Weekend Trains HUA HIN to CHUMPHON

[HuntingTigers]

I've just been looking up train times from Hua Hin to Chumphon, [ http://www.railway.co.th/English/Time_HTML.asp ], and I am not clear as to whether these trains times cover weekend journeys. Specifically, I need to catch the 11.11 from Hua Hin on either Saturday 10th April or Sunday 11th April to Chumphon.

Can any forum member please assist?
Thanking you in anticipation, HT.

[Gus]

Normally, trains are the same time every day of the week. I have been on a train from HH to Chumpon about 11am so probably the same one, it is called a special Sprinter train.
It will consist of 2 air Con carriages, the fares are quite a lot higher than the 1715hrs train, but you do get a drink of water and a snack.

I guess that the train about 1715hrs is too late for you, but that's a proper train, bar and buffet as well.
If you go on the 11 am train you will have to book in advance to be sure of a seat, I think that you can only book 3 days in advance.

[HuntingTigers]

Thanks Gus for your feedback. I remember now, I've been on that sprinter train, on a week day though. Can't say I was over impressed - I much prefer the slower, ramshackle type of train.

I guess that the train about 1715hrs is too late for you, but that's a proper train, bar and buffet as well.

Actually this train sounds a lot better and arriving in Chumphon at 21.00 wouldn't be too much of a problem for me.

[Gus]

The 1300 from Bangkok is usually 20-30 minutes late when it reaches Hua Hin, once on the train go to the restaurant car and have a beer or two, a meal costs 90 baht, no pressure to vacate the seat.
In second class the seats are made up into beds as the train heads south.

Tiger, I like your board name, it reminds me of the original Italian Job film.
The car park attendant said to Michael Caine, "I haven't seen you for a while sir"
MC, " No, I have been away shooting tigers"
The car park attendant then looked at the posh Jaguar and replied,"You must have shot a lot of them"
MC, "Yes, I used a machine gun"

[HuntingTigers]

The 1300 from Bangkok is usually 20-30 minutes late when it reaches Hua Hin, once on the train go to the restaurant car and have a beer or two, a meal costs 90 baht, no pressure to vacate the seat. In second class the seats are made up into beds as the train heads south.

I assume therefore that the train will arrive late, or even later, at Chumphon as well.

Tiger, I like your board name, it reminds me of the original Italian Job film.
The car park attendant said to Michael Caine, "I haven't seen you for a while sir"
MC, " No, I have been away shooting tigers"
The car park attendant then looked at the posh Jaguar and replied,"You must have shot a lot of them"
MC, "Yes, I used a machine gun"

Actually Gus my board name has nothing to do with that film but thanks for reminding me of those lines - it is a very funny film. Think on the lines of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and you'll be able to source my handle HT.

[johnnyk]

The 1300 from Bangkok is usually 20-30 minutes late when it reaches Hua Hin, once on the train go to the restaurant car and have a beer or two, a meal costs 90 baht, no pressure to vacate the seat. In second class the seats are made up into beds as the train heads south.

I assume therefore that the train will arrive late, or even later, at Chumphon as well.

Tiger, I like your board name, it reminds me of the original Italian Job film.
The car park attendant said to Michael Caine, "I haven't seen you for a while sir"
MC, " No, I have been away shooting tigers"
The car park attendant then looked at the posh Jaguar and replied,"You must have shot a lot of them"
MC, "Yes, I used a machine gun"

Actually Gus my board name has nothing to do with that film but thanks for reminding me of those lines - it is a very funny film. Think on the lines of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and you'll be able to source my handle HT.

Viv Stanshall, welcome!

[Gus]

The 1715 train possibly will lose time to Chumpon, but I went on the 1115 am train? once and it went like Usain Bolt, I think it had arrived 45 late in HH and but only about 10 minutes late in Chumpon.

A big problem with the 1300 train from Bangkok, it has about 16 coaches, and passengers waiting at the stations en-route have no idea where to stand on the platform relative to the seat they have reserved.
Passengers tend to wait in the shade in the middle of a station and then have a longish walk to find their coach and seat, usually carrying evrything but the kitchen sink.
No wonder the trains are unable to keep the right time, that is probably why the 2 coach sprinter is better at picking up any lost time.

[crazy88]

You will be lucky to get a seat 5 days either side of songkran.

Crazy 88

[johnnyk]

You will be lucky to get a seat 5 days either side of songkran.

Crazy 88

Jing jing. That's what I found when I went to Malaysia once to avoid songkan. The big blue buses were also booked solid before and after.
I had to ride the milk run buses up from Chumpon.

[HuntingTigers]

You will be lucky to get a seat 5 days either side of songkran.Crazy 88

Yes, that's what concerned me - unfortunately I am unable to depart from the UK until just after Easter, Tuesday 6th April in fact, arriving HH on the 7th.

I'll be stuffed if I can't get transport to Chumphon - I've only booked in for 2 nights into Jings - the earliest I could leave HH for Chumphon is Wednesday. How is sleeping on railway stations across there nowadays? HT.

[johnnyk]

You will be lucky to get a seat 5 days either side of songkran.Crazy 88

Yes, that's what concerned me - unfortunately I am unable to depart from the UK until just after Easter, Tuesday 6th April in fact, arriving HH on the 7th.

I'll be stuffed if I can't get transport to Chumphon - I've only booked in for 2 nights into Jings - the earliest I could leave HH for Chumphon is Wednesday. How is sleeping on railway stations across there nowadays? HT.

You'll be able to get on a bus but maybe not the first one you want and you may have to stand and it may stop frequently in the middle of nowhere but you will get to Chumpon.

[HuntingTigers]

You'll be able to get on a bus but maybe not the first one you want and you may have to stand and it may stop frequently in the middle of nowhere but you will get to Chumpon.

JK, Where do I get the bus from? I know it's the bus station but where is that in HH. According to this link:

http://www.tourismhuahin.com/busses-huahin.php

the buses are every hour from 7.00 am to Chumphon. However, it seems they don't have toilets. What's the Thai for - "I need the toilet" or "where is the toilet?"

Crossing my legs, HT.

[Khundon1975]

HuntingTigers

You have to do as they did in Elizabethan times and hang your ass out of the window.

No one will bat an eyelid.

[johnnyk]

Some have toilets, some don't but the toilets are really putrid so limit your intake. The buses will stop at least once betwen HH and Chumpon for snacks and the driver has to open his valve, too. I'd guess about 3 hours is the longest you'd go without a wee.

[PeteC]

.... The buses will stop at least once between HH and Chumpon for snacks and the driver has to open his valve, too.

I thought they just tie a rope to the steering wheel, put a brick on the gas, walk to the rear of the bus and go. Pete