sputnikrent
newbie
Posts: 1

#1 Posted: 10/12/2006 - 04:23


I'm planning on spending 18 days between Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam during the late Decemeber- mid January time period. I was looking at options for getting from Bangkok to Siem Reap and I noticed in an article that the train ride is highly recommended.

Is it easy to get tickets for the train, and will there be seats on the train itself? Also the article talks about the scenic ride, can anyone who has been on the train comment? I'm just wondering if the extra time and possible hassle it takes is worth the scenic ride...

Thanks!

exacto
som tam seller
Posts: 688

#2 Posted: 10/12/2006 - 08:47


Hey Sputnik,

The problem with taking the train to Aranyaprathet is the timing. It runs twice a day, departing early in the morning and arriving just before noon, or departing in the early afternoon and arriving at about 5:30 pm/1730.

The bummer about the morning train is having to get your cookies to the train station before 6 am. Ouch! The bummer about the afternoon train is that it arrives too late to make it all the way to Siem Reap and Angkor the same day, making it necessary to overnight in Aranyaprathet.

The train itself is a 3rd class only option, with wooden or lightly padded seats designed to reduce your seat to tears. Still, if you only get this one chance to travel the rails in Thailand, it might be worth it just for the experience. It is certainly one of the most affordable ways to get to Aranyaprathet from Bangers, since the fare is still only about 48 baht. This line departs from the main Hualamphong train station.

You can check the timetable for those trains at this link:
http://www.railway.co.th/English/Time_HTML.asp

Hopefully others can chip in with additional comments. I know that I always like to take the 3rd class train from Thon Buri out to Kanchanaburi for the fun of the experience and the scenery. Cheers.