Train Review: Special Express 10 Uttrawithi from Chiang Mai to Bangkok Hua Lamphong by Train

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Special Express 10 Uttrawithi from Chiang Mai to Bangkok Hua Lamphong Train Review

The Special Express 10 Uttrawithi is the flagship overnight train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, and also the most popular to get sold out once tickets open for booking. On my trip in October 2022, the Special Express 10 Uttrawithi was still serving Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station as Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal had not opened for long-distance trains yet. This Special Express 10 Uttrawithi train marks the start of my journey from Chiang Mai to Singapore by train.

Chiang Mai to Singapore by Train

Chiang Mai Railway Station

Chiang Mai Railway Station is located about 3.3 km from Chiang Mai’s old town. However, I was staying at Bossotel Chiang Mai which is directly outside the station, so it was right at my doorstep.

During my trip, catering had not returned to all Thai trains yet. I headed to the 7-Eleven beside Bossotel Chiang Mai and across the street from Chiang Mai Railway Station to buy food and drinks for the journey.

Heading into Chiang Mai Railway Station with microwaved and packaged food and drinks in hand.

The main hall of Chiang Mai Railway Station.

A ticket counter is available here, though do not risk getting your Special Express 10 Uttrawithi ticket on the spot here, as it will most likely be sold out.

The timetable and fare table of trains departing from Chiang Mai Railway Station.

There are also various snack stalls in Chiang Mai Railway Station. However, the stalls selling main one-dish meals were already cleaning up for closing.

Heading to Platform 4 where my Special Express 10 Uttrawithi train is.

A portrait of King Rama V or King Chulalongkorn stands smartly above the station sign of Special Express 10 Uttrawithi. King Chulalongkorn is considered the father of Thai railways as the first lines were built during his reign.

A standing board displays the train information of Special Express 10 Uttrawithi in front of the train.

Heading down the platform to my booked coach.

Air-Conditioned Second Class Day & Night Coach (ANS36CN/บนทป.36CN)

It was easy to identify my booked coach 9 as I booked myself on the Air-Conditioned Second Class Day & Night Coach (ANS36CN/บนทป.36CN). The coach’s livery is bold with a thick maroon strip leading to the wheelchair-accessible door.

The destination sign on the LED screen of my Special Express 10 Uttrawithi from Chiang Mai to Bangkok Hua Lamphong.

Steps are provided at this door. For wheelchair users, a lift will swing out to cater for boarding and alighting.

Wheelchairs can be stored by the side of this door between the door and the accommodation area. The aisle is much wider at this section to cater for wheelchair movements.

The door to the ANS36CN accommodation area is a single-pane sliding door, as compared with the double-pane doors found in the ANS40CN.

There is no significant difference in the accommodation on this wheelchair-accessible ANS36CN coach versus the normal ANS40CN coaches, aside from 4 berths (1 section) missing to cater for the bigger toilet and wheelchair storage area.

My booked seat/berth at 20. Looks like my neighbour had arrived earlier, but only with plastic bags on her seat.

A flip-up side table is provided which can be used when the berth is in the daytime seat position.

The legroom available on board the ANS36CN coach when in the daytime seat position.

A reading lamp is available, notably with a new round matte cover, probably to diffuse the strong LED lighting.

A storage basket is also located beside the reading light.

A wash basin area is located just outside the accommodation area.

The clean toilet on board the ANS36CN coach.

A big wheelchair-accessible toilet is also available on board.

The brand-new then-6-day-old CRRC Qishuyan “Ultraman” locomotive QSY 5205 will be hauling me from Chiang Mai to Bangkok.

Air-Conditioned First Class Day & Night Coach (ANFCN)

I headed into the Air-Conditioned First Class Day & Night Coach (ANFCN) for a peek. This is the most popular class of accommodation on board the Special Express 10 Uttrawithi as there is only 1 coach available, making supply of tickets limited.

Heading into the accommodation area.

There is a side aisle with compartments making up the rest of the floor space of the coach.

Each compartment accommodates 2 passengers with a fold-down side table in the middle.

A window is provided with a sink and overhead rack used to store pillows.

The upper berth is folded up in the daytime position.

Getting ready for departure with the station master delivering the token to the driver of my Special Express 10 Uttrawithi.

Getting my ticket ready for inspection upon departure.

A bottle of water was distributed by the attendant before departure.

My Special Express 10 Uttrawithi departed from Chiang Mai Railway Station on time at 6.00pm.

The Thai National Anthem “Phleng Chat Thai” is also played nationwide at 6.00pm, so it was easy to tell the time.

Immediately upon departure, the attendant converts the seats into berths for those still empty, and on request by passengers who were already on board.

I did not want to have my berth converted yet as I have not had my dinner.

The map of the train location and timetable is displayed on the screens inside the coach.

For dinner, I had a Crab Fried Rice and instant egg from 7-Eleven, bought earlier from outside Chiang Mai Railway Station.

