travel to thailand from malaysia by train

Malaysia Trains

Train services in malaysia, trains from kuala lumpur to bangkok.

There are two stages to the journey by train from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok. The first stage of the journey is to travel by Malaysian train services to the border with Thailand. The second stage of the journey is by Thailand train services from the border to Bangkok. If the trains run according to schedule you can complete the journey by train from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok in 23 hours 30 hours.

Train Times from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok

• Stage 1 of the journey by train to Bangkok is from Kuala Lumpur to Padang Besar on the border with Thailand. There are currently 5 trains to choose from.
• For stage 2 of the journey there is only a single direct train per day from Padang Besar train station to Bangkok. If you miss this connection then your alternative is to take a taxi across the road border into Thailand and then take one of the frequent shuttle trains from the Padang Besar train station to Hat Yai. There are several trains from Hat Yai to Bangkok every day. NB: Malaysia time is one ahead of Thai time so Train 9204 which arrives in Padang Besar at 17:03 Malaysia time is actually scheduled to arrive 57 minutes before the departure of Train #46 at 17:00 Thai time.

Buy Tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok

Use the Search Box below to buy your train tickets for first part of the journey from Kuala Lumpur to Padang Besar.

Click on the link to buy tickets on Train #46 from Padang Besar to Bangkok .

Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station

The journey by train to Hua Lamphong starts from Kuala Lumpur’s KL Sentral Station .

Bangkok Railway Station

The local name for Bangkok’s main railway station is Hua Lamphong.

Travel from Bangkok Railway Station

Bangkok Railway Station is located in the China Town area of Bangkok the West of the modern city centre near to the river and Bangkok’s most famous palaces and temples.

Aside from taxis and tuk-tuks, which are not always the best options for longer journeys on Bangkok’s famously congested road network, there are two great public transport options for onward travel from the train station to other parts of Bangkok:

• Metro:  There is metro station at Hua Lamphong train station. The Bangkok metro travels through the city up to Bang Sue train station with stops at popular areas in Bangkok such as the Silom Road and the Sukhumvit Road. The metro also connects with the BTS, which is Bangkok urban elevated light railway (the ‘skytrain’) and also the Airport Link to Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
• River boats:   The nearest Chao Phraya Express Boat Pier is Pier Number 4 (The Marine Department Pier) which is 1.3 km walking distance from Bangkok Hua Lamphong train station. The Chao Express Boat service is a useful option is you are headed toward one of the riverside location which is not currently connected to the BTS or metro systems. You can travel to the Khao San Road area using the Chao Phraya Express Boat. The stop for the Khao San Road is Pier Number 13 (Phra Arthit).

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Malaysians Can Finally Travel To Thailand By Train Again Beginning 15 July

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Passengers can board Thailand’s SRT from Padang Besar to Hat Yai for only RM7.

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Malaysians! It’s time to pack our bags and travel to Thailand again. This time, via shuttle trains!

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Hat Yai-Padang Besar Shuttle Train will finally open its doors back to the public this 15 July.

The train service ceased its operation temporarily during the Movement Control Order set by the Malaysian Government back on 18 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After two years of hiatus, it’s back again!

Here’s the schedule

For your information, the train is operated by Thailand’s SRT, not Malaysian’s ETS.

So this Thailand train will take you from Padang Besar station in Perlis, Malaysia to its Hat Yai station in Thailand and the journey takes around an hour.

From Malaysia to Thailand, they only have two trips, one around 9 am (train number 948) and another one around 3 pm (train number 950).

Thanks to KTMB, they’re prepared a schedule for those who wanna take the train both from Malaysia and Thailand.

Here’s the schedule of the train going Northbound from Padang Besar to Hat Yai.

Here’s the schedule of the train going Southbound from Hat Yai to Padang Besar.

So for those Malaysians who wanna take a trip to Thailand any time soon, plan your journey wisely!

You can take an ETS or KTM Komuter from wherever you are in Malaysia to the final station in Perlis, which is Padang Besar.

To browse for the ETS and KTM Komuter tickets, click here . If you just wanna check the timetable, click here (be clear that ETS trains are from north to south while KTM Komuter trains have three types).

The ticket is cheap!

From Padang Besar to Hat Yai and vice versa, the tickets only cost 50 Baht (around RM7).

However, you can’t expect this train to be a premium class one. It’s an oldie train with limited seats and just fans to cool down its passengers.

To browse for the tickets to go to Hat Yai, visit the SRT’s website here .

For your information , as there’s no direct train from Malaysia to Thailand, you have to alight at the station from Padang Besar. Then proceed to the Thai immigration checkpoint for verification. After that, you can continue to board the Thailand shuttle train or even get other travel options there such as a bus, minivan, or taxi.

Happy travelling!

Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s  Facebook ,  Twitter , and  Instagram .

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Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok by train

Travel from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) to Bangkok (Thailand) by train (1187km): schedule and information to the train connection. Compare fares and buy your ticket.

Kuala Lumpur - Bangkok @ 2024-05-17

To travel by train from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to Bangkok in Thailand, please read the following information.

Your travel route could be like that.

1 Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) - Padang Besar (Malaysia) - Bangkok (Thailand)

The following links could be interesting for you.

train connections : popular connections travelled by other users

The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.

1a Travelling from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) to Padang Besar (Malaysia)

To travel in Malaysia by train, please buy your train tickets via the following booking links or at a railway station. Beside the main lines served by trains there are frequent bus connections to every part in Malaysia. Find schedules and ticket prices via the given links.

Where to buy a ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Padang Besar?

Our recommendation! Buy your train ticket or bus ticket at 12go. Compare ticket prices from different companies on this travel connection.

Buy the train ticket at a railway station. Note: in some countries you have to pay a service fee at the ticket counter. The ticket can be purchased at a station in the country of departure, also sometimes in other countries.

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Padang Besar - Kuala Lumpur / Kuala Lumpur - Butterworth, Penang / Kuala Lumpur - Johor Bahru

1b Travelling from Padang Besar (Malaysia) to Bangkok (Thailand)

Travel from Malaysia to Thailand by train. The main travel route goes from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) via Padang Besar (Malaysia) to Bangkok (Thailand). First travel by Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) to Padang Besar. The journey time is 6 hours and train tickets are available from 17 EUR. Padang Besar is the border station between Malaysia and Thailand. In Padang Besar you change to the overnight train to Bangkok (Thailand). The journey time is 17 hours and train tickets are available from 900 THB (25 EUR). Find the exact train schedules and buy your tickets via the given booking-links. You have to buy two tickets in total.

Where to buy a ticket from Padang Besar to Bangkok?

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Bangkok - Padang Besar / Padang Besar - Hat Yai / Kuala Lumpur - Bangkok / Butterworth, Penang - Hat Yai / Kuala Lumpur - Chiang Mai / Kuala Lumpur - Chiang Rai City / Kuala Lumpur - Nakhon Sawan / Kuala Lumpur - Pattaya / Kuala Lumpur - Phuket / Kuala Lumpur - Trang / Kuala Lumpur - Rayong

Need a cheap place to sleep? We recommend booking.com

Find a cheap flight compare prices on kiwi.com.

Do you have questions about the connection between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok? Does something not work as it should? Just ask in our forum and get competent answers from our rail travel experts.

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How to Travel from Malaysia to Thailand by Train

• South East Asia
• Last Updated 16 March 2024

Some posts on this site contain affiliate links. If you book or buy something through these links, I earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Take a look at my privacy policy for more information.

Not too long ago, I travelled from Malaysia to Thailand by train, as part of my epic journey overland from Singapore to Vietnam . It was an incredible experience – and one that can easily be repeated. So if you’re travelling through SE Asia overland, this is the post for you! 

I took the Penang to Bangkok train, travelling overnight. Waking up on board a moving train in time to watch the sunrise flickering through the palm trees, its light shimmering across on glassy lakes dotted with snowy white egrets and colourful water lilies… the experience is one I won’t forget in a hurry!

That’s not to say it wasn’t without its difficulties. Taking a sleeper train in Thailand is certainly not the most comfortable affair. And organising it was a little challenging. To help, I’ve put together this post containing everything you need to know about taking the train from Malaysia to Thailand. If you have any questions that I don’t cover in this blog post, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll try to help out! 

1. Malaysia to Bangkok by Train: The Route          1.1 Penang to Padang Pesar          1.2 Penang to Bangkok Train Border Crossing          1.3 Padang Besar to Bangkok Sleeper Train 2. How to Book 3. What is the Malaysia to Thailand Train Like? 4. Sleeper Train Thailand – Tips and Advice 5. Things to Pack 6. Do You Need a Visa

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. I’ll make a small commission if you book anything through one of my trusted partners, without affecting the price you pay at all. 

Malaysia to Thailand by Train: The Route

Travelling from Malaysia to Thailand by train is fairly straightforward. But it’s unlikely you’ll be starting from anywhere near the border, so you’ll have to get there first.

If you want to head from Kuala Lumpur or Penang to Bangkok by train, you actually need to take two trains. First, a train to the border, and then the overnight sleeper train across Thailand to Bangkok. 

Step One – Head to Butterworth Station in Penang. If you’re coming from Penang Island, you can take the ferry from Georgetown to Butterworth. From the ferry terminal, there’s a free shuttle bus which will take you directly to Butterworth Station (about a five minute drive away). 

Step Two – Take the Train from Butterworth Station to Padang Besar. This is right on the border with Thailand and about 2 hours from Butterworth. 

If you’re starting from Kuala Lumpur and skipping Penang (which I do not recommend, as the island is lovely), then you simply hop on a direct train from KL Sentral to Padang Besar. It takes 5.5 – 6 hours.

Step Three – Cross the border within Padang Besar station. 

Step Four – Take the sleeper train from Padang Besar to Bangkok. It takes 17 hours and arrives into Hua Lamphong station in central Bangkok at 10am. 

Back to Top

1.1 Penang to Padang Besar

If you’re starting out from Georgetown on Penang Island, like me, then you’ll need to take the ferry back across to Butterworth and take the free shuttle bus back to the station. 

