Travelling by Train with a Motorcycle in Thailand
How to put a motorcycle on a State Railway of Thailand train: the official fee table in English, the lines and train numbers that carry bikes, where to load and unload, and what to do if you start in Phuket.
Thailand's state railway will carry your motorcycle in the luggage van of a passenger train. You ride to the station, hand the bike over at the parcel office, and collect it at the other end, usually from the same train you travelled on. It works on the Northern, Northeastern and Southern lines, costs from 560 THB for a small bike on a short hop to roughly 2,500 THB for a big adventure bike across the country, and needs no booking.
This guide was checked on 12 November 2026 against the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) service page and its current fee poster, which we have translated in full below. Where something comes from riders' reports and not from SRT, we say so.
The short version
- Who runs it. The State Railway of Thailand, through the parcel office (พัสดุ) at the station. There is no separate motorcycle train.
- Where. Any station on the Northern, Northeastern and Southern lines. The Eastern Line (Pattaya, Aranyaprathet) does not take motorcycles.
- Price. A fixed fee by engine size and distance, plus loading and unloading, plus a freight charge by weight. From 560 THB.
- Booking. None. Turn up at the parcel office with the bike and the papers.
- Time. SRT says 1 to 3 days to the destination station. If the bike goes on your own train, it arrives with you.
- Phuket. There is no railway on the island. The nearest station is Surat Thani, about 230 km away by road.
How it works, step by step
These are the five steps SRT publishes on its own page.
- Bring the bike and the papers to the parcel office. Ride it there; no appointment is needed. Hand over the documents listed below.
- Staff work out the price. It has three parts: the transport fee, the loading and unloading charges, and the freight charge. The first two are in the table below.
- Wrap the bike. SRT asks for the whole bike to be covered in bubble wrap against knocks while the train is moving. You can wrap it yourself or have the staff do it.
- Decide about the key. If you travel on the same train, keep it. If the bike is going to someone who has no spare key, you can leave the key with the staff.
- Collect at the destination. Show the receipt you were given at the origin station. If someone else collects, it must be the person named on the shipping form, and they must show that receipt; a photo of it sent by you is accepted. A bike that is not collected straight away is kept at the station for about two days.
Documents
- The registration book (the green book, เล่มเขียว) or a copy of it. If you are not the owner, you must also show the owner's ID document.
- The ID card of the person sending the bike. Foreign riders report using a passport.
- Sender and receiver details: name, address, phone number, and the destination station.
SRT motorcycle fees, in English
This is a translation of the State Railway of Thailand poster "การรถไฟฯ เปลี่ยนแปลงค่าธรรมเนียมการขนส่งรถจักรยานยนต์" (change to motorcycle transport fees), in force since 1 October 2022 (B.E. 2565) and still the table shown on the SRT service page in November 2026. All amounts are in Thai baht.
| Engine size | Fee, up to 300 km | Fee, 301–600 km | Fee, 601 km and over | Loading | Unloading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 125 cc | 400 | 600 | 800 | 100 | 60 |
| 125–299 cc | 500 | 700 | 900 | 120 | 80 |
| 300–499 cc | 600 | 800 | 1,000 | 140 | 100 |
| 500–649 cc | 700 | 900 | 1,100 | 160 | 120 |
| 650–799 cc | 800 | 1,000 | 1,200 | 180 | 140 |
| 800–999 cc | 900 | 1,100 | 1,300 | 200 | 160 |
| 1,000 cc and over | 1,000 | 1,200 | 1,400 | 220 | 180 |
The three fee columns are the "motorcycle transport fee, not including the freight charge" (ค่าธรรมเนียมขนส่งรถจักรยานยนต์ ไม่รวมค่าระวาง). Loading (ค่าบริการขนขึ้น) and unloading (ค่าบริการขนลง) are charged once each. The note on the poster reads: motorcycles can be sent from every station except those on the Eastern Line.
The freight charge comes on top
The freight charge (ค่าระวาง) is not on the poster. Staff calculate it at the counter from the bike's weight, in 20 kg steps, the distance and the class of train. Riders' reports from 2022 to 2025 put it at 290 to 430 THB for a 100 to 150 kg bike between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, which is about 3 THB per kilo on a 750 km run. Treat that as a guide, not a tariff, and call 1690 for the figure on your route.
What the fixed charges add up to
Check the engine size printed in the green book, not the model name. Most "650" bikes are 645 to 649 cc and sit in the 500–649 row. A CB500X is 471 cc and a CRF300L is 286 cc, so both drop a row as well.
| Bike | Row in the table | Route | Fee + loading + unloading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Click 125 | Up to 125 cc | Under 300 km, e.g. Bangkok – Hua Hin | 560 THB |
| Honda Click 125 | Up to 125 cc | Bangkok – Chiang Mai | 960 THB |
| Honda CRF300L (286 cc) | 125–299 cc | Bangkok – Surat Thani | 1,100 THB |
| Honda CB500X (471 cc) | 300–499 cc | Bangkok – Chiang Mai | 1,240 THB |
| Kawasaki Versys 650 (649 cc) | 500–649 cc | Bangkok – Surat Thani | 1,380 THB |
| BMW R 1250 GS (1,254 cc) | 1,000 cc and over | Bangkok – Hat Yai | 1,800 THB |
Add the freight charge to each line. With freight at roughly 3 THB per kilo on a long run, a 200 kg Versys from Bangkok to Surat Thani comes to about 2,000 THB and a 250 kg GS to Hat Yai to about 2,500 THB. SRT's own "from 560 THB" is the first line of this table: the smallest bike on the shortest distance.
