Thailand forum

I prefer the train myself.

SRT=the train ''company''-in fact a state-moloch- thus its is in fact forbidden to tip staff-its corruption. Just the same as tipping for someone selling stamps in the postoffice. 1st cl. has same beds as 2nd-but in enclosed -often icy cold-cabins. ONLY available on some premium crack trains. IF some high Thai official turns up-you will have to clear your cabin for them.
Both have their pro and cons-and with AirAsia and the many other very low-priced flites, these also have their pro+cons.
This site is very much pro-train, and the propagandists of those iron monsters do anything to put them in a good sight. Read seat61.com for one sided info on that.
The cons of trains are:
always delays, very old stock, must organise your trip (not really needed for bus) very expensive and bad food on board-though those promotors always rave about ''cold beer''-as if Thailand has not enough of drunks and trouble from them.
The pro of long-distance bus are:
choice of type of bus, much quicker and much more on time as trains, cheaper too and on most days no need to prebook-simply go to busstation and find office/buy ticket. On the 1st cl bus food+drink included. No nasty extra sales on board anyway. Choice of about 10 (HY-BK or >25 BK-CM) companies. As you cannot read thai anyway and will be unable to see the comps. name-this is superfluous.
CON; yes too-many accidents (trains also have) and seats only. We do not have those VNese/Chinese sleeperbuses here.
Ignorant newbee farang often book the KhaoSarn buses-then you are in for trouble, but yes, its cheap.

the first class sleeper cabins have those adjustable air conditioning nozzles just like on airplanes. you can twist them to allow as much or as little air con into your cabin as you wish. they also have two beds that are both the size of the lower berth in the second class sleeper section, which is a real bonus. you can turn out the lights, which you can't do in second class, and people going up and down the halls all night are on the other side of a secured door, not behind just a thin curtain. first class has more space for your pack, which is also behind a secure door while you sleep, and the cabins even have a small sink for washing up (not for drinking water). there are fewer people using the bathrooms too. it is a real treat if you can arrange it.

we've got the same quality sleeper cabins on trains in the states, but they cost far more than flying and 10 times what a sleeper cabin costs in Thailand, so if you ever want to experience this type of travel, Thailand is the best place i've found to do it. it is part of the adventure.

i still take buses all the time, but for those long-haul overnight trips, you can't beat the train. i've done it about 35 times now. but that's just me, an ignorant farang.

aswell with those busses running in the southern regions with more tourists on the bus they will go through your bags so make sure all your valubles are on your person, I had my ipod and buck knife stolen just a few weeks ago train is slower and maybe more expensive aswell unless you ride third class but completley different atmosphere, not so much stop and go and turns in a train and you can get up and walk around a bit.

Between BKK & CM I prefer the overnight sleeper train. I have my dinner before I board so just take my drink and something to snack on before bed. If I was to travel from BKK to HY it would be the overnight sleeper for me.

As alluded to, I prefer train over bus solely on the safety factor. I couldn't care less if the train runs late as I know I will wake up in one piece.

Unless there has been a dramatic change recently, to get to Siem Reap , the train from Bangkok stops at Aranyaprathet , about 8 to 10 km on the Thai side of the Cambodian border. From there you can take a tuk tuk to the border and then transfer to share taxi or bus once you enter Cambodia. As far as I know, there is no train from Bangkok that heads towards Phnom Penh either.

You could do a train to Aranyaprathet and the continue by bus, or bus it all the way. Most folks on this website recommend making your own way and NOT using the all-in-one Bangkok to Siem Reap services offered out of Khao San Road. They are cheap but really slow and use other tactics to get extra money from you, so you wind up losing in the end.