Aim to take the 2:25pm train from Butterworth to Padang Besar, which is about two hours north on the border with Thailand. That should get you to the border station with plenty of time to spare for customs etc before the evening overnight train. 

Of course, train times in Malaysia might vary – and you can’t book the Butterworth to Padang Besar train in advance. So be sure to take note of the schedule when you arrive in Butterworth, BEFORE heading off to the island. 

The train from Butterworth to Padang Besar takes around two hours and is a commuter train, so it looks more like a metro. Be warned: there are no toilets on board! 

1.1 Alternative – Kuala Lumpur to Padang Besar

If you’re skipping Penang (don’t – it’s lovely!) you can go straight to the border from Kuala Lumpur.

Head to KL Sentral Station and board the direct train to Padang Besar. There’s one that leaves at 10:01 and arrives at 15:55, which should be plenty of time to catch the sleeper train, assuming there are no delays. 

RELATED POST: Best Hostels in Kuala Lumpur (as recommended by genuine travellers).

1.2 Border Crossing

There’s not really a physical border in Padang Besar station so it’s easy to slip up here. But if you enter Thailand without your passport stamp and visa, it will cause problems when you try to leave. You could even get a hefty fine. So be sure to pass through customs correctly. 

You have to go through the Malaysia exit customs first, which are towards the southern end of the platform. They are signposted, but it’s not super clear – ask someone if you get lost. Pass through and get your exit stamp, then walk up the platform and join the queue for the Thai immigration to get your entry stamp. Then it’s just a case of waiting for the sleeper train to Bangkok to arrive!

If you slip up, don’t worry. I’d heard that the border staff were all super strict, and would close down bang on 4:30pm regardless if there was still a queue or not. In my experience, this was not true. They stayed open until all passengers were through immigration.

I accidentally went to the Thai entry immigration queue first, and when they realised my mistake they were very nice about it. Although the official who stamped me in also felt the need to staple my immigration form into my passport, as he clearly didn’t trust me! 

1.3 Padang Besar to Bangkok Sleeper Train

There’s a daily overnight train from Malaysia to Thailand, which departs Pedang Besar at 5pm local time. Your tickets will say 6pm, but that’s Thai time. If you’re in Malaysia you need to arrive at Padang Besar station in time for a 5pm departure. Super confusing! 

The Padang Besar to Bangkok train takes 17 hours, and arrives into Hua Lamphong station in the centre of Bangkok at around 10am. 

2. How to Book

It’s a good idea to book the trains in South East Asia as far in advance as you can. Popular routes and times can get booked up pretty far in advance. In fact, one week before my trip, some of the journeys I was trying to book were already sold out. Then again, if you can be flexible on dates and timings, you’ll probably be OK booking a few days before. 

The easiest way to book your the Penang to Bangkok train is online. I used the following two websites to book all my journeys and found them to be incredibly reliable, and easy to use:

Baolau – easy to use, and often the slightly cheaper option.

12-Go Asia – usually more options in the results – but the prices were sometimes a fraction higher.

Butterworth to Padang Besar  – you can’t book this train online or in advance, so arrive with plenty of time to buy a ticket at Butterworth Station.

KL to Padang Besar – search prices on  Baolau and  12Go Asia . I’ve already put in the search details for you (I’m so thoughtful like that) so just click, compare, and go! 

Overnight Train to Bangkok  – search prices on  Baolau  and  12Go Asia . Book this train as early as you can as it is often full.

3. What is the Malaysia to Thailand Train Like?

The sleeper train in Thailand was a pretty old, clanky affair. A hulking diesel train that juddered and vibrated constantly. It felt like the stuff of proper adventures! The interior was basic, but perfectly comfortable. 

During the day, the train has seats arranged in groups of four on either side of the aisle. The seats themselves are straight-backed benches with leather padding, so they’re quite roomy and you can have your stuff on the seat next to you. Each seat faces another one, and the two across the aisle face each other as well, creating a group of four. Seats are preassigned so you have to find the right number in your carriage, but it’s easy enough. 

There’s room to store luggage under the seats, although some people with really big cases couldn’t fit theirs and had to leave them in the aisle. 

There are a couple of plug sockets in each carriage, so if you need to charge a phone you could do so. These were all full for most of the journey though.

There was A/C as well as a couple of fans. The temperature on board was a bit chilly but not freezing – come prepared with layers just in case. 

At night, the train staff will convert the seats into bunk beds, with curtains for privacy. Unlike the overnight trains I’ve taken in some other countries, the beds on the sleeper train in Thailand lie along the train instead of across it. Sleeping in the direction of travel felt more comfortable and seemed to rock less. 

The lights don’t switch off at night, and the curtains don’t block out much light. So bring an eye mask1 You get given clean bedding that comes in sealed plastic bags, but I popped my scarf over the pillow anyway, just to be sure. 

Upper bunks are slightly skinnier and you can’t sit up in them. But I didn’t mind my upper berth too much – and it was nice to feel like I was up above the foot traffic going up and down the aisle. The uppers also have no window, which might be better for sleeping. Although it’s a shame to miss the sunrise.

A trolley service sold food on board – 160 bhat for a set meal. If you buy one they pop up a little wooden table between the seats so you can dine! 

Hawkers get on at the stations with food too including chicken and rice, and bags of fruit. 

So what are the toilets like on a sleeper train in Thailand? An important question, since in the 17 hours that you’ll be on board you’re probably going to have to use them at least once! 

I’m happy to report that the loo situation on board the Malaysia to Thailand train was pretty OK. Not the most luxurious bathroom experience I’ve had in my life, but far from being the worst! The cubicle was small and kind of smelly, but it was OK as long as you tried not to touch anything. 

It was a standard Western toilet (not a squat). There was toilet roll which – surprisingly – lasted the whole journey. Of course, being SE Asia there was also a standard “bum gun” spray as well!! I ALWAYS recommend carrying tissue, wet wipes, and antibacterial hand gel  for any overland journey in SE Asia – it pays to be prepared. 

The sinks were separate, which meant you could also use them to brush your teeth etc without having to go inside the cubicle. Train staff kept the bathrooms reasonably clean, but not amazingly so – I wouldn’t recommend sitting on the seat if you can avoid it! 

4. Sleeper Train Thailand – Tips and Advice

Try to pick up some Thai Bhat cash before crossing the border, because the trolley service on board only took Thai money when I asked. If you don’t have any Thai cash, eat something filling at the station while you’re waiting for the overnight train, and stock up on snacks. Luckily there are several shops and food stalls upstairs in Padang Besar station. 

Book early if you want to secure a bottom bunk! Upper berths on the Thailand sleeper train were a bit narrower than the lower ones, and you can’t sit up in them properly. However, they felt a bit more private. 

FYI – if you’re sitting on the right-hand side of the train, you’ll be able to see the sunrise in the morning. 

Travel Light

As I mentioned above, the luggage space is limited. The smaller your case, the better. I had my 60L Osprey backpack and it was fine, but people with massive suitcases had to leave them in the aisle. 

Keep Your Valuables on You

It probably goes without saying, but try to keep your valuables out of sight, and definitely keep them on you at all times. If you’re travelling solo, keep things in your daypack so you can easily take them to the loo with you. And if you charge your phone using one of the plug sockets, make sure it’s somewhere you can see it! 

RELATED POST: Tips for Keeping Your Valuables Safe While Travelling

5. Things to Pack

Eye Mask – the lights don’t turn off so you’ll need one to sleep!

Pillowcase or scarf to cover your pillow – the pillows were sealed in plastic, but I’m still wary of anything I didn’t wash myself. 

Earplugs – you can pick up a pack of 10 earplugs from around £3 on Amazon. 

Lots of tissue – or just a whole toilet roll. Just in case!

Anti-bacterial hand gel – always use it, even after washing your hands, and especially before eating! 

Bottled water – or use a filter bottle and you can fill up from the bathroom tap without worrying! I LOVE my Water-to-Go bottle ( read the review here  and use my discount code, EMLUX15, for 15% off).

Multi-socket plug adapter – there aren’t too many plug sockets on board, so a multi-socket plug adapter  is handy if you need to charge a few things at once. Or if you want to share with fellow passengers and make friends! 

Jumper / clothing layers – it can be a little chilly on board so bring a few layers. 

6. Do You Need a Visa to Travel from Penang to Bangkok by Train?

British citizens can enter Thailand for up to 30 days without a visa. This also applies to citizens of 50 other countries; check the full list here . 

When you’re in Thailand it’s possible to extend the stay by a further 30 days at a Thai Immigration Office. If you want to stay longer you’ll need to apply in advance, so check the Government’s website for the most up to date info. 

There are reports of border officials asking to see proof of onward travel – ie your ticket for travel out of Thailand. If you plan on doing this overland, you can explain this and it should be fine. I didn’t encounter any issues – but if you’re worried you could always prebook a cheap bus ticket and print it out to show as proof of onward travel. 

Further Reading

My Guide to Travelling from Singapore to Vietnam by Train

Best Hostels in Bangkok (As Recommended by Genuine Travellers)

And watch the video of my full journey , including footage from the Thailand sleeper train, so you can check out exactly what it’s like!

Everything you Need to Know About Visiting Nan Province Thailand

Things to do in Nan Province Thailand

Pin This Post!

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4 thoughts on “How to Travel from Malaysia to Thailand by Train”

im so glad that im bump into your website. i got a queation regarding immigration for both side malaysia and thailand,

1) what time the immigration open for clearance as i heard and research about it is stated 3pm(mys time) and close 4.30pm as u stated in your post but i can’t confirm it regarding opening.

2) secondly and hopefully my last question after i cleared from thai immigration im i allowed to roam around the checkpoint like heading towards the food stall in malaysia side while waiting for the train to arrived?

i will be traveling in December from singapore and hope your reply me back, and your help is very much appreciated

hi Ahmad! Hope I can help…

1) When I arrived, the immigration was already open. It stayed open past 4:30pm, until every passenger was through. I think it closed around 5pm in the end. I can’t say for certain when it opens, but I think they do it to coincide with the trains arriving. I believe they also open immigration in the morning when the overnight train from Bangkok arrives. Sorry I can’t be more helpful than that. What time were you planning to reach the train station?

