			2ND CLASS
DESTINATION	LOWER	UPPER	BOOK ROOM	LOWER	UPPER
Hua Hin	1,202 baht	1,002 baht	2,002 baht	802 baht	702 baht
Chumphon	1,424 baht	1,224 baht	2,224 baht	920 baht	820 baht
Surat Thani	1,579 baht	1,379 baht	2,379 baht	1,008 baht	908 baht
Thung Song Junction	1,668 baht	1,468 baht	2,468 baht	1,048 baht	948 baht
Phatthalung	1,735 baht	1,535 baht	2,535 baht	1,078 baht	978 baht
Hat Yai Junction	1,794 baht	1,594 baht	2,594 baht	1,105 baht	1,005 baht

NO. 32 FROM HAT YAI JUNCTION  TO BANGKOK

This train leaves from Hat Yai Junction at 5:45 p.m. and arrives in Krung Thep Aphiwat Station at 8:10 a.m. the next morning. Click here for the full timetable. The following are the ticket prices for the main destinations on this route.

	1ST CLASS			2ND CLASS
DESTINATION	LOWER	UPPER	BOOK ROOM	LOWER	UPPER
Hua Hin	1,627 baht	1,472 baht	2,427 baht	1,092 baht	929 baht
Phetchaburi	1,672 baht	1,472 baht	2,472 baht	1,050 baht	950 baht
Ratchaburi	1,709 baht	1,509 baht	2,509 baht	1,066 baht	966 baht
Nakhon Pathom	1,749 baht	1,549 baht	2,549 baht	1,085 baht	985 baht
Sala Ya	1,768 baht	1,568 baht	2,568 baht	1,093 baht	993 baht
Bang Bamru	1,783 baht	1,583 baht	2,583 baht	1,100 baht	1,000 baht
Bang Sue Junction	1,790 baht	1,590 baht	2,590 baht	1,103 baht	1,003 baht
Sam Sen	1,794 baht	1,594 baht	2,594 baht	1,105 baht	1,005 baht
Bangkok	1,794 baht	1,594 baht	2,594 baht	1,105 baht	1,005 baht

All of the carriages have CCTV cameras which are linked to the control room. Lights are also on all night and so the overall security on the CNR sleeper trains are higher than average. The sale and consumption of alcohol is also not officially allowed which helps with security. This doesn’t mean no-one drinks a can or two of beer on the train. But it is done discreetly behind the curtains. Smoking is also prohibited. On the CNR trains it is very strict and it is difficult to get away with smoking. However, on the older sleeper carriages, you will find people smoking at each end where it is possible to open the outside doors.

Each berth has a power socket and also a reading light. However, during the day, only one of the seats has the power socket. So you might not have access to one until the beds are made up for the night. You also get a folding table which you can put food on during the day. But you have to share with the person opposite you. There are also holes to put drinks so they don’t spill. Each passenger gets a small bottle of drinking water. As the outside doors are controlled by a switch in the control room, food vendors won’t be jumping on and off this train. However, these sleeper trains have a dining car in the middle.

The seats with power sockets during the day seem a bit random, but if you want to make sure you book a seat that has a power socket, here are the seat numbers that you should choose: 2 & 4 – lower berth, 5 & 7 – upper berth, 10 & 12 – lower berth, 13 & 15 – upper berth, 17 & 19 – upper berth, 22 & 24 – lower berth, 26 & 28 – lower berth, 29 & 31 – upper berth, 34 & 36 – lower berth, 37 & 39 – upper berth. As you can see, sometimes people in the lower berth get the power switch next to their seat and sometimes it is the people who had booked the upper berth. But to be clear, once the beds are made up then both the upper and lower berths get a power socket with reading light.

Each carriage has these information screens which have various maps which shows you the progress of the train and the name of the next station. You also get to see the time of arrival at the next station and the destination station. If you are in the 1st class cabin, you have your own screen. Trains only stop a few minutes but you might get an opportunity to buy food from a vendor if they are waiting for you on the platform. Toilets are airplane style and generally good. The 2nd Class carriages have two washbasins each. The information screen will tell you if the toilets are vacant. Each carriage has three toilets. One of them is a urinal.

RELATED LINKS: How to Buy Train Tickets in Thailand | How to Check Train Timetables