Thread: Hualomphong to Hua Hin - fridge on wheels

I decided to re-trace a journey I did 15 years ago by travelling south by train from Hualomphong station. I decided to treat myself and go by diesel rail car (DRC). It was a painful and uncomfortable trip due to the Antarctic conditions as a result of the air-conditioning, and the food and drink supplied was of a poor quality.

I'm not sure why the air-conditioning has to be set at such a low temperature but it was not a pleasant experience. On the return trip, I was a bit better prepared wearing a long-sleeve shirt and hat, but I could still have done with jeans, jacket, and a beanie!

One of the solutions was to stand at the end of the carriage near the connection to the next carriage, as this area was separated from the air-conditioned section by automotic doors, but this involved standing outside the smelly toilets!

A better option would be to use the 3rd class train which has windows that open.

Be warned! You need to be prepared for DRC!!!

Thanks for the info on the train ride. It sounds about as bad as my train ride from Korat to Rangsit on the "open-air" train. All the windows were open, and the seats were hard as rock...very uncomfortable ride all the way. Good price of 97 baht.

Thank goodness my wife and I now have a car.

Not sure why they do this. I went through Chiang Rai airport about 3 years ago and we froze whilst waiting for a plane

I've just tried going through the process of complaining to State Railways of Thailand about the Hua Hin fridge on wheels but, as usual, the complaints procedure in Thailand was blocked with obstacles.

The organisation's website is in Thai (to be expected) with a Union Jack at the top to (I assume) give some info in English. Clicking on this symbol results in other pages, all in Thai. That's how the Thai government authorities avoid complaints, I suppose.

I'll try again on Monday with a Thai person acting on my behalf.

Originally Posted by bobforest

I'll try again on Monday with a Thai person acting on my behalf.

*cringe*

Don't bother mate.

It is bloody cold especially overnight,we took the overnight ghost train once.
Everyone was underneath the blankets supplied all night trying to stay warm.
A very odd sight.

I frequently ride the Hard Bench 2nd class carriages on S/E Asian Trains in Thailand & Vietnam if travelling in the daytime, during Oct-Mar. They have a lot of space and they are seldom crowded. I just by a decent seat pillow @ a local market. A friend regularly commutes on the OVN 2nd class train from Udon Thani to BKK, 4X per year. He says it is quite comfy. He even takes it during the hot season ... tho he travels at nite in a 2nd class sleeper.

Only 1 time this trip was acceptable, I was high and drunk all the way.

Trains really suxx here, really a third word !

Most fun train ride is the daily 14.40 train from Pattaya to Bangkok

Took an overnight train to Nong Khai once, couldn't sleep and most of the Thai & farang visa run males were up drinking while their wives/kids slept in the bunk above