2) I didn’t leave the train station, so can’t say for sure, but I think once you are through Thai immigration you can’t leave the station. However, from what I can tell there is nothing at Padang Besar other than the train station. I spoke to a guy who had arrived from Bangkok that morning to do a “visa run”. He cleared Thai customs, entered Malaysia through their customs, took a taxi to a restaurant in the village nearby, then came back to the station. Then he exited Malaysia and entered Thailand through customs again, ready to take the evening train back to Bangkok. He told me there was nothing to see in the town.

It’s not like a normal border checkpoint as everything is inside the train station, and there is no Thai or Malaysia side – it’s all just one train station. There are food stalls etc inside the station. Most people clear customs, then wait in the waiting area until the train.

Hope that helps!

thank you so much for your reply, very much appreciated.

im planning to booked a train ticket from KL sentral to padang besar at 8.30am will be reaching 14.20pm or 9.55am will be reaching at 15.28pm. so will see how it goes

cause i be from Singapore tooked a bus the day before 23.30pm will reach to KL sentral not sure what time. i hoping for a smooth traffic in dec so i catch a 7.11am train timing nut if not the 2 timing stated earlier will be a better.

the timing will be in mys timing.

once again thanks for the reply and keep up with your backpacking travel.

I think arriving at 15.28pm would still be absolutely fine – but just doesn’t give you much time in case of delays. But hopefully everything will run smoothly :) Good luck with your journey – and enjoy!

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Traveling from Malaysia to Thailand by Train: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you looking for an easy and convenient way to travel from Malaysia to Thailand? Taking a train is one of the best options for those who want to explore the beauty of both countries without the hassle of flying.

If you are planning to travel from Malaysia to Thailand, the first step is to decide which type of train you would like to take. There are several different train types available, each offering different levels of comfort and convenience. Depending on your budget and preferences, you can choose from luxury trains, express trains, and regular trains. The luxury trains offer the most comfort and convenience but may be more costly than other options.

Once you have chosen the type of train you would like to take, you will need to decide on the route. There are three main train routes between Malaysia and Thailand. The most popular route is the Southern line, which runs from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok. This route takes around 24 hours and is the most direct route. The other two routes are the Eastern line, which runs from Penang to Bangkok, and the Western line, which runs from Alor Setar to Bangkok. Both of these routes take a little longer than the Southern line and may require a few stops along the way.

Once you have chosen your route, you will need to book your ticket. Tickets can be purchased online or at the train station. It is recommended to book in advance as tickets can sell out during peak times. When booking your ticket, make sure to check the departure times and arrival times as well as any other information you may need.

When you arrive at the train station, make sure to check your ticket and the time of your train. It is important to arrive at least an hour before the train is due to depart. This will give you enough time to get a seat and settle in before the train departs.

Once you are on board, you can sit back and enjoy the journey. The journey from Malaysia to Thailand is a great way to explore the two countries and experience their cultures. The journey will take you through lush green countryside, stunning mountains, and bustling cities. You will also get the chance to sample some delicious local cuisine along the way.

When you arrive in Thailand, you will be ready to explore the country. No matter what type of traveler you are, you are sure to find something to suit your needs. From ancient temples to beautiful beaches, Thailand has something for everyone.

Traveling from Malaysia to Thailand by train is an easy and convenient way to explore both countries. With a bit of planning and research, you can make your journey a smooth and enjoyable one.

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• Surat Thani (Koh Samui)

Train from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok

There is currently no direct train from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok, so you will have to make a stop or two along the way.

There are a number of ways you can make the trip from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok by train, all of which will require changing trains and spending a few hours in transit or spending the night if you prefer.

Most people will make many stops when making this journey and you will find all the best places to stop below, with a few suggestions on places to visit along the way.

If you want to travel in the other direction from Bangkok to KL click here >

For information on travelling by bus from Kl to Bangkok click here >

Train from KL to Bangkok via Padang Besar

(Keretapi dari KL ke Bangkok melalui Padang Besar)

Now that the International Express that used to operate from Butterworth is terminating / originating from the border station of Padang Besar, this is the most direct way to get to Bangkok by train.

• Take an ETS train from KL Sentral to Padang Besar >
• Take the International Express from Padang Besar to Bangkok >

Train from KL to Bangkok via Hat Yai

(Keretapi dari KL ke Bangkok melalui Hat Yai)

Another slightly cheaper way is to take the ETS train to Padang Besar, then take a Shuttle Train from Padang Besar to Hat Yai in Southern Thailand.

Once at Hat Yai Junction station, there is a choice of trains to Bangkok (most are cheaper than the International Express Train).

You may have to spend a few hours in Hat Yai and there is a left luggage facility at Hat Yai station, so you can leave your bags and have a wander around the city.

• Take the ETS train from KL Sentral to Padang Besar >
• Take a Shuttle train to Hat Yai >
• Take one of the night trains from Hat Yai to Bangkok >

Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok via Butterworth Penang

From KL Sentral railway station there are a number of ETS Trains a day to Butterworth Railway Station , which is right next to the ferry terminal to Penang island.

• For times and fares for the trains from KL to Butterworth click here >
• For times and fares for the overnight train from Butterworth to Bangkok click here >

Please Note: The International Express is no longer departing from Butterworth and now departs from Padang Besar station on the Thai border..

You will now have to take a KTM Komuter service to Padang Besar from Butterworth to connect to this service.

KL to Bangkok via the Jungle Railway Line

A much longer way to get to Bangkok from KL is to take an overnight train to the north-east of Malaysia, then a bus to the border.

Just after crossing the border the Thai Railways line begins at Sungai Kolok.

Due to the troubles in the very South-East of Thailand, we would currently not recommend travelling this way.

See the Jungle Railway Timetable here >

For trains from Sungai Kolok to Bangkok click here >

For information about the train station in Bangkok click on the picture link below:

For how to get from Bangkok station to popular destination in the city click here >

Please note: from January 2023 there is a new main train station in Bangkok where all long-distance trains from the south will terminate (apart from Ordinary/Commuter trains which will still use Hua Lamphong station).

For more information on the new trains station in Bangkok (Bang Sue Grand) click here >

• Book Train Tickets >
• ETS Trains >
• ETS Schedule >

Booking Tickets

Booking your train tickets in Malaysia is easy as you can either book them directly from any Malaysian railway station or online from the KTMB website or online ticketing agents .

Booking train tickets in Thailand is now available online.

If you want to book your tickets from Padang Besar or Hat Yai to Bangkok you can do that here >

Places to Stop on the Train from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok

If you have plenty of time there are many places of interest along the KL to Bangkok train route.

The most popular first stop is the interesting city of Ipoh with its old colonial buildings and bus connections to the Cameron Highlands.

Next on the list is the island of Penang which can be reached by a short 15 minute ferry ride from Butterworth railway station . Penang has plenty of places of interest including the World Heritage area of Georgetown, beaches at Batu Ferringhi and jungle walks in the Penang National Park or around Penang Hill.

From Penang you can continue your rail journey up to Thailand or catch a ferry north to the Island of Langkawi to enjoy some of the best beaches on Malaysia's west coast and some duty free beer!

From Langkawi you can rejoin the railway line at either Alor Setar or Arau to catch the train to Thailand, or continue by boat and do a bit of island hopping along the islands of the West coast of Thailand.

Once you arrive in Thailand the first big city you come to is Hat Yai.

Here you can transfer to buses or minibuses to most popular tourist destinations such as Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Koh Lanta and Koh Phi Phi or continue on the train up to Surat Thani where buses will take you off to the ferry terminals for boats to Koh Samui and Koh Phangan or catch a bus from the station to Phuket and Krabi.

Once you get past Surat Thani the railway line takes you along the east coast of Thailand to some lesser known beach resorts around Lang Suan and Chumphon.

If you have been out to the Gulf of Thailand's island you can continue your rail journey from Chumphon by catching a ferry from Koh Tao to here.

North of Chumphon there are plenty of more smaller beach resorts to stop at like Bang Saphan, Ban Krut, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Pranburi.

Next comes the largest resort on the east coast south of Bangkok, Hua Hin and its much smaller and laid back neighbour, Cha Am.

North of Cha Am, the last beach resorts before getting into Bangkok are Puk Tian and Haad Chao Samran, both of which can be reached from the interesting town of Phetchaburi which is worth a short stop to visit its Royal Palaces and old Temples.

Related Pages:

• Malaysian Railways Timetable Northbound
• Thai Railways Timetable Northbound

Related Links:

• George Town Penang Hotels
• Hat Yai Hotels
• Compare room prices for all accommodation in Thailand or Malaysia

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Travel to Thailand from Malaysia

The world has adapted to Covid conditions, and people are once again seeking freedom. Malaysia is a beautiful country, but after two years of pandemic, people are a little stir crazy and want to explore again. World travel is adjusting to allow people freedom again.

Thailand has removed its travel restrictions and it is easy for Malaysian travelers to visit. Malaysians are lucky because Kuala Lumpur International Airport is a major transit hub for flights to Thailand. A Malaysian citizen can hop on almost any flight and be in Thailand in just a few hours. It is easy for Malaysians to visit the Land of Smiles for a week or even a weekend.

Are you in Malaysia right now, and looking forward to traveling to Thailand? You will be happy to know that from July 1, 2022, Thailand has removed all of its travel restrictions.

These are the changes that Malaysians need to be aware of when planning their get-away:

• Foreigners do not need to show proof of Covid Insurance.
• All mandatory hotel quarantine has been removed.
• Thailand Pass is no longer required for Malaysian citizens travelers entering Thailand.
• Vaccinated travelers do not need to provide proof of vaccination before arriving.
• Unvaccinated travelers (including children traveling with unvaccinated parents) need to complete an RT-PCR or Professional Antigen Test (Pro-ATK) test 72 hours before departing for Thailand. Proof does not need to be uploaded before traveling.
• Airlines and Thai Immigration will do random checks to confirm travelers meet Covid prevention requirements (vaccination certificate or Covid test).
• Wearing masks is no longer compulsory.
• The TM6 arrival card has been temporarily removed when entering Thailand.