Lines, train numbers and stations
Almost all long-distance trains now start from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok, not from the old Hua Lamphong station. Motorcycles are not handled on its platforms. The parcel point is at Bang Sue Junction, directly opposite the terminal, and at the Krung Thep Aphiwat goods point in the Phahonyothin yard. Ask at the parcel office which one your train uses.
Which trains carry motorcycles
SRT says the service runs on express, rapid and ordinary passenger trains on the Northern, Southern and Northeastern lines. It does not publish a list of train numbers. In practice a bike can only go on a train that runs with a luggage van (บพห.), and those are the locomotive-hauled Rapid and Express trains. These are the ones to ask about, with numbers as they stand in November 2026:
| Train no. | Type | Line | Bangkok to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 / 14 | Special Express | Northern | Chiang Mai |
| 51 / 52 | Express | Northern | Chiang Mai |
| 109 / 102 | Rapid | Northern | Chiang Mai |
| 107 / 108 | Rapid | Northern | Den Chai |
| 133 / 134 | Rapid | Northeastern | Nong Khai |
| 67 / 68 | Express | Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani |
| 139 / 140 | Rapid | Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani |
| 141 / 142 | Rapid | Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani |
| 37 / 38 | Special Express | Southern | Sungai Kolok |
| 45 / 46 | Special Express | Southern | Padang Besar |
| 83 / 84 | Express | Southern | Trang |
| 85 / 86 | Express | Southern | Nakhon Si Thammarat |
| 167 / 168 | Rapid | Southern | Kantang |
| 169 / 170 | Rapid | Southern | Yala |
| 171 / 172 | Rapid | Southern | Sungai Kolok |
| 173 / 174 | Rapid | Southern | Nakhon Si Thammarat |
The odd number is the train leaving Bangkok and the even number is the one coming back. Every Southern train in the list passes Hua Hin, Chumphon and Surat Thani on the way.
Trains that do not take bikes. The diesel railcar "sprinter" services, such as Special Express 7/8 to Chiang Mai, and the newer all-sleeper trains (9/10 to Chiang Mai, 23/24 to Ubon Ratchathani, 25/26 to Nong Khai, 31/32 to Hat Yai) run without a luggage van.
Your bike may ride a different train from you. The parcel office decides which luggage van has room. One Thai rider booked on Rapid 173 to Surat Thani was told the bike would go on Express 83, which left 39 minutes earlier, because the van on 173 might be full. That is normal. What matters is the destination station on the receipt.
Main stations for loading and unloading
Officially every station on the three lines accepts motorcycles. These are the ones riders use most, with the fee column that applies from Bangkok. Distances are approximate rail kilometres.
| Station | Line | Rail km from Bangkok | Fee column from Bangkok |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nakhon Sawan | Northern | 250 | Up to 300 km |
| Phitsanulok | Northern | 390 | 301–600 km |
| Den Chai (for Phrae and Nan) | Northern | 535 | 301–600 km |
| Lampang | Northern | 640 | 601 km and over |
| Chiang Mai | Northern | 750 | 601 km and over |
| Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) | Northeastern | 265 | Up to 300 km |
| Khon Kaen | Northeastern | 450 | 301–600 km |
| Udon Thani | Northeastern | 570 | 301–600 km |
| Nong Khai (Lao border) | Northeastern | 620 | 601 km and over |
| Surin | Northeastern | 420 | 301–600 km |
| Ubon Ratchathani | Northeastern | 575 | 301–600 km |
| Hua Hin | Southern | 230 | Up to 300 km |
| Chumphon | Southern | 485 | 301–600 km |
| Surat Thani (at Phun Phin) | Southern | 650 | 601 km and over |
| Thung Song Junction | Southern | 770 | 601 km and over |
| Nakhon Si Thammarat | Southern | 830 | 601 km and over |
| Trang | Southern | 845 | 601 km and over |
| Hat Yai Junction | Southern | 945 | 601 km and over |
| Padang Besar (Malaysian border) | Southern | 990 | 601 km and over |
| Yala | Southern | 1,055 | 601 km and over |
| Sungai Kolok (Malaysian border) | Southern | 1,160 | 601 km and over |
The fee column depends on the distance between your two stations, not on Bangkok. Surat Thani to Hat Yai is about 295 km, so it falls in the first column. A trip that changes line, say Chiang Mai to Surat Thani, goes through Bangkok and is priced by the parcel office.
