Thai Train Classes Explained: 1st vs 2nd AC vs 2nd Fan vs 3rd Class

Thai trains have three classes plus sleeper options, and knowing the difference can save you money, improve your sleep, and set the tone for the whole journey. Book the wrong class on an overnight train and you will arrive exhausted. Book the right one and you will save a night's accommodation and wake up in a different city refreshed.

This guide cuts through the confusion. Here is exactly what each class offers, who it is for, and when the price difference is actually worth paying.

Quick Reference: Thailand Train Classes

| Class | AC | Beds or Seats | Bangkok to Chiang Mai Price | Best For | |-------|-----|--------------|----------------------------|----------| | 1st Class | Yes | 2-berth private cabin with lockable door | 1000-1500B | Couples, light sleepers, anyone who cannot sleep near strangers | | 2nd Class AC Sleeper | Yes | Open carriage, upper and lower berths with curtain | 450-800B | Most backpackers — the sweet spot | | 2nd Class Fan Sleeper | No (fan only) | Open carriage, upper and lower berths with curtain | 300-500B | Budget travelers in cool season | | 2nd Class Seat (day trains) | Sometimes | Reserved reclining seat | 200-350B | Short to medium day journeys | | 3rd Class | No | Hard bench seat, unreserved | 40-200B | Very short trips, local experience |

Prices are one-way for the Bangkok to Chiang Mai route and vary by train number and booking timing.

1st Class: The Private Cabin

First class gives you a private two-berth cabin with a lockable door. Two berths fold down from the walls, and there is a small window with a pull-down shade. Each berth has an individual reading light, a fold-down table, and a power outlet. Full bedding is provided — a proper mattress pad, pillow, and blanket. Some overnight trains on the Bangkok to Chiang Mai route include a simple breakfast.

The cabin locks from the inside. You share the space with one other person — either your travel companion if you book both berths together, or a stranger if you book a single berth.

Worth paying for: Couples who want genuine privacy, anyone who is a light sleeper and cannot rest with carriage noise and movement, solo travelers who feel more comfortable with a door between them and the rest of the train. If you have had bad experiences sleeping on overnight buses or in hostels, the extra cost here is money well spent.

Not worth it for: Budget travelers. The price difference between 1st class and 2nd class AC is roughly 500-700B per person — enough for another night's accommodation. The 2nd class AC berth is genuinely comfortable. You are paying that premium primarily for the locked door and the absence of other people in your immediate sleeping space.

2nd Class AC Sleeper: The Backpacker Pick

This is the right class for most travelers. It is comfortable, affordable, and delivers the full overnight train experience without the premium price.

The 2nd class AC sleeper carriage is an open car — a long corridor with berths stacked two-high on either side, like a soft-seat sleeper on a Chinese train. Each berth has a curtain that pulls across for privacy. The carriage is air conditioned, sometimes aggressively so — bring a light jacket or a thin layer even if you are visiting in hot season.

Bedding is provided: a thin foam mattress pad, a pillow, and a blanket. It is not five-star linen, but it works. Most people sleep fine.

Lower versus upper berths: Lower berths cost approximately 50B more than upper berths. Lower berths have a larger window, easier bathroom access, and convert to a facing seat during daylight hours — useful if you board in the afternoon and want to sit up. Upper berths are slightly smaller, have a smaller window, and are accessed by a fold-down ladder. The advantage of the upper berth is that fewer people walk past — the lower berth corridor sees foot traffic from passengers heading to the bathroom. If you are a light sleeper, upper berths offer marginally more privacy from movement.

Shared bathroom: Each carriage has a bathroom at one end with a squat-style toilet. It is functional, not luxurious. Bring your own toilet paper.

The AC issue: Thai train AC is set to a Thai standard of cold — meaning genuinely cold. Many travelers who have not been warned end up shivering. Pack a thin hoodie or use your microfiber towel as an extra layer. This is the most common complaint about 2nd class AC sleepers and it is easily solved with one piece of clothing.

This class delivers the iconic backpacker sleeper train experience: waking up as the train pulls through misty hills, watching rice paddies appear at dawn, arriving in Chiang Mai at 7am ready to check in and explore. Book this class.

2nd Class Fan Sleeper: The Budget Option

The fan sleeper carriage is the same physical layout as the 2nd class AC — open berths with curtains, upper and lower, the same bedding. The only difference is ventilation: ceiling fans instead of air conditioning.

In cool season (November through February), this is perfectly comfortable. Temperatures in Thailand drop enough at night, particularly in the north, that the fan is sufficient. You avoid the excessive cold that the AC carriages produce and you save 150-200B per person.

In hot season (March through May), the fan carriage becomes uncomfortable for most foreign travelers. Temperatures in Thailand at night in April can stay above 30C, and a moving train generates enough humidity that sleeping in a fan carriage becomes a sweaty, restless experience.

In rainy season (June through October), it depends on altitude and region. The overnight train to Chiang Mai passes through mountainous terrain where night temperatures are cooler — the fan carriage is manageable in June and October but can be warm in the humid mid-rainy-season months.

