Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (also known as Bang Sue Grand Station) is the new central railway station of Bangkok, replacing the existing Bangkok Station (Hua Lamphong). The station is located next to Bang Sue Junction Station in the north of Bangkok.
[Bang Sue Junction next to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.]
The station began operations in August 2021 with the opening of the SRT Red Lines. The station was officially opened in January 2023, when it was then given its official name of Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal. The station had already branded itself as Bang Sue Grand Station, thus the confusion of having the station with two names.
Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal is the largest railway station in Southeast Asia. There are 24 platforms, plus the 2 platforms of the MRT station.
This is a user guide for Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.
Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal map
[Map of Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.]
Train lines
These are the train lines that are connected to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.
MRT Blue Line
Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal is linked to the Bangkok urban rail transit system by the MRT Blue Line. The MRT station is accessed from the terminal via an underground walkway. To get anywhere else in Bangkok from the Blue Line, refer to the Bangkok mass transit system guide.
SRT Red Lines
There are two commuter lines that start at the terminal: SRT Dark Red Line, and SRT Light Red Line. Entrances to the commuter line platforms are clearly marked. You just have to remember the line destination of the colour red you are using. Dark Red Line goes to Rangsit, Light Red Line goes to Taling Chan.
Commuter Line information is shown on a separate departure board, and not mixed with long-distance trains.
Tickets are sold via a vending machine or the dedicated Commuter Line ticket booth. The ticket system of Bangkok is a mess, as each operator sells tickets separately.
The Rangsit Line has a stop at Don Muang Airport. Here is a guide for getting the train from Bang Sue to Don Muang Airport.
Long-distance trains
Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal is the terminal station for Northern, Northeastern, and Southern rail services. Eastern services and special train services still use Hua Lamphong.
Long-distance trains have a separate section from the commuter railways, and there are signs that clearly mark where to go.
[Departures for Northern, Northeastern, and Southern services.]
Long-distance trains also have their own dedicated departure boards.
There is a dedicated ticket area for long-distance trains.
You are advised to book a ticket in advance, especially for overnight trains. 12go.asia is the site i use to book Thailand train tickets
Each long-distance region has a dedicated waiting area before being let onto the platform. Make sure you are sitting in the right waiting area.
High-Speed Rail and Airport Rail Link
There is a high-speed railway being built from Bangkok to Nong Khai, and maybe one day there will be a high-speed railway to Chiang Mai and Hua Hin. There is no high-speed railway at the moment though, but these signs are in place in preparation.
There are also signs for the Airport Rail Link, which will be the 3 Airport High-Speed Railway service. This has not been built yet either. This is not to be confused with the Commuter Railway that happens to stop at Don Muang Airport. This is not referred to as an airport railway, so just go to the Commuter Line if you are going to Dong Muang.
Services and amenities
Food
There is one food court in the terminal building.
There is not a lot of variety, but the prices are normal (not airport prices).
Yap Cafe sells snacks.
7-Eleven only has a vending machine here.
Cafes
There is a coffee stand in the food court.
There are no cafes where you can sit anywhere in the building
Taobin Coffee has a vending machine here.
Shops
A massage shop was preparing to open when I last visited (March 2023).
Luggage lockers
Luggage lockers are available at the station.
Here is the price list for the lockers.
Money
There is an ATM hiding among the drink vending machines. So far there is no currency exchange service.
Scale model
An interesting thing to see is the scale model of the station building.
There is also a model of the surrounding area, showing little houses and the roads that surround it.
Around the station
Unlike Hua Lamphong, where there are cafes, restaurants, and hotels nearby, there is not much around the station yet. There is a plan to redevelop the area with a new urban area, but that is years away from happening.
There is a cheap restaurant near Bang Sue Junction Station if you arrive early and want somewhere else to eat.
Further reading
Bang Sue Grand Station fact sheet – news and information about the construction of the station, and future plans.
Bang Sue Grand Station construction update – my trip report to the construction site in 2019.
I wonder how many unsuspecting passengers will follow the airport link signs when heading to Don Muang
Numerous per day!
Even when the new line opens it is going to cause confusion for the unwary can not believe no one has realised there are two airports in Bangkok and saying which airport might help
> The MRT station is accessed from the terminal via an underground walkway.
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Are you sure this walkway is open to the public? According to the link to Google Maps you provided “[Map of Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.]” it is a distance of nearly one mile to walk from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station to Bang Sue MRT station.
Yes it’s open, I walked it myself a few times. ONce you tap out of the MRT area, just follow the signs (which still show “Bang Sue Grand Station”)
This is really useful, thank you. 2 questions, we will be collecting tickets from the 12Go Asia office in Chatuchak, how easy is it to get there from where the taxi will drop us off? We will also have luggage, I can’t tell from the pictures but are the lockers big enough for suitcases or will we need to take them with us? Our plan is to collect the tickets then have some early dinner before catching the night train to chiang mai but we don’t really want to have to have our luggage in tow.
Hi Kate, where is the 12Go Asia office in Chatuchak? There is an office opposite Hualamphong Station, but I can’t find a reference to Chatuchak. Did 12Go issue an e-ticket?
For the luggage, the bottom row are suitable for suitcases, but I don’t have the dimensions with me.
Any idea of where might be a good place nearby to stay if catching an early train (don’t need a hotel name necessarily but a neighbourhood). I’m familiar with the area around the old Hua Lamphong station, but not this one.
A friend messaged me to say that he stayed at Best Western Chatuchak. That is next the the MRT, one station away and he said was a good option for the area if you have an early start. That was the best one nearby, not much else in the area until they redevelopment land.
Thanks so much for the advice.