Book Thai Trains Online with SRT D-Ticket: What to Know First
Book on D-Ticket, and you can go up to 90 days ahead if your trip covers at least 60 percent of the train's route. Have a passport or ID number ready, and know that cancelling online costs a 70 percent fee.
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Book online on D-Ticket, and book early for a long trip: a ticket for most of the train’s route can be bought 90 days ahead. Bangkok to Chiang Mai end to end falls in that band, so you can lock in your seat three months out.
How far ahead you can book
The window depends on how much of the train’s route you ride, counted from the day after you buy. Most of the route (60 percent or more) gives you 90 days, a middle stretch gives 30 days, and a short hop opens just 1 day ahead.
Worked example: Bangkok to Nakhon Sawan is a short slice of the Chiang Mai train’s 751 km, so you can only book it 30 days out. Online booking closes 3 hours before departure.
Booking step by step
Only some trains are sold here: Express, Special Express and Rapid, plus excursion trains. Ordinary, commuter and local trains are not.
- Register or log in; you need to do this before every booking.
- Pick the railway line, which is the northern line for Chiang Mai.
- Tick the round-trip box if you want a return in the same booking.
- Choose air-conditioned, fan or sleeper.
- Check the fare in the black bar at the bottom before you pay.
- The seat map picks a seat for you first; keep it or change it.
Passport and payment
Enter the details of the person who will actually travel, including a passport or ID card number and a phone number. Get the name right, because it cannot be changed later.
You pay in full by card or PromptPay. Pay by card and the ticket is emailed to you. Print it, since the terms require the passenger to travel with a printed ticket.
If plans change
Cancelling online costs a 70 percent fee, and you have to do it at least 3 hours before departure. The refund goes back to the booker’s own card within 45 days, so a PromptPay QR ticket can only be refunded at a station.
Changing the date is cheaper, and you can do it as often as you like. The fee is 20 percent at 3 days out, 30 percent at 2 days and 50 percent at 1 day.
Phone and station
You can also call 1690 at least 5 days before travel, then collect and pay at a station by 22:00 the next day. Each call holds at most 10 seats. For times and fares on the popular routes, see our Bangkok to Chiang Mai train guide and Bangkok to Hat Yai.
Good to know
Children taller than 100 cm and up to 150 cm pay half fare. Travel without a ticket on an Express, Special Express or Rapid train and you pay the fare plus THB 250.
Step by step
- Register or log inYou must register or log in before every booking.
- Search the trainPick the railway line, then origin, destination, date and passengers; for Chiang Mai choose the northern line.
- Pick the coach and seatChoose an air-conditioned, fan or sleeper coach; the seat map first picks a seat for you.
- Enter passport details and payEnter the traveller's passport or ID card number and phone number, then pay by card or PromptPay.
Not confirmed: SRT publishes no daily opening time for the booking window; 8.30am is documented only for holiday releases. The help page also carries an older block with lower cancellation fees; plan for the 70 percent online fee in the terms.
Common questions
How far ahead can I book a train in Thailand?
Count by how much of the train's distance you ride. A trip of 60 percent or more opens 90 days ahead, and 25 to 59 percent opens 30 days ahead. Under 25 percent, it is only 1 day ahead.
Can I book a Thai train with a passport?
Have the traveller's ID card number or passport number ready, plus a phone number. You also register or log in first.
How do I pay for a train ticket on D-Ticket?
You pay in full, by credit or debit card or by PromptPay. Pay by card and the ticket arrives by email.
Do I need to print the e-ticket?
Yes, print it: the terms require the passenger to print the ticket from the system to travel.
How much does it cost to cancel a D-Ticket booking?
Cancel online at least 3 hours before departure, and expect a 70 percent fee. The refund returns to the booker's own card within 45 days.
Can I change the date of my train ticket?
Yes, as many times as you like. The fee is 20 percent of the ticket price 3 days or more before departure, 30 percent at 2 days and 50 percent at 1 day.
Can I book Thai trains by phone or at the station?
Call 1690 at least 5 days before travel, then collect and pay at a station by 22:00 the next day. Each call reserves at most 10 seats.
Which trains can be booked online?
You can book Express, Special Express, Special Express diesel railcar, Special Express CNR, Rapid and excursion trains online. Ordinary, commuter and local trains are not sold online.
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Sources and reader comments
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