When does booking open?

90 days before departure, on D-Ticket. Each day, one more travel date goes on sale: on 15 October 2026, D-Ticket listed trains for every date up to 13 January 2027 and none after. Time Out Bangkok reported the same 90-day window for New Year trains, with each date released at 08:30 ICT (25 December 2026 went on sale on 26 September); SRT does not publish the release time. Online booking closes 3 hours before departure.

How far ahead is that?

Up to 90 days (about 3 months) ahead.

The State Railway of Thailand's D-Ticket website (in Thai and English), the SRT D-Ticket app, or any SRT station counter. Visitors from abroad book with their passport number.

There is no official figure. On the evening of 15 October 2026, the day 13 January 2027 went on sale, D-Ticket already showed no 1st class berths left on train 9 for that date. Seat61 says sleepers on the best trains often sell out weeks ahead at Thai holidays, around New Year and Songkran (usually 11 to 16 April), and that lower berths go first.

Can I cancel or change?

70% of the fare is refunded if you cancel at least 3 hours before departure, to the card you paid with (within 45 days); tickets paid by PromptPay QR are refunded only at a station. Changes cost 20% of the fare 3 days before departure, 30% 2 days before and 50% 1 day before. Names cannot be changed.

Nationwide, Thailand

Bangkok to Chiang Mai sleeper train: when to book

90 days before departure, on the State Railway of Thailand's D-Ticket site: on 15 October 2026, the furthest date on sale was 13 January 2027. D-Ticket's terms still say 180 days, but its booking calendar and train search stop at 90.

The aisle of a newer Thai sleeper car, with red seats that are made up into berths at night. Photo by Steffi Krauße on Pexels

When does booking open?: 90 days before departure, on D-Ticket. Each day, one more travel date goes on sale: on 15 October 2026, D-Ticket listed trains for every date up to 13 January 2027 and none after. Time Out Bangkok reported the same 90-day window for New Year trains, with each date released at 08:30 ICT (25 December 2026 went on sale on 26 September); SRT does not publish the release time. Online booking closes 3 hours before departure.
How far ahead is that?: Up to 90 days (about 3 months) ahead.
Where do I book?: The State Railway of Thailand's D-Ticket website (in Thai and English), the SRT D-Ticket app, or any SRT station counter. Visitors from abroad book with their passport number.
Does it sell out?: There is no official figure. On the evening of 15 October 2026, the day 13 January 2027 went on sale, D-Ticket already showed no 1st class berths left on train 9 for that date. Seat61 says sleepers on the best trains often sell out weeks ahead at Thai holidays, around New Year and Songkran (usually 11 to 16 April), and that lower berths go first.
Can I cancel or change?: 70% of the fare is refunded if you cancel at least 3 hours before departure, to the card you paid with (within 45 days); tickets paid by PromptPay QR are refunded only at a station. Changes cost 20% of the fare 3 days before departure, 30% 2 days before and 50% 1 day before. Names cannot be changed.

Checked 15 October 2026

How to book

Book on dticket.railway.co.th or the SRT D-Ticket app, or at a station. Each passenger's name, ID or passport number and phone number go on the ticket. You pay the full fare at booking, by credit or debit card or by PromptPay QR.

Trains leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central station. D-Ticket lists three overnight trains to Chiang Mai: special express 9 (18:40, arriving 07:15), special express 13 (20:05, arriving 08:45) and express 51 (22:30, arriving 11:40). Rapid 109 leaves at 14:15 and arrives at 04:00, and special express 7 runs by day, 07:30 to 17:50.

D-Ticket's sleeper fares for 13 January 2027: on train 9, 1st class 1,446 baht (upper berth) and 1,646 baht (lower), 2nd class 938 and 1,038 baht; on train 13, 1st class 1,246 and 1,446 baht, 2nd class 768 and 838 baht; on train 51, 2nd class only, 728 and 798 baht.

Agents such as 12Go and Baolau also sell these tickets, with a fee on top (Seat61 cites about 250 baht at 12Go).

If it’s sold out

Check D-Ticket again in the days before travel for returned berths, and try the other overnight trains or another class.

Otherwise take special express 7 by day, or fly.

Booking for a group

D-Ticket takes up to 4 passengers per booking, so a larger group needs two or more bookings, best made at the same moment. Every ticket carries the passenger's name and ID or passport number, and names cannot be changed later, so collect everyone's passport details before the day booking opens.

In 2nd class, upper and lower berths face each other in pairs, so book even numbers to keep the group in neighbouring bays. D-Ticket has separate adult, child and senior fares; Seat61 gives the child ages as 4 to 11.

Good to know

For a private 1st class cabin for two, buy one upper and one lower 1st class berth on the same booking. D-Ticket also sells a 'charter room' fare for having a cabin to yourself (2,446 baht on train 9, 1,946 baht on train 13).
Lower berths cost 70 to 200 baht more than upper ones but are wider.
Trains leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central, not the old Hua Lamphong station.
D-Ticket's terms say to print your ticket for the passenger insurance to apply, so carry a paper copy.

Sources

State Railway of Thailand: D-Ticket (official): The travel date calendar runs to 90 days ahead and the search takes up to 4 passengers; the terms say up to 180 days and at least 3 hours before, a 70% refund, change fees of 20 to 50%, no name changes, and to print the ticket.
State Railway of Thailand: D-Ticket train search, Krung Thep Aphiwat to Chiang Mai (official, read 15 October 2026): Trains 7, 109, 9, 13 and 51 listed for every date up to 13 January 2027 and none after, with times, fares by class and berth, and berths left.
Time Out Bangkok: SRT New Year train tickets (24 September 2026): Seats for 25 December 2026 go on sale on 26 September at 8.30am, one travel date per day, and the longest trips open up to 90 days before.
Seat61: Train travel in Thailand: The best sleepers often sell out weeks ahead at New Year and Songkran; lower berths are wider; reduced fares for children aged 4 to 11.

Checked on 15 October 2026. Booking rules change; the official site has the last word.