With travel almost back to pre-Covid conditions, now is the perfect time to plan a holiday, an affordable holiday to a favorite destination.

Documents for Travel to Thailand in July 2022

• Visa (if required)
• Travel Insurance
• Flight Itinerary
• Hotel booking
• Vaccination record (if vaccinated)
• COVID-19 test result (if unvaccinated)

Correct documents will speed up the entry screening to Thailand.

Easy Steps for Entering Thailand from Malaysia in 2022

Apply for a thai visa, malaysia – a visa exempt country.

Thailand will always welcome its neighbors from the south. Malaysian travelers can visit Thailand without a visa through the Visa Exemption Program . They can stay for a maximum of 30 days as a tourist and can extend their permit to stay for a further 30 days at any local immigration office. This allows Malaysians to enjoy Thailand for up to 60 days.

If you want to stay in Thailand longer than the Visa Exemption allows, or are traveling for a purpose other than tourism, Siam Legal International law firm offers various Thailand Visa services  for travelers from Malaysia. You may check our services through our website at: https://www.siam-legal.com/legal_services/thailand-visa-services.php

Long Term Visas for Malaysians

Tourist visa and special tourist visa (stv).

Malaysian citizens can apply for a Tourist Visa from the Thai embassy or consulate. There is the normal 60-day tourist visa that can be extended for additional 30 days, and the 90-day Special Tourist Visa (STV), which allows two 90-day visa extensions at the local immigration office. There are certain requirements needed for the STV, but it allows a visitor to stay in Thailand for up to 9 months. The STV will be available until September 2022.

Thai Elite Visa

If you wish to make Thailand easily accessible for many years to come or are perhaps thinking of relocating permanently, it is worth having a look at the Thailand Elite Visa .

The Thai Elite Visa allows Malaysian citizens to live in Thailand for 5, 10, or even 20 years. Thai Elite members do not need to worry about some of the eligibility criteria needed when applying for other long-term visas.

The Thai Elite visa is exclusive and offers a host of benefits to holders. If you want to enjoy “Thai life” for the long term, you can read more about the Thailand Elite Visa .

Non-Immigrant Visa

Foreigners may also apply for a wide range of non-immigrant visas:

• Non-immigrant B Visa – for conducting business or employment
• Non-immigrant O visa – for visiting Thai spouse and family
• Non-immigrant ED visa – for students of recognized institutions in Thailand and their Parents or Legal guardian
• Non-immigrant O retirement visa – for those who wish to retire in Thailand
• Non-immigrant OA and OX visa – for those who wish to obtain a Thailand retirement visa for a long stay (it differs from type O visa)

The above visas can be organized with a local Thai Embassy or Consulate in Malaysia. The paperwork can be quite involved, but there are companies that can help.

Siam Legal International is a reputable company in Thailand that has offered visa assistance to Indians for years. They are well versed in Thai immigration policies and processes. If you would like to streamline your long-term stay in Thailand, it is worth contacting them.

For visa applications, Malaysians can print a visa application form and make an online appointment before visiting a Thai Embassy or Consulates near their location.

• Royal Thai Embassy, Kuala Lumpur located at 206, Jalan Ampang, Kampung Datuk Keramat, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Consulate General of Thailand in Penang at 1, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Taman Barat, 10350 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
• Consulate General of Thailand in Kota Bharu located at 4426, Jin Tok Guru, Taman Ng Beng Kool, 15400 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia

For inquiries about the visa application process, visit their website for more information or you can reach out to them through [email protected] .

Vaccination status and entering Thailand

From July 1st, 2022, a Thailand Pass application is no longer required. Citizens from Malaysia will be able to enter the country one of two ways.

• Vaccinated Travelers – Vaccinated Malaysian travelers do not need to complete any Covid tests before leaving Malaysia. They will need to have a copy of their vaccination certificate with them. Children under 18 who are traveling with vaccinated parents do not need to complete any RT-PCR or Pro-ATK test before departing.
• Unvaccinated Travelers – Before coming to Thailand, unvaccinated travelers will need to complete an RT-PCR or Professional Antigen (Pro-ATK) test through a clinic or medical professional. The test result must be issued within 72 hours before departing Singapore.

An ATK (RAT) home test is not acceptable. Children under 18 who are traveling with unvaccinated parents also need to complete a test.

Airlines and Immigration will conduct random checks of passengers to confirm Covid requirements are met. It is best to have your Vaccination or Covid test Certificate available to show.

Book your Flight to Thailand

Flying to Thailand from Malaysia is one of the quickest and easiest flights around. Because KL Airport is a major international transit hub, Malaysians can book a flight on almost any carrier and arrive in Thailand within a few hours. Some common carriers are:

• Thai Airways
• Singapore Airlines

You can land at any international airport in Thailand and transit to other areas right away. There are no longer any “sealed” flights, though domestic flights may ask to see a vaccination certificate or test result before boarding. If you are traveling domestically, ATK self-tests are available at airports, pharmacies, and convenience stores.

Most international airlines follow the rules of the arrival country. It is best to check with the airline if you need to complete any tests before boarding.

Book a Hotel

Vaccinated travelers or unvaccinated travelers who complete a 72-hour pre-departure RT-PCR/Pro-ATK test are welcome to book any accommodation. There are no quarantine requirements. SHA+ quarantine packages have been removed from most booking sites.

If you see a “Quarantine Package” listed, you do not need to choose it.

To find and compare the best hotels available in Thailand, visit Agoda . They allow free booking and cancellation, confirm bookings with hotels and their web page is easy to navigate and compare hotels.

Travelers have always needed to enter an address when traveling to Thailand. The accommodation can be a hotel, home, or a friend’s address. This would normally be entered on the blue arrival card (TM6), but you will see below that things are changing here too.

Organize your Travel Insurance

If you are a foreigner, you should purchase a Travel Insurance policy. Though it is no longer an entry requirement, responsible travelers know the benefits of having insurance while traveling abroad.

Travel Insurance is one of those things that is better to have and not need than need and not have. Travel insurance doesn’t just cover Covid. Comprehensive travel insurance will also cover:

• Medical emergencies
• Personal injury & accidents
• Missed or delayed flights
• Damage to belongings
• Loss of luggage

The most important thing to know about insurance is that foreign travelers are not eligible for any form of free medical care in Thailand. No matter the circumstance, if a Malaysian citizen needs medical attention, they will need to pay for it. Depending on the severity, this could amount to thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses.

There are multiple reasons to protect yourself when traveling. Many visitors to Thailand choose AXA Insurance Thailand. It is a trusted company that offers comprehensive insurance to travelers from around the world. Their policies are straightforward with good coverage.

Some advantages to AXA Insurance are:

• Recognized and trusted by Thai authorities and medical facilities.
• Easy to apply online and approved in minutes.
• Competitive pricing and cover.
• Has no 14-day waiting period and covers Covid-related incidents, including asymptomatic cases.
• Provides customers with a convenient 1-Page Certificate of insurance. This certificate contains all relevant information needed by medical professionals or if making a claim.

To see the cover offered and organize your insurance to Thailand in minutes. Visit AXA Thailand .

Arriving in Thailand – Best Practices

It is easy to get to Thailand now. So what can you expect when landing? Here are a few things that will help you enjoy your trip and show respect to local Thai people.

Wearing Masks

From July 1st, masks are no longer compulsory but still recommended when in public places. You see many Thai people (and visitors) still wear masks when out and about. It is recommended to wear a mask when visiting restaurants or public venues. You will not get in trouble if you don’t wear a mask, but it is a case of “do as the locals do”. It is about respect and consideration.

TM6 Arrival Cards

The Thai government has temporarily removed the need for visitors to complete the blue arrival card known as TM6. Their aim is to ease congestion at airports and remove another form that holiday makers need to complete. This initiative is in a testing phase, but it is hoped that the removal of TM6 will be successful and the change will become permanent.

Paperwork to Prepare

Though Thailand Pass is removed, and travelers do not need to provide proof before entry, it is best to prepare a few documents before arriving.

• Certificate of Insurance
• Vaccination certificate (vaccinated travelers)
• 72-hour RT-PCR or Pro-ATK test result (unvaccinated)
• Covid-19 recovery certificate (if previously tested positive)

This will speed up your processing time before leaving your country, or if asked to provide vaccination or testing proof in a random check. These documents can be presented in digital form, but airlines, Immigration, and Health Officers will appreciate the extra effort if you print them.

Thailand and Malaysia can again enjoy neighborly travel. It is best to remember responsible travel practices, but now that entry requirements and restrictions are removed, it is easy to get away for a week and relax.

Travel to Thailand by Nationality

Related posts.

How to Travel to Thailand in 2024

Best Places to Retire in Thailand for Couples

How to Retire in Thailand for Couples

Thailand Travel Restrictions 2023

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Malaysia-Thailand Train Service Resumes On 15th July 2022, Travel From Perlis To Hat Yai For Just RM6

Malaysia-Thailand train service resumes

Since the reopening of Malaysia’s borders for international travel, many of us have been excited about travelling again. We’ve been eyeing neighbouring countries such as Singapore and Thailand for quick weekend getaways that involve street food hunting, sightseeing, and shopping.

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Malaysians can now skip the airport queues and travel the scenic route from Perlis, Malaysia, to Hat Yai, Thailand , with less than RM10 in their pockets for a train ticket.

Here are the details on how you can do so.

How to travel to Thailand from Malaysia via train

For the uninitiated, the Malaysia-Thailand train resumed services on 15th July 2022 with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) officially announcing the return of the service last month on its Facebook page.

With the service now back in full swing, there are two daily return trips available to and from Thailand. A one-way ticket from Perlis to Hat Yai costs just RM6 (฿ 50). 

Malaysians can easily travel to Thailand by first taking the KTM Komuter Utara from Butterworth, Penang, or the KTM ETS train from KL Sentral (KL) or Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, to the Padang Besar train station.

