Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train: CNR sleeper, fares and times (2026)

By the TrainsNews International Expert · Updated 29 October 2026

Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train takes 10 h 20 by day and 12 h 35 overnight, from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to the end of the Northern Line. Five State Railway of Thailand (SRT) trains make the trip each day, including the CNR sleeper train No. 9, where a second-class berth cost 938 to 1,038 baht on D-Ticket on 27 October 2026. Here is how to choose your train, book on D-Ticket and sleep well on board.

Before you travel: heavy rain can disrupt the Northern Line. Floods closed it between Nong Pho and Noen Makok on 26 September 2026, and SRT reopened it the next morning (Thansettakij, Post Today). Check your train on ttsview.railway.co.th or call the SRT hotline 1690 before you leave.

Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train at a glance

Departure station: Krung Thep Aphiwat, not Hua Lamphong

Since 19 January 2023, SRT's long-distance trains leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, formerly Bang Sue Central Station, and no longer from Hua Lamphong. The move concerned 52 trains, 14 of them on the Northern Line, while ordinary and suburban trains kept running from Hua Lamphong. Check the station name on your ticket.

The terminal has 24 platforms, eight of them for long-distance trains, and is linked to the MRT Blue Line and to the SRT Red Line suburban trains, according to the Thai government. When the move took place, SRT said northbound trains would leave from platforms 1 and 2. They run on the elevated line as far as Don Mueang, where all five Chiang Mai trains stop: a handy boarding point if you are coming from Don Mueang airport.

Trains and timetable

Timetable valid on 27 October 2026, according to SRT's timetable site and D-Ticket:

Going back, five trains also run each day (SRT timetable, 27 October 2026). The CNR sleeper No. 10 leaves Chiang Mai at 18:20 and reaches Krung Thep Aphiwat at 06:30. No. 14 leaves at 17:05 (arrival 05:55), No. 52 at 15:30 (arrival 05:28), the day train No. 8 at 07:30 (arrival 17:40) and the rapid No. 102 at 06:25 (arrival 20:05).

Which one to pick? The day train No. 7 is the fastest, but it is a seated train. The night trains save you a hotel night: No. 9 reaches Lamphun at 06:50 and Chiang Mai at 07:15, a good time to start a day in the city. Rapid No. 109 arrives at 04:00, which is too early for most travellers.

Fares

Fares shown on D-Ticket on 27 October 2026 for travel on 29 October and 12 November 2026, one way, adult:

On train No. 9, the lower berth costs 100 baht more in second class and 200 baht more in first class. D-Ticket also sells second-class berths on No. 9 in a car for women and children and in a car for passengers with disabilities, at the same fares. Trains No. 13, 51 and 109 also carry fan-cooled seats: 468 baht in second class and 310 baht in third class on No. 13, 428 and 270 baht on No. 51, and 388 and 230 baht on No. 109 (D-Ticket, 27 October 2026).

How to book

Tickets are sold by SRT through three channels. The first is D-Ticket, on dticket.railway.co.th or in the D-Ticket app: create an account, choose your train, car and berth, then pay by credit or debit card or by QR code. You can also buy at station ticket counters anywhere in Thailand, or through the SRT call centre 1690, open 24 hours a day.

In April 2026, SRT cut the advance booking window for express, rapid and special express trains from 180 days to 90 days. SRT said the change aims to cut the number of tickets booked and never used. Book early for holiday periods. When a car is full, D-Ticket offers a waiting list.

On board and luggage

The CNR cars entered service on the Chiang Mai route in late 2016. They have air conditioning, vacuum toilets, and a power socket and reading light for each berth. In first class, two passengers share a closed compartment with a bunk bed. D-Ticket lists the second-class cars as seating and sleeping cars; Thai press describes second-class sleepers as facing seats that staff turn into upper and lower beds at night.

Since 12 May 2026, the sale of alcohol has been banned in railway stations and on trains under a Royal Gazette notice. Bring water and snacks for the evening. We found no luggage limit published by SRT for this route; in practice, a cabin-size case is easier to keep beside you in a berth than a large suitcase.

Arriving in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai station is the terminus of the Northern Line. Lamphun, the stop before it, is 22 km down the line on the SRT timetable. On No. 9, the last stops before Chiang Mai are Nakhon Lampang at 05:00, Khun Tan at 06:02 and Lamphun at 06:50, so set an alarm if you want to be up and packed before the terminus.

The expert's view: a metre-gauge line on its way to double track

The Chiang Mai line is part of Thailand's metre-gauge network, and it is not yet double track along its whole length, which explains the long schedule. On single track, one train has to wait for another to pass, which Thai PBS cites as a cause of delays for ordinary trains. That is why the double-track programme matters more for this route than new rolling stock.