Book 2nd Fan Sleeper when: You are traveling in cool season (November through February), you are on a tight budget, and you run warm naturally. It saves money and the difference in comfort is minimal in good conditions.

Avoid 2nd Fan Sleeper when: You are traveling in April or May, you run hot, or you know you sleep poorly in warm environments.

2nd Class Seat: Day Train Travel

Day trains and some night trains offer 2nd class reserved seating rather than berths. These are reclining seats — similar to economy airline seats but with more legroom. Some carriages are air conditioned, some are fan-cooled, and some have windows that open.

This class is excellent for day journeys of two to five hours. The Bangkok to Ayutthaya trip (around 90 minutes), Bangkok to Lopburi, or Chiang Mai to Lampang are the kinds of routes where 2nd class seats are the right choice. You have a reserved seat, reasonable comfort, and the ability to watch the scenery.

Do not book 2nd class seats for overnight journeys. There are no berths — you will be attempting to sleep upright in a train seat for 12-14 hours. The sleeper classes exist for exactly this reason.

3rd Class: Local Travel Only

Third class carriages have hard bench seats — either wooden or plastic, unreserved. There is no air conditioning and usually no fans. Windows open, which is fine for short journeys. The carriage fills with Thai commuters, students, monks, market vendors, and the occasional adventurous backpacker.

Third class is not a bad experience for short trips. The Ayutthaya to Bangkok run costs around 15B in third class and puts you next to local life in a way that the AC carriages do not. For journeys under two hours, 3rd class is a perfectly reasonable choice and an interesting one.

For overnight travel, 3rd class is not practical. There are no berths and the seats do not recline enough to sleep in any position that will not leave you with a sore neck and regrets.

Use 3rd class for: Day trips under two hours. Ayutthaya from Bangkok (15B). Nakhon Pathom from Bangkok. Any short commuter-style journey where you want the local experience and have a light bag.

Booking Tips

Book through 12go.asia if you are unfamiliar with the SRT (State Railway of Thailand) booking system. The interface is in English, accepts international cards, and shows seat availability clearly. You pay a small booking fee — usually 50-150B per ticket — for this convenience.

Book through the SRT website (thairailwayticket.com) for the cheapest prices. The system works but is less intuitive for first-time users. The website sometimes experiences outages during peak booking periods.

Booking window: The SRT releases tickets 60 days in advance. For the Bangkok to Chiang Mai route on weekend nights during peak season (November through February), lower berths in 2nd class AC sell out within days of the 60-day window opening. If you have a fixed departure date, set a reminder and book as early as possible.

Lower berths go first. If lower berths are sold out, upper berths may still be available. Upper berths are perfectly fine — book one rather than waiting and missing the train entirely.

Cancellations and refunds: The SRT allows cancellations. Refunds are partial and depend on how far in advance you cancel. Full refund minus a service fee if you cancel more than three days before departure; smaller refund within three days.

The Bangkok to Chiang Mai Overnight Math

This is the most popular backpacker train route in Thailand. Here is an honest comparison of options:

Flight: 900-2000B base fare, plus airport transfer from the city (500-800B each way), plus one night's accommodation that you would otherwise save if you traveled overnight. Total realistic cost: 2300-4000B.

2nd Class AC Sleeper train: 450-800B. Includes transportation and saves one night's accommodation (400-700B equivalent in a hostel dorm). Net cost after accommodation saving: 0-400B for the transport itself.

Overnight VIP bus: 300-600B. Saves accommodation similarly to the train. The seats are less comfortable than train berths and the bus stops more frequently. Some people sleep fine on buses; many do not.

The conclusion: For most backpackers, the 2nd class AC sleeper train is the optimal Bangkok to Chiang Mai choice. You save money compared to flying, you save an accommodation night, the journey is comfortable enough to actually sleep, and you arrive in Chiang Mai in the morning with your bearings intact.

The only reason to fly is if your time is severely constrained — the flight saves you 10-12 hours. But if you have those hours available, the train is the better experience and the smarter financial choice.

What to Pack for the Train

A short list based on common oversights:

• Light layer for the AC carriage: Non-negotiable. The AC is cold.
• Earplugs or noise-canceling headphones: The train makes noise. Wheels, doors, announcements.
• Dry bag or packing cube for your berth: Storage space is limited. Keep your overnight essentials in one small bag so you do not have to dig through your main pack.
• Flip flops: The bathrooms are damp. Barefoot is unpleasant.
• Your own toilet paper: The bathroom supply runs out on long journeys.
• Snacks: The dining car (on trains that have one) serves simple Thai food and instant noodles. Vendors board at station stops with food. Having your own snacks means not depending on timing.
• Phone charger: Power outlets are at each berth in 2nd and 1st class AC sleepers.

For the complete picture on Thai overnight trains including route schedules and which train numbers to book, see our sleeper train guide. For comparing train versus other transport options, see our Bangkok to Chiang Mai transport breakdown.