If you’re travelling from KL, the journey takes about 5 hours.

Once you’re at the Padang Besar station, you’ll have to alight from the train and go through immigration before taking Trains 948 or 950 operated by SRT to Hat Yai. The immigration process takes about 2 hours, if you’re travelling on the weekends.

According to the Thai Embassy , Malaysians can visit Thailand without a visa for a maximum stay of 30 days. As of 1st July, there is no need for Covid-19 insurances, mandatory quarantines, or a Thailand pass to travel. Vaccinated travellers will not need to show their proof of vaccination too – but Covid-19 testings is still required for unvaccinated travellers.

Train schedules from Padang Besar to Hat Yai

Train schedules of the Malaysia-Thailand train service are available on KTM Berhad’s Facebook page and website. When taking the train or checking the schedules, do take note of the time zone difference between Malaysia and Thailand.

Train 948 departs from Padang Besar at 9.55AM (Malaysian time) and arrives in Hat Yai at 10.50AM (Malaysian time). If you’re opting for a trip later in the day, Train 950 leaves in the evening at 4.40PM (Malaysian time) and arrives in Hat Yai at 5.35PM (Malaysian time).

Each train journey lasts for about an hour. It’s highly recommended that you purchase tickets to Hat Yai ahead of your trip, as the route is a popular one among travellers and commuters. You can head to SRT’s website to book your tickets online.

For returning Malaysians or travellers from Thailand, there are two trains to catch to Padang Besar. From Hat Yai, you can take Train 947 which departs in the early morning at 7.30AM (Thailand time) or Train 949 at 2PM (Thailand time).

From Padang Besar, you can hop onboard a KTM Komuter Utara or KTM ETS train to reach Butterworth, KL Sentral, or Gemas – whether to return home, or to check out the attractions nearby.

Travel from Malaysia to Thailand via train

With the reopening of cross-border train services, Malaysians can now plan a budget-friendly trip to Thailand without the hassle of booking expensive flight tickets. This land travel also makes quick getaways possible for us and those in Thailand, who wish to cross borders for weekend shopping and food-ventures.

Here’s to safe travels ahead.

Read more guides here:

• Guide to travelling from Malaysia to Thailand from May 2022
• New procedures for travel to Malaysia from 1st April
• Things to do at Jeram, Kuala Selangor

Cover image adapted from: Chaowanon J / flickr

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Train Travels: Malaysia to Thailand

I have now covered this route a bunch of times through the years, having travelled overland from as far as Singapore, up to the northern regions of Thailand in Chiang Mai. Which is like one extreme to the other. At the same time, I have covered travel from Malaysia to Thailand over three different border crossings, including  Langkawi to Satun by boat , and  the road border at Dannok / Sadao , but I will forever recommend travelling from Malaysia to Thailand by train. With the crossing at Padang Besar on the Thai border. But I will include alternative options along the way. Otherwise this shows the most direct route starting from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, including the major destinations along the way, to as far as Bangkok. And the video below shows similar travel in the opposite direction, from Bangkok to Penang, including the same trains, transport, and destinations along the way. Maybe watch it in reverse.

Trains from Kuala Lumpur

The first stretch from, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to the Thai border, is by far the most comfortable since the trains in Malaysia have become quicker, more comfortable, and much more efficient, with the introduction of the ETS (Electric Train Service 2015). And now the journey takes around 5hrs 30mins to Padang Besar (at the Thai border), with two or three journeys scheduled per day ( full timetable and booking here ). But, personally, I would break up the journey to Thailand, with a stop at Penang (connection at Butterworth station) where there are more frequent connections (10 trains per day) with Kuala Lumpur ( full timetable and booking here ). All trains leave from KL Sentral Station ( KL Sentral hotels here ) which connects with the LRT and Monorails of Kuala Lumpur ( our Kuala Lumpur Guide here ).

Trains from Butterworth (Penang)

I almost always follow this route (as highlighted in the video up top) but fail to find much information online about the route. For example, online bookings do not include (at the moment) the ETS trains which pass through Butterworth (I shared my own photo below), and there’s very online about the Komuter trains which travel relatively regularly (almost hourly) between Butterworth and Padang Besar for the Thai border ( here’s a decent timetable ). The Komuter trains do take longer (2 hrs) than the ETS (1hr 30mins), and are fairly uncomfortable with subway-like seating. But they are cheaper (around 11 RM vs. 29RM for ETS) and they’re easier to schedule for onward travel at the border with Thailand. For example, the ticket below shows my ETS train would arrive to the Thai border at 15:15PM, yet the departure of the only overnight trains was at 17:40PM. So I was twiddling my thumbs at the border for 2hrs 30mins. It’s therefore best to check onward times from the Thailand border timetable here (normally 17:00PM).

A Stopover in Penang

For those planning on a stop in Penang (I’d give at least a couple of nights), from Butterworth Station, it is an easy 5-minute walk to reach the pier for the ferry crossing to Georgetown (Penang). Just follow the red signs saying “Feri”. The ferry to Penang then costs just 1.2 RM, and the journey takes roughly 20mins. From the arrival pier (Weld Quay) I would suggest just crossing the road the main street just left and opposite (Chulia Street) and following it until you reach the main tourist stretch of Georgetown ( Nearby Hotels Here ). There are of course taxis at the pier, but don’t expect them to use meters, and expect to pay a fixed price of no more than 15RM through the nearby Georgetown area. And just to make it easier I have included my a video showing the walk from Butterworth Station and the crossing to Georgetown, Penang.

Border Crossing at Padang Besar

This is where things have changed recently (2015) where normally Thai trains would travel between Butterworth and Bangkok, with a quick border bordering crossing at Padang Besar, where passengers would disembark and board the same train again. But since the upgrade of the Malaysian train system to ETS (Electric Train Service) the Thai trains can no longer cross the border. Meaning a transfer between the two train lines is now necessary, disembarking at the Malaysia side of the border, before crossing and buying new tickets for travel on the Thai side of the border. Which includes a relatively simple, 10-minute, out-and-in border crossing, stamping out of Malaysia, and stamping into Thailand, given the correct VISA ( Thai visa application in Penang here ). Therefore it is best to arrive to Padang Besar within an hour of onward travel leaving Thailand. As there’s pretty much nothing to do in-and-around the border station, and there’s no air-con either. It’s not a great place to wait around.

Trains to Bangkok

There’s only one daily train from Padang Besar to Bangkok (when writing this but  full timetable here  for confirmation), leaving at around 17:00PM and arriving when it arrives. Thai travel times are likely the least punctual I’ve come across, and I’ve had trains arriving 3 plus hours later than scheduled. Otherwise the ticket says (as image above) the journey takes 17 hours. Meaning an overnight train journey. For this there are 2 feasible options, first-class works well when travelling as a couple (double berth cabins), or 2nd class sleeper when travelling solo. With 2nd class sleepers, the upper and lower berth beds are hidden away during the day, and replaced with individual seating for daytime travel. Each seat also has space beneath to store larger baggage, and I would always pay the little bit extra for the lower berth for the window views at night.

Hat Yai Junction

If you fail to find train tickets through to Bangkok, then I suggest taking tickets to Hat Yai, rather than staying long in Padang Besar. However, the chances are slim for the Bangkok route being fully booked, and, if anything, it will be the short distance travelling to Hat Yai that may be busy during Malaysian holidays etc. (e.g. Chinese New Year…) Otherwise, it is easy to reach Hat Yai by train, standing in the aisles if necessary, which then gives you plenty of options for onward travel. As Hat Yai would be the major city and travel hub for all of southern Thailand, with plenties of travel options available, including minivan options to all the southern islands in Thailand, as well as buses to Bangkok, and a decent enough airport for cheap flights throughout Thailand (I once flew to Chiang Mai for 800 Baht). And a short stay in the city is far from the worst option if waiting for trains in the coming days ( Hat Yai Hotels Here ).

The Overnight Train

The train journey to Bangkok takes near 17 hours, although it is relatively relaxed and enjoyable, with few stops along the way. In fact, the only noteworthy station before Bangkok would be Hua Hin ( tickets to Hua Hin here ).. So I would forever recommend the lower berth, and I would even wait for a later train where they are fully booked (at least when not in a hurry). As the lower berth has more space, along with window views for the southern scenery, sunset, and nightscapes along the way. Versus the upper berth can feel cramped and claustrophobic, and cold even given it’s so close to the air-con. Otherwise both beds are made up at around sunset, although it maybe possible have the steward set them up earlier if the seat opposite is empty. For freshening up, there are open washrooms and toilets in each car, and they will alternate with a squat toilet, meaning you may need to jump to the next car for a western style toilet. With dining, there is a bogie car at the back of the train, and small tables can be set up for eating at your seats. As well as hawkers occasionally boarding with snacks along the way.

Bangkok: Hua Lamphong Station

The final stop in Bangkok is Hua Lamphong Station, although there is another convenient stop before at Bang Sue, where both connect to Bangkok’s rather convenient MRT Underground and rail systems. On arrival, there will be taxis at both stations, as well as tuk-tuk’s, but I will always just jump onto the underground MRT system until I reach a more convenient location in the city. Although Hua Lamphong would be the nearest stop to Yaowarat Road and Bangkok’s Chinatown nearby hotels here . Popular stops along the MRT line would then be Sukhumvit for the Sukhumvit Area , Silom for the Silom area , and both these stops connect to the BTS Skytrain for onward travel to other popular areas, such as Siam. Then, for the return journey from Bangkok to Malaysia by train, I have written another rather comprehensive post here .

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6 thoughts on “Train Travels: Malaysia to Thailand”

Hi, thanks for the post. I was just thinking about traveling to Thailand from Kuala Lumpur and came across your post. Not sure whether this mode of travel would be suitable for me … I suppose it would be something of a backpacker style of traveling right? Since you mentioned that trains may be delayed for up to 3 hours, etc. .. do we have to put up for the night somewhere.. ? Would appreciate if you can share a detailed travel plan. Thanks.

