Tips for Travelling on the Death Railway Tourist Train from Bangkok Thonburi to Nam Tok

If you are considering a trip on Thailand’s Death Railway, I have some hints and tips to help make your journey easier.  Have a read of my review of the trip here for more detail of what you may experience.

So here are my top tips, assuming you are going to take the whole trip to Nam Tok:

Getting to the station

• I would highly recommend you stay somewhere within a few kilometres of Thonburi station the night before, especially if you intend taking the morning train.  I stayed at the Nouvo City Hotel which is good value, and in a nice district with good restaurants, but away from the chaos of Khao San Road.  There are plenty of other hotels in this area.  Alternatively, stay somewhere where you can take the metro train to Thonburi.
• Give yourself plenty of time to get to the station by car.  If the traffic is forgiving and you arrive early, you can wander around the nearby market.
• Have enough snacks and water for the trip.  There is no on-board catering though some people get on and off the train at various points selling water, soft drinks and local food.

On the train

• Buy your ticket from the ticket office; it is 100 baht flat fee.  You can’t buy tickets in advance or online.
• While on the platform, assess the size of the crowd and time your boarding accordingly.  This is a matter for judgement – if you board too early you will dissolve into a puddle of sweat on the stationary train.  Board too late and you might not get the seat you want.  10-15 minutes before departure is probably the sweet spot.
• There are a couple of different trains and they are configured differently.  Main thing to remember is that some carriages have padded seats and some bare wood.  One carriage will be reserved for monks.
• Test your windows.  The carriages are quite old and not all that well maintained.  Each window has a glass pane on the outside and wooden louvre on the inside.  Both open by wobbling them and easing them down.  Try to find one that works smoothly.  Ideally your window will be open for the whole trip, but you need to be prepared for tropical downpours.
• Don’t be afraid to try the food from the sellers who hop on and off the train. I paid 15 baht for a small tray of very tasty dumplings.
• Depending on the time of year, the afternoon train is likely to arrive after dark and you may miss some of the scenery approaching Nam Tok.  That is the trade-off between morning and afternoon trains.

Arrival

• If you get off at Kanchanaburi, you are close to the museum and cemetery, and of course the famous bridge.  There are plenty of motorcycle taxis around; don’t be afraid to bargain.
• If you get off at Nam Tok and intend staying the night, book yourself into one of the river resorts.  There will be taxi vans at the station but they are in short supply so you may be squeezed in with other travellers.  Your bargaining position here is weaker than at Kanchanaburi.

Enjoy the trip and give me a thumbs-up if you found this helpful.

Steve Martin

Steve is a former Army officer and technology manager, now semi-retired and living in Melbourne.  He enjoys adventurous travel and believes that good stories should be shared.  He founded the Dusty Boots Journal as a means to connect those with similar interests.