Starting from Phuket
Phuket has no railway, and neither do Krabi, Phang Nga or Khao Lak. The Southern Line runs down the Gulf side of the peninsula. Three stations are within a day's ride:
- Surat Thani is the usual choice. The station is in Phun Phin, about 13 km west of the city, about 230 km from Phuket on Highway 4 and Highway 401 through Phang Nga and past Khao Sok. Every Southern train stops there.
- Trang is about 290 km from Phuket through Krabi and is the end of the line for Express 83/84.
- Thung Song Junction, between the two, is where the Trang branch leaves the main line.
The train suits a one-way trip. Ride north from Phuket through Bangkok to Chiang Mai over a week or two, put the bike on a Rapid or Express train south, sleep in a berth, and ride the last 230 km home from Surat Thani. It also lets you skip the long, flat stretch of Highway 4 between Chumphon and Bangkok in either direction.
If the bike is one of ours, tell us before you plan a train leg. The station wants a copy of the green book and the owner's documents, we have to prepare those, and we need to know where the bike is travelling. For a trip that ends somewhere else, see one-way rental.
Practical tips from riders
None of this is on the SRT page. It is what riders and Thai motorcycle sites report, and it is consistent enough to plan around.
- Arrive early. One to two hours before departure is the usual advice. Thai guides suggest three to four at a big-city station, where the parcel point is busy and the paperwork takes time.
- Run the tank low. Stations ask for the fuel to be nearly empty, about a litre. Find a petrol station near the destination before you set off.
- Strip the bike. Take off the mirrors, the top box and the phone holder and carry them with you. Your helmet travels with you, not with the bike.
- Wrap the vulnerable parts even if the staff wrap the rest: levers, indicators, the tank and the widest points of the fairing.
- Film a walk-around at the counter before you hand the bike over. The SRT page says nothing about compensation for damage, so ask at the origin station and check the bike before you sign for it.
- Do not lock the steering. The bike is lifted and pushed into the van by hand.
- Tip the loaders. 50 to 100 THB is customary.
- Keep the receipt with your ticket. Without it the bike is not released.
- Heavy bikes: phone first. The fee table goes up to 1,000 cc and over, so big bikes are accepted. They are still loaded by hand, and a small station or a full van can turn a 250 kg bike away. Call 1690 or the origin station the day before.
- Use terminus stations when you can. A train stands for only a few minutes at an intermediate station, which is where riders report bikes being left for the next train.
Train, truck or post
The train is the cheapest way to move a motorcycle a long distance in Thailand, and the only one where you can travel with it. It is station to station, the bike is handled by hand, and you do the wrapping and the paperwork yourself.
A carrier with a truck collects from your door and delivers to an address, including Phuket, which the railway does not reach. Bangkok to Phuket runs from about 3,800 to 8,500 THB depending on the bike. See motorbike transport for how that works. Thailand Post also ships motorcycles from its larger offices.
Questions riders ask
Can I take a motorcycle on a train in Thailand?
Yes. The State Railway of Thailand carries motorcycles in the luggage van of passenger trains on the Northern, Northeastern and Southern lines. You hand the bike in at the station parcel office with the registration book and your ID.
How much does it cost?
A fee of 400 to 1,400 THB by engine size and distance, plus 160 to 400 THB for loading and unloading, plus a freight charge by weight. In total about 560 THB for a small bike on a short trip, 1,300 to 1,500 THB for a 125 to 300 cc bike from Bangkok to Chiang Mai or Surat Thani, and 2,000 to 2,500 THB for a large adventure bike.
Do I have to travel on the same train?
No. You can send the bike to another person, who collects it with the receipt. It reaches the destination station in 1 to 3 days and is kept there for about two days.
Is there a size limit?
Older articles say SRT takes only bikes up to 125 cc. That predates the current tariff. Since 1 October 2022 the official table has had rows up to 1,000 cc and over.
Is there a train to Phuket, Krabi or Pattaya?
No railway reaches Phuket or Krabi; use Surat Thani or Trang. Pattaya is on the Eastern Line, which does not take motorcycles.
Can a foreigner send a bike?
Yes. Riders report that a passport is accepted in place of a Thai ID card. You still need the green book or a copy, and the owner's ID document if the bike is not yours.
Who do I call?
The SRT call centre on 1690, open 24 hours. Ask for the freight charge for your bike's weight and whether your train has a luggage van.
Sources
- State Railway of Thailand: parcels and motorcycles (Thai). The five steps, the documents and the fee poster.
- Bangkok Biz News: four steps to send a motorcycle by train, from 560 THB (Thai). Delivery in 1 to 3 days.
- Thai Train Guide: sleeper trains in Thailand. Train numbers and types for 2026.
- Thai Train Guide: frequently asked questions. Motorcycles are loaded at Bang Sue Junction, not at Krung Thep Aphiwat.
- Rabbit Care: taking a motorcycle by train, 2026 prices (Thai). Riders' price reports and timing.
- Mushroom Travel: a motorcycle on the train to Surat Thani (Thai). The Express 83 and Rapid 173 account.