It’s actually rare I come across backpackers on the trains as most of them follow different routes to the islands and backpacker areas etc. on tourist coaches (which are faster). So it’s mostly locals and slow travellers on the trains. Re delays, this is only in Thailand (Malaysia are much more efficient) and there really is only one stop which is the final stop (in Bangkok or your final destination) so there’s no real need to worry until there.

Thanks for your post I found it most informative. I will try it, going to Ranong instead of BKK.All the best.

Thank you for this informative article. I just want to know the immigration process? Is it hassle free?

It does depend on nationalities/visas. otherwise it’s a very simple process of queueing and passing through. on a normal day it’s around 10-15 minutes. the last thing they want is people stranded on the train tracks at the border.

Hi, thanks for this great info. We are currently considering this option to get from Penang to Koh Tao. We have 2 children under 6, would you consider this a safe way to travel as a young family? I am getting mixed information about the safety of overland crossings in southern Thailand. Any advice and further info would be greatly appreciated.

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Home » Travel Tips » Ultimate Guide to Take ETS Train from KL Sentral to Padang Besar

Ultimate Guide to Take ETS Train from KL Sentral to Padang Besar

Planning and Booking ETS Train Tickets

I had always wanted to visit Thailand since I was young. Therefore, I had planned a trip to travel to Thailand during the holiday. After thoughtful consideration, I decided to take the train from KL Sentral to Padang Besar before taking the train from Padang Besar to Hat Yai, Thailand. My travel itinerary was as follows:

• Going to Kuala Lumpur Sentral (KL Sentral)

Arrival in Padang Besar Train Station

Going to the pick-up point at kuala lumpur sentral (kl sentral).

Kuala Lumpur Sentral or KL Sentral is one the transportation hub located in the city centre of Kuala Lumpur. One can easily reach KL Sentral via LRT, KTM Komuter, ETS train, KLIA Transit, RapidKL buses and many other modes of transportation. KL Sentral also serves the purpose as an exchange or transit point for most of the transportation available. As a result, KL Sentral is always crowded with people.

KTM Counters in KL Sentral

On that day, I went to KL Sentral with LRT. Once I reached there, I headed to the KTM Ticket Counter to confirm about my train ticket booking. You can easily find KTM counter on the 1st Floor. Alternatively, you can go to the 2nd Floor where you can find more KTM counter specifically for the ETS train service.

There were 4 KTM ticket counters on the 2nd Floor. Left side is to buy tickets for current departure and the right side is to buy tickets for future departure.

Please note that the train ticket price to return from Padang Besar to Kuala Lumpur is the same with the train ticket price from Kuala Lumpur to Padang Besar. The estimated duration of the trip from Kuala Lumpur to Padang Besar is 5 hours 30 minute, depending on the type of train you choose.

Taking a Meal Before Departure

During a boring waiting for the train to reach the station, you can fill up your stomach with some food first. There are many food selections in KL Sentral for you to choose. Popular fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s, KFC and Burger King are available in the train station.

If you have more time before departure, you can go to the Nu Sentral shopping mall situated next to the KL Sentral for more choices of meals.

Gate C to Padang Besar

I looked around to see where I should go next. Then, I saw there were two different gates opened for different destinations. The KTM Komuter service is another train service operated by KTMB for intercity travels. Passengers for ETS train service need to follow and pass through Gate C next to the KTM Komuter entrance gate.

ETS Train from KL to Padang Besar

After showing the KTM ticket voucher paper to the staff that was guarding the gate, I went down to the departure platform. Usually, people will take the escalator to go down but if you need a lift, there is one lift on the left before the escalator.

After waiting for a while, the train came and passengers started to fill up the train and settled down to their seats. The seats in the ETS train were comfortable. The train was fully air-conditioned and there was also F&B Bar in coach C that sells food.

Tips: Consider having a sweater or blanket with you for the train journey because it might get cold after two hours being on the train.

After few hours, I finally reached my destination. The train from KL took me about 5 hours 30 minutes to reach Padang Besar. I sat comfortably and waited for the train to stop completely before I stepped out of the train to the arrival platform in Padang Besar.

Padang Besar Immigration Checkpoint

Actually, Padang Besar Malaysia Train Station is the Immigration Checkpoint for all the train commuters travelling between Malaysia and Thailand. There is no direct train from Malaysia to Thailand. All travellers need to alight from the train to clear the customs and immigration at the Padang Besar Train Station before taking another train heading to Thailand.

Both Malaysia Immigration and Thailand Immigration checkpoints were in the same building, which is at the Padang Besar train station. The distance between the two checkpoints was not far and passing the immigration point was easy.

Note : The immigration counter is only open from 6am to 10pm daily. There is another border checkpoint in Wang Kelian, Perlis, open from 7am to 7pm daily.

I got hungry after passing the immigration. Thus, I decided to take a break from the train journey and get something to eat in Padang Besar while visiting the town for a bit.

Outside Padang Besar Train Station

After I walked out from the train station, I saw many transportation options for travellers to proceed with their next journey. You can take a taxi, van or motorbike to your next destination. A motorbike ride to travel around Padang Besar sounds like a good and fun budget option and that was exactly what I did.

My next train trip after visiting Padang Besar was taking the train from Padang Besar to Hat Yai. I noticed that you could also travel to Hat Yai with a taxi or a van transfer service provided by travel agencies. Please note that taking train will cost you less compared to a taxi.

I had included many things to do and places to visit on my travel bucket list. The travel experience was so good. Therefore, I am ready to embark on a more little adventurous journey on my own in the future. So long, guys!

Padang Besar (Thailand) Train Tip

You can go to Padang Besar (Thai) Train Station from Padang Besar (Malaysia) Train Station by taking the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) at Padang Besar (Malaysia) Train Station.

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How to travel thailand by train | complete guide.

Posted By: Renegade Travels | Posted in: Thailand , Transport

We love traveling by train and have explored much of Thailand using this method of transport. Read on for our comprehensive guide to getting around Thailand by train . We start with this map of Thailand’s main train lines.

Map provided by Johomaps.com

Bonus:  How to buy Thailand Train tickets online

There are four main train lines in Thailand (Northern, Northeastern, Southern and Eastern) and three smaller lines (Mae Klong, Namtok Branch and the Airport Rail Link). Note that you can get to Namtok via the Southern line (from Hua Lamphong station) as well the Namtok Branch (from Thonburi station).

Northern Line | Thailand Trains

This is the line that will probably be most familiar to many tourists, as it’s the main line between Bangkok and Chiang Mai , Thailand’s two most popular destinations. Ticket prices range from around 230 baht ($8) for a 3rd class seat (no aircon or fan) to 1,453 baht ($48) for a 1st class sleeper. Typical journey time is around 12 hours, although this varies depending on the train. It’s advisable to buy your tickets in advance, as they are often sold out and not available on the day of travel. This train also passes through Ayutthaya , the ancient capital of Thailand, where you can visit many temples and ancient monuments.

More info on RenegadeTravels:

How To Get From Bangkok To Chiang Mai By Train

Bangkok To Ayutthaya By Train

Northeastern Line | Thailand Trains

The Northeastern line has two routes. One runs from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) , and then on to Khon Kaen and Udon Thani, which is near the Laos border. The other route also runs from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), and then runs onto Buriram, Surin, Sisaket and Ubon Ratchanthani (near the Cambodia border).

Typical journey times are around 10 hours to Udon Thani and 12 hours to Ubon Ratchathani. There are four trains a day to Udon Thani and six to Ubon Ratchathani. Typical prices to Udon Thani are 245 baht ($8) for 3rd class, 479 baht ($16) for 2nd class with aircon, and berths for 519 baht ($17) for 2nd class no aircon, 739 baht ($25) for 2nd class aircon, and 1,277 baht ($43) for 1st class with aircon. Typical prices to Ubon Ratchathani are 205 baht ($7) for 3rd class, 331 baht ($11) for 2nd class, 581 baht ($19) for 2nd class with aircon, and 481 baht ($16) for a berth. Different trains have different seating arrangements, so not all of these will be available on every train.

We’ve taken the train on the Ubon Ratchathani line as far as Surin many times, and also as far as Nakhon Ratchasima a few times. Recently we visited the Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival and got the train back from there to Surin. We are planning to travel on the route to Udon Thani in a week or so. We’ll update this page once we’ve completed that journey.

Bangkok To Surin By Train

Bangkok To Nakhon Ratchasima By Train

Ubon Ratchathani To Surin By 3rd Class Train

Khon Kaen To Udon Thani By Train

Southern Line | Thailand Trains

The Southern line is interesting because of the fact that you can travel all the way from Bangkok to Singapore by train . We’ve traveled along this route from Bangkok to Hua Hin, and from Butterworth (in Malaysia) to Singapore.

The Southern line trains run from Bangkok to Butterworth (via Hat Yai), Sungai Kolok, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Kantang and Nam Tok. Typical journey time for Bangkok to Sungai Kolok (the southernmost station) is around 20-22 hours. Currently there are two trains per day on this route. The 13:00 train from Bangkok that arrives at 10:45 the next day, and the 15:10 that arrives at 11:20 the next day. Tickets cost 290-370 baht ($10-12) for 3rd class, 527-607 baht ($18-20) for 2nd class no aircon, 677 baht ($23) for 2nd class berth no aircon, 917-977 baht ($31-33) for 2nd class berth with aircon, and 1,753 baht ($60) for 1st class with aircon. Different trains have different seating arrangements, so not all of these will be available on every train.

Bangkok To Singapore By Train

Bangkok To Hua Hin By Train

Eastern Line | Thailand Trains

The Eastern line has two main routes – Bangkok to Aranyaprathet , and Bangkok to Ban Phlu Ta Luang. One of the main tourist destinations on the Aranyaprathet route is Pattaya.

Maeklong Line | Thailand Trains

The Maeklong trains are famous as being the ones that run right through the middle of a market in the small town of Maeklong. This line is actually split in two sections. The first section is from Wongwian Yai (in Bangkok) to Mahachai, from where passengers need to take a ferry across the Tha Chin River.

