Thailand

Chiang Mai

A northern Thai old town still ringed by its moat. No urban rail here — the red songthaew is how the city moves.

State Railway of Thailand, Northern Line - Chiang Mai station (สถานีเชียงใหม่)

No urban rail here: the railway is a single station at the end of the Northern Line from Bangkok. Book on the official D-Ticket site under the name in your passport; the terms require you to travel with a printed ticket.

Updated on August 28, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Register an account first
    You must log in every time you book, and registration completes only when you click the link in the email.
  2. 2
    Pick your train and coach on D-Ticket
    Pick the Northern Line, then stations and date. Coaches are air-con, fan or sleeper; ordinary trains are not sold online.
  3. 3
    Pay with the name from your passport
    Enter the real traveller's name and passport number. The name cannot be changed afterwards.
  4. 4
    Have the ticket ready to take with you
    The ticket arrives as a PDF by email. The terms require travelling with a printed ticket, so print it if you can.
  5. 5
    Board at Chiang Mai station
    There is only one station in the city. Check the boards for your platform and get there before departure.
  6. 6
    Find your ride into town outside the station
    No rail links the station with the old town or the airport - take a red songthaew or an app-hailed car.

Fares

Reserved express trains effectively need to be booked ahead - on D-Ticket, or by booking online and paying at a station ticket window. Ordinary, commuter and local trains are excluded from online sales and are bought at a station window. Sales open from one day to at most 90 days before departure, and the system works out the exact window from the distance. D-Ticket's own terms page has not been updated and still says 180 days, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.

Payment

IC card
Thailand has no nationwide transit card
App tickets
Book on D-Ticket and pay by card or PromptPay
QR ticketing
Needs a Thai bank account, so most visitors cannot use it
D-Ticket takes PromptPay QR payments
Paper tickets
The terms require travelling with a printed ticket
Cash Unverified
Payable at a station ticket window; the official pages do not name the methods

Quick facts

No fare gates - the hall opens onto the platforms, and departure times are posted here. Taken Feb 2023 © Suikotei・CC BY-SA 4.0

Heads-up

  • Legal cars show a yellow plate or an official sticker

    Be wary of drivers who approach you outside the station. Legally registered app-hailing taxis carry yellow public-service plates, and private cars converted for the job display official stickers front and rear. The provincial transport office names the airport, Chiang Mai station and the No. 3 bus terminal as the places it works with on unlicensed cars.

  • Bangkok has two stations - central and Hua Lamphong

    For the return leg, pick the Bangkok station by name. Bangkok has both the central station (สถานีกลางกรุงเทพอภิวัฒน์) and the old Hua Lamphong (กรุงเทพ (หัวลำโพง)), and they are separate stations.

Timetable

Check the official site for the latest times and service status
Editor Naotaka