I am intending to book to travel by over-night 1st Class sleeper BKK/Chiang Mai on my imminent forthcoming visit. I have searched all the on-line web sites dealing with the Thai rail system and cannot find an answer to the following:
What, if any, buffet/dining/restaurant car facilities are there on the overnight train or has one to take one's own food/drink ?
Can anyone with relevant experience provide me with the information please. Thanks
I have only done the trip a couple of times in the other direction, and in 2nd class, not first. Not long after leaving, the conductor came round and took orders for dinner - when these where delivered later they were "lunch boxes" - ie meals in a polystyrene box - rice and whatever. Very cheap, and not too bad. Also lots of hawkers at the various stations.
I have done one time with friend in firstclass-sleeper. I liked it very much. We have had our "room" with aircondition. For me was very cheap - about 1350 baht each ticket. In the train was a restaurant car and for first class also small catering. For informations you can look here http://www.chiangmai-thai.com/train_schedule.htm and also under http://www.railway.co.th/English/
Sunee Plaza > There is no better place to stay
Thanks VM Atri. Had already looked at both links but cannot see any information on restaurant/buffet facilities (especially on overnight train).Originally Posted by atri1666
The rest of your reply probably gives me the answer I need. But, if anyone else has more info or can expand on Atri's reply please do so. Thanks again
I forgot in first class you have 50kg luggage free and for the train in Thailand, no advance reservation is available. What you have to do is to go to the train station to purchase the ticket; only then the space is guaranteed. You can purchase the ticket 60 days before travel date. You can buy also online with charge of 200 baht here :
http://www.asia-discovery.com/train.htm - may be with email you can ask for the actual informations because we made the trip about 3 years back but i will do again.
Sunee Plaza > There is no better place to stay
Thanks again. The info I have been given regarding advance booking on-line is that such bookings by email should be done between 30 and 15 days before departure date:
How to buy tickets - by email to passenger-ser@railway.co.th...
Although it's easy to book at the station, if you want to travel at peak Thai holiday periods or absolutely have to be on a particular train soon after arrival in Thailand, you may want to book in advance. You can do this by email with the State Railways of Thailand or via a travel agency. To book with the State Railways of Thailand, email them at least 15 days before your date of travel on passenger-ser@railway.co.th or fax + 66 2 225 6068. Your fax or e-mail must include the journey, date, train number, departure time, class, seat or sleeper (upper or lower berth), number of passengers, your name and e-mail address, and whether you want to collect your tickets at Bangkok Airport station (Don Muang) or Bangkok Hualamphong station in the city centre. You will receive an e-mail confirmation, and you then collect and pay for your tickets at the station booking office at least 1 hour before departure. Bookings open 30 days before departure, but email bookings are only accepted more than 15 days before departure to give them time to respond. The Thai railways charge 200 Baht (┬г3 or $5) per email booking. Booking this way normally works well, but recently several people have said they waited up to 2 weeks for a reply, so you may just have to be patient. If you have any problems, or need to make a booking less than 15 days before departure, try using an agency such as Thaifocus or Traveller2000.
http://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm#How%20to%20book
All that is in hand but just wanted the info regarding buffet/dining facilities on the night train. Thanks again for your interest and advice.
We have taken the overnight first class train to Chiang Mai and back (several years ago now), and also to Surat Thani. The only food service was breakfast. A guy came round (maybe the night before ?) and took orders. Ask for the Thai menu. Half the price and twice the choice. Very average quality, but better than the 'western' breakfast.
I doubt that there was a restaurant car. Before boarding I walked the length of the train and didn't see a food car. More likely roving food sellers (dried squid anyone ?), but they never made it to first class.
The attendent came and prepared the two bunk beds for us around 9pm. When he turned in for the night, he slept on the floor at the end of the carriage, and the doors to other carriages were locked.
I would suggest you eat before boarding, or bring your own food and water.
On the overnights that I remember being on the dining cars close at 10:00pm.
In February I had, for technical reasons, to take the train CNX-BKK-CNX rather than flying. The First Class sleepers get booked very early, especially during High Season. Book just as soon as you can otherwise you end up with a Second Class sleeper... or even no sleeper at all.
I have taken overnight trains to CM and elsewhere 10 -12 times (love trains -- hate airports). I always get a bedroom, sometimes take a boy; thatтАЩs fun. Of course the rooms accommodate two people. If you want it alone, thereтАЩs a surcharge -300 bt. I think. Be sure you reserve it early. One can book a reservation on any train at any station; itтАЩs all computerized. Of course if you have a friend in Thailand they can easily buy the ticket for you, or you can get a travel agent to do it for 200 bt.
Every overnight train I have been on has had a dining car. I can see how one could miss it. The compartments are at the rear of the trains (leaving BKK), and the dining car is at the opposite end. You have to walk a long way to get to them.
ThatтАЩs one of the best parts. As I walk through the train I look for a cute boy who is facing a long night sleeping in a seat. One time a boy said he would like to sleep in a nice air conditioned bedroom, I paid the conductor the difference, and we had a very pleasant journey.
The dining cars, are day coaches converted to dining/kitchen cars, with tables and chairs. Remember, this is Thailand. ItтАЩs not the Eastern and Orient Express; you canтАЩt afford that anyway. HereтАЩs an excerpt from a letter I wrote a friend:
Management of the dinning car on each train seems to be autonomous, as the operation of each is completely different. This one had vases with a rose on each table. I dined late and was surprised when, as I had almost finished, the overhead lights went out, flashing colored lights appeared, and music blasted from huge speakers.
At nine oтАЩclock a crowd surged in and it became a disco. IтАЩm not a disco kind of guy, (if itтАЩs too loud, youтАЩre too old) so I didnтАШt stay, but when I left that coach was rockinтАЩ in more ways than one.
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