ResidentialBusiness Posted January 12 Report Posted January 12 The Bangkok to Ban Klong Luk Border train service goes from Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong) to the Thailand-Cambodia border in Aranyaprathet. There are two trains a day in each direction, but the early morning service (Train No. 275) is the best if you are planning onward connections in Cambodia. Train number: 275 Service: Ordinary Depart Bangkok: 5:55 am Arrive Ban Klong Luk Border: 11:17 am Total travel time: 5h 22m [Bangkok to Ban Klong Luk Border timetable.] Depart from Hua Lamphong Station (Bangkok Station) Most trains from Bangkok now depart from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal. Trains that travel to Eastern Thailand still use the old Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong), so this is a good opportunity to experience the old station. [Early morning inside the historic Hua Lamphong Station.] The cafes aren’t open at this hour, so there is no chance to have a coffee and admire the station. [Ban Klong Luk Border train at Hua Lamphong.] Tickets Tickets are available at the station on the day of travel. Tickets are not bookable in advance and there are no reserved seats. If you want to pick your preferred seat then you should board 30 minutes before departure. [Ticket office at Hua Lamphong.] The service is all 3rd Class seating, which is the cheapest form of travel in Thailand. The ticket costs 49 THB ($1.40 USD in December 2024). [Bangkok to Ban Klong Luk Border ticket.] Onboard Train No. 275 Train No. 275 is an “Ordinary” service, so it stops at most of the stations along the way. The train acts as a commuter service for Greater Bangkok, so the seats fill up quickly when it stops at the stations in Bangkok. [Khlong Tan Station in Bangkok.] The train passes Suvarnabhumi Airport at around 7 am, so it took an hour and 5 minutes to get this far. [Under the Suvarnabhumi Airport flight path.] You could technically board the train at other stations in Bangkok, but you will most likely not get a seat. It becomes standing-room only after a few stops. [Standing-room only on Train No. 275.] Chachoengsao is the largest station between Bangkok and the border. A lot of passengers get off here, but more passengers join as well. There are only two services a day to Aranyaprathet, and ultra-cheap fares makes it a popular route. [Chachoengsao Station.] There is no cafe carriage or official food carts, but there are food vendors that get on and off the train throughout the trip. The seats are padded bench seats. They are confortable but it’s a bit tiresome to be bolt upright the entire trip. [Seats on Train No. 275.] The carriages have ceiling fans and the windows are kept open. These type of carriages will be phased out one day, so I enjoy the chance to ride on these trains with an open breeze and no glass between the scenery. [Open windows on the Ordinary class train.] The train stops at many stations, which accounts for the slow journey. [Khlongsip Kao Junction.] Even at the small stations there were many people getting off and on. [Sa Kaeo Station.] Some stations are just a little platform by the side of the track. The train also has to stop to allow for the service in the other direction to pass. [Waiting for the opposite train to pass.] Ban Klong Luk Border Ban Klong Luk Border Station is next to the Thailand-Cambodia border in Aranyaprathet. There is also an Aranyaprathet Station, but stay until the end of the line if you are crossing the border. [Aranyaprathet Station (stay on the train if you are going to the border).] Ban Klong Luk Border Station is right next to the border. The Khlong Luek Border Checkpoint is next to the station. The border crossing is to your left as you exit the station. [Walking from Ban Klong Luk Border Station to the border crossing.] Walking across the border to Poipet, Cambodia The train line is connected to Cambodia, but it is currently only used for freight. There is no cross-border passenger service between Thailand and Cambodia. After going through Thailand immigration, you walk across the border to the Cambodia immigration building. Once you clear immigration you exit the building and you are in the border city of Poipet. The city is famous for casinos and the vice that is associated with bordertowns. There are casinos as soon as you exit border crossing, and there is a Starbucks at the border entry. [Starbucks at Poipet border gate.] There is also an Amazon Cafe near the Starbucks, so you could stop in here to get wifi. If you use Grab taxi in Thailand it’s also available in Cambodia. Poipet is a casino city that caters for Thai citizens, so the shops advertise prices in Thai baht. Train from Poipet to Phnom Penh The train line from Poipet continues to Phnom Penh (the Northern Line) but passenger trains are not currently running between Poipet and Battambang. To travel from Bangkok to Phnom Penh in one day by train, you have to get a van or taxi between Poipet and Battambang. There is a Battambang to Phnom Penh train that departs at 15:00. If you are taking this overlanding trip, then you are probably not in a great hurry, so I would recommend staying in Battambang as it is a charming little city. Check transport from Poipet to Battambang. Bus/van travel from Poipet to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh Poipet has a bad reputation for being a dodgy border crossing. There are many tuktuk touts that will come up to you, but it seems that it is not as bad as it used to be. The main problem with Poipet is that there are no onward bus services or travel agents next to the border crossing. This is where the hassle begins as you have to walk up the road to one of the travel agents that sell onward tickets. Tuktuk drivers will ask where you are going and will drive you to a travel agent. You can just walk up the main road until you find a travel agent. There are a few travel agents on the left side of the main road, including some travel agents opposite Poipet Train Station. The station is about 10-minutes walk from the border crossing. If you prefer to book a bus ticket in advance, there are different van and bus options via 12.go. Transport from Poipet to Siem Reap. Transport from Poipet to Phnom Penh. This train travel review is part of the Southeast Asia railways guide. View the full article Quote
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