INFORMATION KIT - Api-fellowships.org

ReservationsAdvance tickets are available daily, except for third class tickets, at all principal stationsone to 60 days before the date of departure. But note that bookings via telephone are notallowed. Tickets between any station in Thailand can be purchased at Hua Lampong station.The office is open everyday from 5:00 to 23:00. Advance booking office (Tel: 0-2220-4334, 0-2621-8701 ext. 5217, 5229 or hotline 1690) is open from 8:30 to 16:00. Train tickets can also bepurchased at certain travel agencies in Bangkok but they usually add a surcharge to the ticketprice. Passengers going to Samui, Krabi, Pangan and Phuket can also purchase joint train-coachboattickets prior to traveling at the advance booking offices. For further information, contactthe State Railway of Thailand (SRT).You can also get details about advance bookings by calling at 0-2223-3762, 0-0224-7788and 225-0300 ext 5201 to 3. For more information about schedules and costs, kindly refer to theAppendix I or call 0-2220-4334, 0-2225-0300 ext. 5201 to 3, and 1690.ClassesDifferent types of trains are available, depending on speed, convenience and comfort.Special express trains, express trains and rapid trains run on the long-haul routes to the north,northeast and south. The speed depends on the number of stops taken. The fewer stops, thefaster the train.Ordinary trains are available on almost every route with a distance greater than 150 kmfrom Bangkok. Special services, such as certain tour trains, are available only on weekends andpublic holidays.Carriages come in three levels of comfort and service: first class, second class and thirdclass. Facilities for each class also vary depending on whether you are on an ordinary, rapid orexpress train:First-class carriages provide private cabins for singles or couples. Each cabin has an airconditioner,a small table, and a long bench seat that converts into a bed. Drinking waterand towels are provided. First-class carriages are available only on express and specialexpress trains;Second class has seating arrangements similar to a bus. The seats can be adjusted to areclining angle, good enough for an overnight trip. Second class is available on rapid andexpress trains;Third class is OK for short trips only. It’s not recommended for long routes as the seatsare quite hard and the carriages often very crowded.Express and rapid services on the main lines offer first-class, air-conditioned or secondclass,fan-cooled cars with sleeping cabins and dining cars. There are also special air-conditionedexpress day coaches that travel to key towns along the main lines.Railway Station Information in BangkokBangkok has three principal stations: one at Hua Lamphong on Rama IV Road whichis the main station, not too far from the campus of Chulaongkorn University, two, theThonburi Station, on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, and three, the Wong Wian YaiStation, also on the Thonburi side of Bangkok, very close to the King Thaksin Monument:Hua Lamphong Station:Bangkok's Hua Lamphong station is the main station, housed in an early 20thCentury European-style buliding which was design by an Italian architect. The main hallis now air conditioned, and the public space is packed with all sorts of advertisements27