The line then continues to Maeklong. This train line is separate from the rest of the national rail network. If you take the train there you’ll have to hang around for a few hours waiting for the next train to arrive, as there are only around five a day.

Train Runs Through Maeklong Market

Namtok Branch | Thailand Trains

As the name suggests, this line runs from Thonburi station in Bangkok to Namtok , which is where the Death Railway is located. The train also stops at Kanchanaburi, and crosses the River Kwai Bridge and the famous Wampo Viaduct. This is an interesting journey that we did last year. Tickets only cost 100 baht ($3) and are available on the day of travel. Getting from central Bangkok to Thonburi station is almost as interesting as the train journey.

We got there by BTS (skytain), boat and taxi. There are also special tourist trains that run from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong station to Kanchanaburi. I think these only run at weekends though.

Bangkok To Kanchanaburi For River Kwai Bridge & Death Railway .

Airport Rail Link | Thailand Trains

This is a fairly new train line that runs between Makkasan station and  Suvarnabhumi airport. Trains take 15 minutes and cost 150 baht ($5) – no need to purchase tickets in advance. There’s also a separate City Line train that runs from the airport to Phaya Thai BTS (skytrain) station, costs 45 baht ($1.50) and takes 30 minutes.

If your hotel is near a BTS station, then this is probably a better option than the express train.

More info from RenegadeTravels:

  To And From Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport By Train

Where To Buy Train Tickets In Thailand

You can buy train tickets at any train station and also at some travel agencies throughout Thailand. Some agencies charge a booking fee and some don’t, you’ll just have to ask.

Of course, it’s entirely possible to purchase tickets online using a service like 12go.asia . To help, we’ve written an in-depth guide to how this works .

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Train travel UK & Ireland...

Train travel in europe..., train travel in asia..., train travel in africa..., train travel in america..., train travel in australasia, train travel in singapore & malaysia.

A metre-gauge railway with daily scheduled trains and inexpensive fares links Singapore, Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth (Penang), southern Thailand & Bangkok, ideal for independent travellers.  It's safe & comfortable, 1,200 miles for only $80, £55 or €70.  Unlike flying it's a real experience and relaxing on a train is far more civilised than a cramped bus on an ugly motorway.  Singapore to Bangkok takes 48 hours, but I suggest stopping in Kuala Lumpur or Penang on the way - and perhaps in southern Thailand to catch the ferry to Ko Samui or  bus to Phuket or Krabi.  This page explains how to take the train between Singapore, KL, Penang, Southern Thailand & Bangkok, northbound or southbound, with timetables, fares & how to buy tickets.  Click here for a map of train routes in Southeast Asia .

How to get to...

Other information, useful country information, how to travel by train between singapore, malaysia & bangkok.

  Train times, northbound   Train times, southbound   How much does it cost?      How to buy tickets   What are the trains like?     Map of train routes SE Asia      Security in southern Thailand   Singapore station information   Hotels in Singapore, KL, Penang

Taking the train, they key points

Singapore - Kuala Lumpur - Penang - Bangkok by train

The train ride from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Penang, southern Thailand & Bangkok is an epic 1,900 km or 1,200 miles, but it's cheap, comfortable & civilised.  The whole journey costs as little as $80 or £55.  A bargain!

This is regular scheduled train travel, not a tour or package.  You can travel northbound or southbound , you can stop off where you like for as long as you like.  You don't have to do the whole trip, the train is great for travel between Singapore & Kuala Lumpur, or between Kuala Lumpur & Penang.  The trains run every day, all year round.  They are the same trains used by local people, including solo women and families.

You need to buy a separate ticket for each train you take

There is no such thing as a Singapore to Bangkok ticket.  You buy a ticket for each specific train you want to take on the date you want to take it.  Each ticket comes with a reserved seat on a specific date & train (unless it's a KTM Komuter train ).  You can buy a ticket between any two stations, either in advance or at the station on the day.  So look at the timetables below and find trains that suit you, between all the places you want to see.  Then book each specific train individually for the dates you want, as shown in the how to buy tickets section .

Singapore to Bangkok by train in just 48 hours

If you were in a hurry you could go from Singapore to Bangkok in as little as 48 hours, first transferring from downtown Singapore to Johor Bahru across the causeway in Malaysia as explained here , then take train 40 from JB Sentral to Gemas, switching to fast ETS train from Gemas to Kuala Lumpur.  Stay overnight in KL, then take another fast ETS train from KL to Padang Besar on the Thai border and train 46 International Express overnight from Padang Besar to Bangkok in a cosy sleeper with a restaurant car for dinner & breakfast .  But I recommend stopping off for a day or two in Kuala Lumpur and/or the historic Malay capital Penang, linked from Butterworth station by ferry .  What you do is up to you.

When starting in Singapore, you first need to transfer to Johor Bahru Sentral

Until 2011 trains left from the faded grandeur of Singapore's art deco railway station, built in 1932.  Sadly, the Singapore government took it over from the Malaysians and promptly closed it, so trains to Kuala Lumpur now leave from Johor Bahru Sentral Station just north of the Singapore-Malaysia causeway.  Shuttle trains operate from Woodlands Train Checkpoint over the causeway to JB Sentral, or you can take metro+bus from downtown Singapore to JB Sentral.  The options for transferring to/from downtown Singapore are explained here .

Similarly, long-distance trains now use the modern Krung Thep Aphiwat Central station in Bangkok, 7 km north of the original historic Bangkok Hualamphong station opened in 1916.  But in this case you can still 'finish the job' by taking one of a number of local trains that continue to link Bang Sue Junction station (adjacent to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central ) with Bangkok Hualamphong .

The Malaysian rail network is being modernised

Trains in Malaysia & Thailand run on metre-gauge track, narrower than European standard gauge, much of it single track, curvaceous and built in the 19th or early 20th century.  However, large sections of line in Malaysia have been modernised & electrified for ETS trains to run at up to 160 km/h (100 mph) making them probably the fastest metre-gauge trains in the world.  Within Malaysia, you'll often see sections of old colonial singe-track line and the new double-track electrified line side by side.

In 2016 KTM restricted the Gemas-KL-Padang Besar section to ETS electric trains , with diesel-hauled trains running a connecting shuttle on the unmodernised section between JB Sentral & Gemas.  You now need to change trains at Gemas when travelling from Singapore or Johor Bahru to KL, which means booking two tickets - I explain all this in the how to buy tickets section .  Sleeper trains from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur or KL to Butterworth are a thing of the past, KL to Butterworth now only takes 4 hours by electric train.  The modernisation & electrification of the Gemas-JB section was expected to be completed by 2020 so that electric trains can run directly between Johor Bahru, KL, Butterworth and the Thai border - however, work is still ongoing in 2024.

Timetable northbound

Timetable southbound, notes for timetable.

All the trains in these timetables run every day all year round.  Each column is a separate train, and you read downwards.  You can buy tickets for any train between any two stations.  You need a separate ticket for each train.  Please let that sink in!

Shaded = suggested trains for a Singapore-Bangkok journey with stopovers in KL & Penang.  Just to help you see the wood for the trees!

Key to train types

To save space, these timetables do not show:

(a)  All ETS trains between KL & Ipoh, but you can check times at 12go.asia or www.ktmb.com.my .

(b)  All Thai domestic trains between Hat Yai, Surat Thani, Chumphon, Hua Hin & Bangkok, the full service is shown in the Bangkok to Southern Thailand section on the Thailand page .

(c)  KTM Komuter trains link Butterworth & Padang Besar almost every hour, I've only shown the ones that provide a key connection into or out of a Thai train.

Crossing the border at Padang Besar

Padang Besar is where Malay trains connect with Thai trains, see information on border formalities, facilities, ticket offices & time zones .

Bus & ferry connections

In Singapore , shuttle trains operate between Woodlands Train Checkpoint in the north of Singapore Island & JB Sentral, or you can take local buses between downtown Singapore, Woodlands Checkpoint and JB Sentral.  See the Singapore station section for advice on how to transfer between central Singapore & JB Sentral .

Butterworth is the station for Georgetown on Penang Island.  Ferries shuttle between Butterworth & Penang (Georgetown Swettenham Pier) every 30-60 minutes, taking 10 minutes, see the Butterworth & Penang section below .

Langkawi Island ferry connections are explained in the Langkawi section . 

Bus & ferry connections in Thailand:   Surat Thani-Ko Samui , Ko Samui-Bangkok , Hat Yai-Phuket , Phuket-Bangkok , Hat Yai-Krabi , Krabi-Bangkok .

Train connections in Thailand: Kanchanaburi & Bridge on the River Kwai , Bangkok-Chiang Mai , Bangkok-Cambodia-Vietnam , Bangkok-Laos .

Timetable downloads to print out & take

Download timetables in .pdf format from www.ktmb.com.my/TrainTime.htm .

Map showing rail routes & all railway stations in Malaysia .

Back to top

How much does it cost?

There is no such thing as a Singapore to Bangkok ticket, you buy a separate ticket for each train you take.  So you must add up the fare for each train you plan to take.  For example, if you intend to travel between Singapore & Bangkok using my suggested trains shown as shaded in the timetables above , then add up each of the fares shown in the shaded squares in the table below.  Then add the cost of the transfer between downtown Singapore & JB Sentral which is explained here .

Add up the fares in the shaded squares if you're taking my suggested Singapore-Bangkok trains shown as shaded in the timetable above .

£1 = 5.2 RM or 43 baht.  €1 = 4.6 RM or 40 baht.  $1 = RM 4.2 or 35 Thai baht.

Children aged 0 to 3 travel free on Malaysian trains, children aged 4 to 11 travel at half fare, children aged 12 and over pay full fare.

Sleeper fares shown above are per person for lower berths.  Upper berths are about 14% cheaper.

You can check these fares at 12go.asia or on KTM's own website www.ktmb.com.my .  Classes and class codes used on ktmb.com.my are as follows:

AFC = 1st class seats (also known as Premier)

ASC = 2nd class seats (also known as Superior)

AEC = 3rd class seats (also known as Economy)

ADNS = 2nd class sleeper (also known as Superior Night)

How to buy tickets

Do i need a reservation .

