The Rapid 171 arrives at 21.01 hours. For travellers who want to go directly to Koh Tao by nightboat this is the choice.
All other fast trains arrive in the middle of the night. Tour agencies and guest houses are open in order to let the newcomer relax or find some sleep. We recommend though to either stay in Chumphon for a day or two as the surroundings of Chumphon have a lot to offer, or to take the last train, the Express 85 at 19.30 hours. It arrives around 4 o'clock in the night and requires only 3 hours waiting time for the local transport to the pier.
From Bangkok via Surat Thani:
Only the Sprinter 43 arrives on time for the nightboat. All other trains arrive in the middle of the night, and there is no service as in Chumphon to let the newcomer sleep for a while. So the best choices are the Rapid 167 or the Express 85 which arrive around 6 in the morning, just right for the bus transfer to the pier in Don Sak, a ride of more than an hour. The bus fare is included in the price for the ferry.