Tickets were checked by the conductor shortly after departure.

Lamphun Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Lamphun Railway Station after sunset. While the Special Express 10 Uttrawithi is very comfortable with a time-effective timetable, it’s not a scenic ride as most of the northern hilly sectors are passed through in darkness, including the iconic Khun Tan Railway Station and Khun Tan Tunnel.

Once I was ready after dinner, I requested the attendant to convert my berth for me.

The overall space of the lower berth on board the ANS36CN. Bedding is provided with a blanket in a plastic bag for sanitary purposes.

The seat back can be folded up to form a shelf, and to provide more headroom when lying down.

The reading lamp is useful for lighting up the berth with the curtains drawn.

Fold-out ladders are mounted in the bulkheads for upper berth passengers to access the upper berth.

The overall space available on the upper berth.

While there is no official catering available on board, the attendant can sell hot drinks and instant Mama noodles.

I bought a hot Cocoa from the attendant for 30 Baht, which isn’t very cheap. A Mama would cost 50 Baht.

Following my hot drink, it was time to sleep for the night.

In the morning, the attendant converts the berths back into seats once passengers have woken up.

My berth back into a seat for the morning ride into Bangkok.

Rangsit Railway Station Low Level

Making a brief stop at Rangsit Railway Station Low Level.

As Rangsit Railway Station has high platforms, the steps by the door do not drop down, but maintain their level position to match up the height between the train and the platform.

The low level platforms at Rangsit Railway Station.

Approaching Don Muang with the airport bridge in sight.

Don Muang Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Don Muang Railway Station. This journey still brought me on the ground level line where the old Don Muang Railway Station was across from Don Muang International Airport Terminal 1 for international flights.

Departing from Don Muang Railway Station.

My Special Express 10 Uttrawithi was running about 43 minutes late at this point. The information screen shows the original timetable of my Special Express 10 Uttrawithi.

Bang Khen Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Bang Khen Railway Station.

Lak Si Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Lak Si Railway Station.

Passing by Chatuchak Railway Station.

Passing by the flying junction before Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal and Bang Sue Junction Railway Station.

Passing under the elevated Southern Line viaducts leading to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.

Approaching the junction from the ground level Southern Line leading to Bang Sue Junction Railway Station.

Bang Sue Junction Railway Station

Arriving in Bang Sue Junction Railway Station.

The new Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal stands just beside Bang Sue Junction Railway Station.

Making a brief stop at Bang Sue Junction Railway Station.

Departing from Bang Sue Junction Railway Station.

Looking up to the stabling Red Line Nong Daeng train from my ANS36CN seat.

The viaducts from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal as turnback sidings extend out back and over the existing railway line. This will form the future main line and Red Lines extending south of Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.

The current end of the viaducts from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal as turnback sidings.

Space is reserved for the line to continue underground.

Sam Sen Railway Station

Making a brief stop at Sam Sen Railway Station.

The information screen now shows the updated predicted timetable of my Special Express 10 Uttrawithi according to the delay time.

Passing by Chitralada Royal Railway Station.

Approaching Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station passing by the back of the State Railway of Thailand Headquarters.

Passing by Hua Lamphong Railcar Depot.

Passing by the monument commemorating the first railway in Thailand between Bangkok and Ayutthaya.

Great Grandpa is on shunting duty.

My Special Express 10 Uttrawithi arrived at Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station at 7.41am – 51 minutes delayed.

Disembarking from the Special Express 10 Uttrawithi.

I disembarked from the next coach just 1 meter away as my door was used for sheets transfer. This is now a historical sight as sheets are now cleared in the depot after alighting passengers at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.

CRRC Qishuyan “Ultraman” locomotive QSY 5205 has also decoupled from the rake of Special Express 10 Uttrawithi.

The builder plate of CRRC Qishuyan “Ultraman” locomotive QSY 5205.

The end of the line at Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station Platform 8.

The station sign of Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station.

A portrait of King Rama V or King Chulalongkorn stands smartly above the main pathway between the station hall and platforms. A fitting end to my Special Express 10 Uttrawithi ride, with the portrait of King Chulalongkorn sending me off in Chiang Mai, and now it’s one of my first sights when arriving in Bangkok.

The main station hall of Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station.

The arrival board at Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station states my train arrival time at 7.40am, despite my Special Express 10 Uttrawithi train actually only making the final stop at 7.41am. Perhaps the station took the time the train entered the platform instead.

Heading out of the platform area.

Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station is directly connected to an MRT Blue Line entrance to Hua Lamphong MRT Station.

The façade of Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station.

Conclusion

While my Special Express 10 Uttrawithi was delayed by 51 minutes, this got me a bit more sleep on board the train instead of arriving in Bangkok on time, which is too early for my liking anyway. The ANS36CN coach was quite comfortable, with clean interiors and a fully flat bed to sleep for the night. No catering was available, but I got my food from 7-Eleven before boarding, and a hot drink from the attendant in the evening.

Chiang Mai to Singapore by Train