The first big step is the 148 km double track between Ban Klap (Saraburi) and Pak Nam Pho (Nakhon Sawan), a 21.5 billion baht project that includes a 19 km elevated section starting near Ban Klap, the longest elevated railway in Thailand according to Daily News. The new Lopburi 2 station opened on 5 December 2025, served by 14 long-distance express and rapid services. In May 2025, SRT expected express and rapid trains to Chiang Mai to save about 25 minutes, and said that once the whole Northern Line is double, the trip could fall to about 12 hours. The signalling contract fell behind schedule, so SRT brought in an electronic token system to run trains on the new track in the meantime.

Further north, the new Den Chai–Chiang Rai–Chiang Khong line will start from the Chiang Mai line at Den Chai, 534 km from Hua Lamphong on the SRT timetable. It is 323 km long, was 59.57% complete in March 2026 and is due to open in 2028. It includes the 6.2 km Ngao tunnel, which will be Thailand's longest railway tunnel.

A high-speed line to Chiang Mai, prepared under a Thailand–Japan rail cooperation agreement, is a longer-term project: 380 km to Phitsanulok for about 276 billion baht in phase 1, then 288 km to Chiang Mai. The Ministry of Transport plans to seek Cabinet approval in 2027 and targets the start of services on phase 1 in January 2036. Until then, the overnight metre-gauge sleeper remains the way to go north by train.

Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train: FAQ

How long is the train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?

From 10 h 20 on the day train No. 7 to 13 h 45 on the rapid No. 109. The CNR sleeper No. 9 takes 12 h 35 (SRT timetable, 27 October 2026).

How much is the sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?

On train No. 9, 938 baht for an upper berth and 1,038 baht for a lower berth in second class, and 1,446 to 1,646 baht in first class (D-Ticket, 27 October 2026). Second-class berths on No. 13, 51 and 109 cost 688 to 838 baht.

Is the Northern Line open after the September 2026 floods?

Yes. SRT reopened it from 09:30 on 27 September 2026, and on 27 October 2026 all five daily Chiang Mai trains were on sale on D-Ticket. Check ttsview.railway.co.th or call 1690 before you travel.

Which station does the train leave from in Bangkok?

Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal. Long-distance trains left Hua Lamphong in January 2023.

How far in advance can I book?

Up to 90 days before travel, on D-Ticket, at stations or through the 1690 call centre.

Is first class worth it?

If you want a closed door and privacy, yes. Second class costs 508 to 608 baht less per berth on train No. 9 (D-Ticket, 27 October 2026).

Is alcohol sold on the train?

No. The sale of alcohol on trains and in stations has been banned since 12 May 2026.

Key takeaways

• Five trains a day from Krung Thep Aphiwat; the CNR sleeper No. 9 leaves at 18:40 and arrives at 07:15 (SRT timetable, 27 October 2026).
• Second-class berths from 938 baht, first class from 1,446 baht on train No. 9 (D-Ticket, 27 October 2026).
• Book on SRT D-Ticket, up to 90 days ahead.
• The Northern Line reopened on 27 September 2026 after the floods; check the train status before you travel.

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Sources: SRT, Northern Line timetable 2026, both directions (read 27 October 2026); SRT D-Ticket, trains and fares Krung Thep Aphiwat–Chiang Mai for 29 October and 12 November 2026 (read 27 October 2026); Daily News, Northern Line closed between Nong Pho and Noen Makok (26 September 2026); Thansettakij, Northern Line back to normal from 27 September (27 September 2026); Post Today, Northern Line reopened at 09:30 on 27 September (27 September 2026); TAT Newsroom, long-distance trains move to Krung Thep Aphiwat (4 January 2023); Thai government, Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (11 July 2023); Bangkok Biz News, advance booking cut to 90 days (24 April 2026); Thairath, CNR sleepers and D-Ticket (27 April 2026); TAT Newsroom, new sleeper carriages (4 November 2016); The Nation, alcohol sale ban zones (13 May 2026); The Nation, Thailand's metre-gauge network (20 April 2026); Daily News, Ban Klap–Pak Nam Pho double track (25 November 2024); Thai PBS, double track opening and time savings (26 May 2025); The Nation, Lopburi 2 station (3 December 2025); Thairath, Den Chai–Chiang Rai–Chiang Khong progress (16 April 2026); The Nation, Ngao tunnel (15 February 2026); The Nation, Bangkok–Phitsanulok high-speed rail (29 July 2026). Information checked on 27 October 2026.