Train Transfers To and From Chiang Rai Airport

Currently, a direct train route from Bangkok to Chiang Rai is unavailable. The commuting travelers will have to take a bus ride to Chiang Rai at either Chiang Mai Railway Station, the nearest train transit, or Nakhon Lampang Railway Station. Rapid, express, special express, and local trains are available in these railway stations.

Travelers may also check the State “Railway of Thailand” for train fares and timetables.

• Via Chiang Mai Railway Station: The travel time by train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is 11 to 13 hours. A bus ride to Chiang Rai may take 2 to 4 hours, depending on the traffic and road condition. The train fare is ฿120.00 to ฿600.00, and the bus fare is around ฿300.00.
• Via Nakhon Lampang Railway Station: The travel time by train from Bangkok to Lampang is 9 to 11 hours. Plus, the bus ride to Chiang Rai can take 3 to 5 hours, depending on the traffic and road condition. The train fare is ฿100.00 to ฿500.00, and the bus fare is around ฿400.00.

However, a proposed railway project seems to be very efficient in connecting Chiang Rai to other railway routes.

The Den Chai – Chiang Rai – Chiang Khong Railway is an old proposal for a new railway in Northern Thailand. The railway would branch off from the current Bangkok-Chiang Mai Railway at Den Chai, towards Chiang Rai, and then Chiang Khong on the Thailand-Laos border.

This rail was initially proposed in 1960, but nothing came of it. The proposal was revived in 2010, with numerous reports and announcements of impending construction dates made throughout the 2010s. The latest news says that the government will award construction contracts in 2021. Yet, local authorities said that there is no plan for this at the moment.

Therefore, all arriving and departing guests of Chiang Rai International Airport must take other options for transfer services, such as car rentals, buses, and taxis. Please refer to the Transfers page.