Good news for tourists planning on taking the train north to Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai, or down south to get to southern Thai cities, Thai islands or on into Malaysia. Also good news for those Thais who want to get back home to family in the north or south, or just away from Bangkok floods.
Train service has now resumed on all northern and some southern lines with tickets available at the Hua Lamphong train station (easily accessible by road as no floods near there, and completely accessible by underground train system). You can also buy tickets at stations along the line.
If you are going south, you may find you have to take a bus from Hua Lamphong first to get to a safe area of train track, but the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) seems to be doing an excellent job of getting people where they need to go.
Overall, the State Railway of Thailand has been one of the best-managed organizations during Thailand’s flood crisis.
Trains have run as long as was safely possible, but were immediately suspended if situation looked grim.
They have also been able to get trains back up and running as soon as humanely possible, and been very good at getting the information out about any problems train travelers might face.
Good job, State Railway of Thailand!