Train 10 to Bangkok

After their first-class journey to Chiang Mai on an old Thai night train, I was a little worried about the journey back, because this time Mom and Kyle were going to have to ride second-class with me. I was relieved though, to see that this time we would be taking one of Thailand's beautiful, brand-new night trains!

Chiang Mai Train Station

These trains have only been running since the start of the year, and it was my first time to ride one!

The train was already waiting at the station when we arrive, and it looked slick! A digital sign displayed the train number, car number, and route in alternating English and Thai on the shining silver carriages

new train to Bangkok

The interior was bright and super clean, quite different from the dimly-lit, cramped-feeling, slightly grubby second-class on the old train we had taken a few days before.

second-class seats

Each spacious and comfortable seat had an electrical outlet and plenty of space to store luggage.

ready to begin our journey

We rolled out of the station exactly on time, and a porter brought around bottles of water for all the passengers. We had about an hour or so of sunlight during the journey, and spent the first part of our trip watching as Chiang Mai fell away behind us and the sun slowly slipped behind the horizon.

hanging out in second-class

After a while, my brother and I decided to go check out the dining car. There was a small menu with a decent enough selection of frozen meals that they would prepare for you, not unlike those you can buy and get heated up at any local Family Mart or 7-Eleven, and a coffee menu. No alcohol is allowed or sold aboard trains in Thailand.

the dining car

The dining car also had free wifi, so it seemed like a popular place for the second-class passengers to hang out (first-class gets "room service", and I have no idea if this train even had a third-class carriage on this route).

dinnertime in the dining car

Like before, turn-down was around nine o'clock. Being the kind son that I am, I opted for the top bunk to let my mom sleep in the slightly bigger lower bunk. Kyle also took a top bunk across the aisle.

I slept ok. Not as well as I had on the trip before. I really prefer the lower bunk, because it's bigger and at least has a window to look out.

The next morning, I was quite pleased to hear that, given the choice between first-class on the old train and second-class on the new one, Mom and Kyle would both take the new train! In my opinion, trains really are the way to travel!