Which Bangkok train station do long-distance trains use?

Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (formerly Bang Sue Grand Station). Since 19 January 2023 all long-distance expresses to the north, northeast and south start and end there instead of Hua Lamphong.

Do any trains still use Hua Lamphong?

Yes, a small number of local and excursion trains, such as local trains to Ayutthaya, the Pattaya train, trains toward Aranyaprathet and the weekend Kanchanaburi excursion. Check the origin station on your SRT timetable or ticket.

How do I get from Hua Lamphong to Krung Thep Aphiwat?

Take the MRT Blue Line to Bang Sue and use the underground walkway into the terminal, changing at Tha Phra. A taxi takes about 25 minutes. Local trains from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue Junction, which is across the road, also run about hourly.

Is Bang Sue Grand Station the same as Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal?

Yes. Bang Sue Grand Station was the original name, and King Vajiralongkorn chose the name Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.

Which platform do Chiang Mai trains leave from?

Northern and Northeastern line trains depart from platforms 1 and 2 and arrive on platforms 5 and 6. Southern line trains depart from platforms 7 and 8 and arrive on 11 and 12.

How far is Krung Thep Aphiwat from Mo Chit 2 bus terminal?

About 1.5 km according to the Bangkok Post. There is no direct link yet, but the Ministry of Transport budgeted a feasibility study for one in 2026.

Krung Thep Aphiwat (Bang Sue) vs Hua Lamphong Trains

Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, formerly called Bang Sue Grand Station, is Bangkok's main railway station. Since 19 January 2023 all long-distance trains to Chiang Mai, Nong Khai, Ubon Ratchathani, Surat Thani, Hat Yai and the rest of the network start and end here, not at Hua Lamphong. If your ticket is for an express, rapid or special express train, go to Krung Thep Aphiwat. Hua Lamphong, the old station in the city centre, now handles only a small number of local and excursion trains.

Which trains use which station

On 19 January 2023 the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) moved 52 long-distance trains from Hua Lamphong to Krung Thep Aphiwat (Wikipedia, Thailand Trains). Two sources describe the current split slightly differently: Seat61 (updated 1 October 2026) says all long-distance trains use Krung Thep Aphiwat, while Thailand Trains says a small number of long-distance and ordinary services still use Hua Lamphong. In both cases the practical rule is the same. The Ministry of Transport's timetable page asks you to check whether the origin is Krung Thep Aphiwat or Hua Lamphong before you travel.

Station	Trains
Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal	All long-distance expresses: Northern line (Chiang Mai), Northeastern line (Nong Khai, Ubon Ratchathani), Southern line (Hua Hin, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Hat Yai, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Padang Besar, Su-ngai Kolok). Also the SRT Dark Red Line (to Rangsit via Don Mueang) and Light Red Line (to Taling Chan).
Hua Lamphong	Local and special trains per Seat61: local trains to Ayutthaya, the Aranyaprathet and Ban Klong Luk trains (check that these still run to the border, as Seat61 flags the Thailand and Cambodia situation), the daily local train and weekend air-conditioned railcar to Pattaya, and a weekend excursion train to Kanchanaburi. Roughly hourly local trains also run to Bang Sue Junction.
Thonburi (Bangkok Noi)	Local trains to Kanchanaburi and the Bridge on the River Kwai, per Seat61.

Route guides for trains from Krung Thep Aphiwat: Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Bangkok to Nong Khai, Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani, Bangkok to Ayutthaya, Bangkok to Lopburi, Bangkok to Hua Hin, Bangkok to Chumphon, Bangkok to Surat Thani, Bangkok to Hat Yai, Bangkok to Trang and Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammarat. For the return direction see Chiang Mai to Bangkok, Ayutthaya to Bangkok, Hua Hin to Bangkok, Chumphon to Bangkok, Surat Thani to Bangkok and Hat Yai to Bangkok.

Example departures

Thailand Trains (page dated October 2026) lists these daily departures from Krung Thep Aphiwat. SRT timetables are the official source and they change.

Chiang Mai: 5 trains, such as train 7 at 07:30 and train 51 at 22:30. Seat61 lists more departures on the Northern line (07:30, 11:20, 14:15, 18:40, 20:05, 20:45, 22:30).
Surat Thani and Chumphon: 10 trains, first at 07:30 (train 43) and last at 22:50 (train 39/41).
Nong Khai: 3 trains: 08:45, 20:25 and 21:25.
Ubon Ratchathani (Seat61): 06:10, 07:10, 10:35, 19:25, 21:05 and 23:05.

Location and how to get there

The station is in the Bang Sue and Chatuchak districts of north Bangkok, next to the old Bang Sue Junction. It is about 7 km north of Hua Lamphong and 1.5 km from Mo Chit 2 bus terminal.

MRT Blue Line: Bang Sue MRT station is connected to the terminal by an underground walkway. From Hua Lamphong, Seat61 says to change at Tha Phra, and reckons around 50 minutes in total including walking and waiting.
Taxi: About 25 minutes from downtown for around 130 baht according to Seat61. Ask for Gate 4, the main entrance for the long-distance ticket office and waiting area.
Local train from Hua Lamphong: Some 13 local trains a day run to Bang Sue Junction, directly across the road, for 2 baht. Do not cut it fine before a long-distance departure, as these trains can be late.
City bus: Seat61 mentions bus 49 between Hua Lamphong and the station every 15 to 20 minutes from 05:00 to 21:00, taking 30 to 60 minutes. Thailand Trains reports a free SRT shuttle bus, but Seat61 says it has been discontinued, so do not count on it.
SRT Red Lines: The Dark Red Line runs north to Rangsit via Don Mueang Airport, and the Light Red Line runs west to Taling Chan.

Tickets and facilities

Tickets: Long-distance tickets are sold at the counters and online through the SRT D-Ticket system linked from the Ministry of Transport page. You can also still buy tickets at Hua Lamphong's main ticket office.
Entrance: The street entrance is on the ground level, and trains leave from the first floor (Level 2). Follow signs for "Long distance trains".
Platforms: Northern and Northeastern line trains depart from platforms 1 and 2 and arrive on 5 and 6. Southern line trains depart from platforms 7 and 8 and arrive on 11 and 12.
Boarding: Seat61 says platform access opens about 20 minutes before departure. Thailand Trains says gates can open up to 30 minutes before. Departure screens show times but not always the platform, so listen for announcements.
Luggage: Seat61 reports lockers near the ticket office at around 230 baht per 24 hours. Thailand Trains, writing earlier, said there was no left luggage, so check on arrival.
Food and toilets: Food outlets, a food court, free toilets (some with showers, ask the attendant) and free phone charging points.

Tips

Check the origin station on your ticket. A ticket for a long-distance train will show Krung Thep Aphiwat, not Hua Lamphong.
Only about half of the 26 platforms are in use, so the station feels empty, but the walk from the entrance to the waiting area is long.
A transfer to Mo Chit 2 bus terminal is 1.5 km. In 2026 the government budgeted a study for a covered link, but nothing has been built yet.
Allow extra time on holidays, when long-distance trains sell out early.

Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (Bang Sue) Bangkok: trains and travel guide