# Bangkok to Chiang Mai Sleeper Train: First Class vs Second Class and How to Book > The Bangkok to Chiang Mai sleeper leaves Krung Thep Aphiwat around 18:40 (train 9) and takes about 12.5 hours. First vs second class, berth prices and booking. - Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/bangkok-to-chiang-mai-sleeper-train-first-vs-second-class-guide - Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from a 526-day trip across 20 countries) - Published: 2026-09-30 The best Bangkok to Chiang Mai sleeper is Special Express train 9, which leaves Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal around 18:40 and reaches Chiang Mai around 07:15, about 12.5 hours. Second-class air-conditioned berths cost roughly 940 to 1,040 baht and first-class two-berth cabins roughly 1,450 to 1,650 baht per person. Second class is the better value for most travelers; first class buys you a lockable private compartment. Here is how the trains, berths and booking work. ## Which station and which train? Since January 2023, long-distance trains to the north no longer leave from the old Hua Lamphong station. They depart from **Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal** (formerly called Bang Sue Grand Station), which is connected to the MRT Blue Line. Leave time to get there: it is a large building and a long way north of the riverside and Sukhumvit hotel areas. Overnight options, with times as published for 2026 (confirm before you travel): **Train 9 (Special Express):** departs about 18:40, arrives about 07:15. Newer Chinese-built carriages, first- and second-class air-conditioned sleepers. The most comfortable choice. **Train 13 (Special Express):** departs about 20:05, arrives about 08:45. Older carriages, slightly cheaper, also with first- and second-class sleepers. **Train 51 (Express):** departs about 22:30, arrives about 11:40. Cheaper, slower and older stock, with second-class sleepers and fan-cooled seats. There is also a daytime train (about 10 hours, seats only) if you want to see the countryside rather than sleep through it. ## First class vs second class sleeper **Second class** is an open carriage with seats facing each other that the attendant converts into upper and lower bunks in the evening, each with its own curtain and fresh bedding. It is clean, sociable and what most travelers book. Published fares on train 9 were about **938 baht upper and 1,038 baht lower**; on train 13 about **768 upper and 838 lower**. **First class** is a two-berth compartment with a lockable door. Train 9 fares were about **1,446 baht upper and 1,646 baht lower**, or about **2,446 baht** to have the compartment to yourself; train 13 was about 1,246 / 1,446 baht. A solo traveler who buys a single berth may share with a stranger of the same sex, so couples should buy one upper and one lower, and solo travelers who want privacy should pay the single-use fare. These fares date from SRT's 2023 schedule and are still the figures most booking sites quote; check the current price when you book. ## Upper vs lower berth, and AC vs fan In second class the **lower berth** is wider, has the window and costs about 70 to 100 baht more. The **upper berth** is narrower, has no window, sits closer to the lights that stay on overnight and to the ceiling air-conditioning, but it is the cheapest bed on the train. Anyone over about 6'2" (188 cm) should take a lower. Trains 9 and 13 are air-conditioned, and the AC runs cold overnight, so keep a long-sleeve layer handy. Non-air-conditioned (fan) seats only appear on the slower Express and Rapid services. They are cheaper, but on a 12-plus-hour journey most travelers find the AC sleeper well worth the difference. ## How to book: SRT D-Ticket, 12Go and stations The official channel is State Railway of Thailand's **D-Ticket** site (dticket.railway.co.th) and app, which has an English version and accepts most foreign cards, though it can be slow. You can also buy at stations or through the SRT hotline 1690. Before entering passport or card details, check that the domain is railway.co.th or dticket.railway.co.th. Resellers such as **12Go** and **Baolau** are easier to use but add booking fees, and 12Go has required booking at least a few days ahead. Book early either way: first-class berths on train 9 sell out first, and holiday periods such as New Year and Songkran fill up well in advance. ## Food on board, and is the train better than flying? Trains 9 and 13 have a restaurant car, and staff also take orders for set meals of roughly 150 to 200 baht delivered to your seat. Bringing your own snacks from a 7-Eleven at the station is cheaper. **Alcohol has been banned on SRT trains since 2014**; the restaurant car sells only alcohol-free beer. A flight from Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang to Chiang Mai takes only about 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 20 minutes, and Chiang Mai airport is close to the city. Flying is faster; the train saves a night's accommodation, avoids airport transfers and is the more memorable way to arrive, waking up to the hills of the north. Plan your arrival with our [Chiang Mai guide](https://clevertourists.com/guides/chiang-mai) and [Bangkok guide](https://clevertourists.com/guides/bangkok), and see the [Bangkok Grab vs Bolt guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/thailand-grab-vs-bolt-bangkok-taxi-scams-guide) for getting to Krung Thep Aphiwat without a taxi overcharge. ## Frequently asked questions ### Which station does the Bangkok to Chiang Mai train leave from? Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (formerly Bang Sue Grand Station), on the MRT Blue Line. Long-distance northern trains moved there from Hua Lamphong in January 2023. ### Is first class worth it on the Chiang Mai sleeper train? Only if you want a lockable private compartment. Second-class berths are clean, curtained and about 500 to 600 baht cheaper per person on train 9. ### How long is the sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai? About 12.5 to 13 hours on trains 9 and 13; train 51 takes a little over 13 hours. ### Should I book an upper or lower berth? The lower berth is wider and has a window, for about 70 to 100 baht more. The upper is the cheapest bed but narrower and windowless. ### Can you drink alcohol on Thai trains? No. Alcohol has been banned on State Railway of Thailand trains since 2014, and restaurant cars sell only alcohol-free beer. ## Official sources - [State Railway of Thailand D-Ticket (official booking)](https://dticket.railway.co.th/) - [State Railway of Thailand](https://www.railway.co.th/)