Yes.  All long-distance trains in Malaysia & Thailand are reservation compulsory , and tickets always include a seat or sleeper reservation on a specific date & train.  You cannot hop on and off without a reservation.  Malaysian train reservations open 30 days before departure, Thai trains open 90 days before departure, although it can be 30 days or less for shorter journeys.  There's one exception, no reservation is necessary or possible for KTM Komuter trains.

Can I stop off?  Can I hop on & off?

You can stop off wherever you like for as long as you like, it's up to you.  But there is no such thing as a Singapore to Bangkok ticket, you must buy a separate ticket for each train.  And no, you cannot randomly hop on & off trains without a reservation.  Each ticket comes with a specific numbered seat or berth reserved for you on a specific date on a specific train (except KTM Komuter trains ).  You can buy all your tickets in advance online or buy them at the station as you go along, it's up to you.  If there are seats still available (as there usually are), you can buy tickets right up until the train leaves.

To book Singapore to Bangkok , northbound

Each individual train needs to be booked separately, easy enough to understand, but I'll spell it out:

First use the Northbound timetable above to decide which specific trains you want to take, on which dates between which cities.  Each individual train needs to be booked separately.

If you're starting in Singapore, decide how you want to transfer from downtown Singapore to JB Sentral using the advice here .

Step 1, use www.baolau.com or 12go.asia to book each Malaysian ETS or Ekspres Selatan train you want.

For example, to travel from JB to KL you'd first book the Ekspres Selatan from JB to Gemas.  Then you'd make a second booking for the onward ETS train from Gemas to KL.  If you then wanted to travel from KL to Penang the following day, you'd book a ETS train from KL to Butterworth for that date.  And so on.

Step 2, if you plan to use a KTM Komuter train from Butterworth to Padang Besar, these cannot be pre-booked or indeed booked online, just buy a ticket at the station on the day, tickets cannot sell out, seats aren't reserved, places aren't limited.  You can buy from the self-service machines at Butterworth which accept overseas credit & debit cards, or buy it on your phone using the KTMB iPhone app / Android app , possible only on the day of travel itself, using an international credit card - the barcode on the ticket on your phone will then open the ticket gates.

Step 3, now use www.baolau.com to book the International Express (train 46) from Padang Besar to Bangkok.  12go.asia can book trains within Thailand, but currently can't book train 46 from Padang Besar to Bangkok - but www.baolau.com can, with print-your-own tickets.

To book Bangkok to Singapore , southbound

You can't just type Bangkok to Singapore into a booking system let it do the work for you.  You need to book each individual train separately.  Easy enough, but I'll spell it out...

First use the Southbound timetable above to decide which trains you want to take, on which dates between which cities.  Each individual train needs to be booked separately.

Step 1, use 12go.asia or www.baolau.com to book each State Railways of Thailand train you want, for example the International Express (train 45) from Bangkok to Padang Besar.  Tickets can be collected in Bangkok or in some case simply printed out.

Step 2, if your chosen journey involves a KTM Komuter train from Padang Besar to Butterworth, this does not need to be pre-booked, indeed it cannot be booked online anyway.  Just buy at the station at Padang Besar when you're there, see the ticket office information here or buy it on your phone using the KTMB iPhone app / Android app , possible only on the day of travel itself, using an international credit card - the barcode on the ticket on your phone will then open the ticket gates.

Step 3, now use 12go.asia or www.baolau.com to book any Malaysian ETS or Ekspres Selatan trains you want to take.  Each individual train needs to be booked separately.  For example, Butterworth to KL, KL to Gemas and Gemas to JB Sentral are 3 separate trains so that's 3 separate bookings.

Step 4, if your final destination is Singapore, decide how you want to transfer from JB Sentral to downtown Singapore using the advice here .  The JB Sentral to Woodlands (Singapore) shuttle trains can be booked at www.baolau.com .

Option 1, buy tickets at 12go.asia

Who are they?   12go.asia is a reliable agency selling train, bus, ferry & plane tickets in Southeast Asia. 

12go.asia offers easy online booking for both Malaysian Railways (KTM) & State Railways of Thailand (SRT), including the Woodlands-JB Sentral shuttle trains .

It cannot book KTM Komuter trains or the Padang Besar-Hat Yai local trains as tickets for these are only sold at the station on the day, no reservation necessary.

12go.asia is much easier to use than KTM's own site and they can book Thai trains too, so you can book a whole Singapore to Bangkok itinerary in one place.  They sell KTM tickets at a similar price to KTM themselves with the same print-at-home tickets.  They sell SRT train tickets with a small fee, but they fulfil manually using the SRT staff system so can access all of SRT's available seats & berths, not just the small proportion which SRT allocates it website and which can sell out.

How are tickets delivered?

For Malaysian KTM trains 12go.asia offers 'live' online booking & you simply print your own ticket.

For State Railways of Thailand trains, 12go.asia shows availability online, when you select a ticket and pay they book the ticket for you manually.  The booking confirmation is not valid for travel, you must collect the actual tickets from one of 12go's collection points, which include Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani & several other stations, see details on the Thailand page .  There is no collection point at Butterworth or Padang Besar.

When do bookings open?   Malaysian train bookings usually open 30 days before departure.  Thai trains usually open 90 days before departure, less for shorter hops.

Stations:   For JB Sentral type JB and select Johor Bahru .  For Kuala Lumpur type KL S and select KL Sentral .

You must book each train separately , you cannot book Singapore to Bangkok all in one go.  To book a whole Singapore to Bangkok or Bangkok to Singapore journey, follow the advice below .

Option 2, buy tickets at www.baolau.com

Who are they?   www.baolau.com is another reliable agency selling train, bus, ferry & plane tickets in Southeast Asia.  Like 12go they can book both Malaysian Railways (KTM) trains & State Railways of Thailand (SRT) trains.  They cannot book KTM Komuter trains as tickets for these are only sold at the station on the day, no reservation necessary.

How are tickets delivered?  For Malaysian KTM trains & Thai SRT trains you simply print your own ticket.  This means you can book train 46 from Padang Besar to Bangkok with them and print your own ticket.

When do bookings open?   Malaysian train bookings usually open 30 days before departure.  Thai trains usually open 60 days before departure.

You must book each train separately , you cannot book Singapore to Bangkok all in one go.  To book a whole Singapore to Bangkok or Bangkok to Singapore journey, follow the advice below.

Option 3, buy tickets at www.ktmb.com.my

You can book tickets for Malaysian trains at KTM's own website, www.ktmb.com.my .

Booking opens 30 days before departure.  It's a little fiddly to use and each train must be booked separately, which now means two separate bookings even for a simple JB to KL journey, but it does work.  Prices are the same as 12go or Baolau, the only real advantage of using KTM's website is that you can choose a specific seat and there's no booking fee.

What trains can it book?   It can book any KTM train (other than Komuter trains , of course) but it can't book State Railways of Thailand (SRT) trains such as the Padang Besar-Bangkok trains - to book Thai trains you'll need to use Baolao.com or 12go.asia as explained above .

How to book:   Go to www.ktmb.com.my and use the journey planner on their home page to find a train.  On the results page, click 'Proceed Purchase Ticket'.

How are tickets delivered?   You pay online by credit card and print out your own ticket.  Or you can collect the tickets from any KTM railway station, including Singapore (Woodlands).

Station names:   Singapore is now shown under W as Woodlands CIQ.   Kuala Lumpur is shown in the list of destinations under S as Sentral Kuala Lumpur.   Plain Kuala Lumpur means the old 1911 station a km or two north of KL Sentral.  Johor Bahru is shown in the list of destinations as JB Sentral.

What is 'coach label/slot'?   It means coach number.  The confusingly-named "Label/slot" field on the booking form simply allows you to pick your coach (for example, coach 'J1') then when you click 'view' it will show you the available seats or berths in that coach, allowing you to pick one (for example, 5A, 5B, etc).  Classes are as shown follows:

AFC = Aircon First Class seats (Premier)

ASC = Aircon Second Class seats (Superior)

AEC = Aircon Economy Class (3rd class) seats (Economy)

ADNS = 2nd class sleepers (Superior Night)

ETS trains have just one class of seating.

Option 4, buy tickets at the station

You can of course buy tickets at stations as you go, keeping your options open.

Trains can sell out in theory (other than KTM Komuter trains of course), but in practice there are usually places available on most KTM shuttle and ETS trains even on the day of travel, and on the SRT railcars between Padang Besar & Hat Yai too.  Such trains only sell out at very busy times or dates.  You may well find sleepers available on the International Express (train 46) even on the day in the northbound direction at least, but Thai sleeper berths can sell out so it's best to book sleepers as soon as you can.  Tickets are the same price whether you buy online in advance or at the station on the day, so that's not an issue.

In Malaysia, KTM ticket offices are equipped with the KTM computer reservation system can sell you tickets for any KTM train in Malaysia.  Booking opens 30 days ahead, and KTM ticket offices normally accept MasterCard & Visa as well as cash.

There is a KTM ticket counter at Singapore Woodlands which can sell tickets for any KTM train and which accepts American Express & Diners Club credit cards, but not Visa or MasterCard.

There is a KTM ticket office at Padang Besar on the Thai border which accepts Malaysian Ringgits and should accept MasterCard & Visa.  It is not known whether it accepts Thai baht.

In Thailand, SRT ticket offices are equipped with the SRT computer reservation system and can can sell you tickets for any mainline train anywhere in Thailand. 

SRT have their own ticket office at Padang Besar on the Malay/Thai border, this accepts both Malaysian Ringgits & Thai Baht.  It's not known if it accepts credit cards.

Malaysian ticket offices only sell KTM tickets, Thai ticket offices only sell SRT tickets!

Don't throw your rattle out of your pram when you find Butterworth ticket office can't sell you a ticket to Bangkok, or Bangkok ticket office can't sell you a ticket to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore! 

For Butterworth to Bangkok for example, you'd simply buy a KTM Komuter ticket from Butterworth to Padang Besar at the Butterworth KTM office, then buy a sleeper ticket from Padang Besar to Bangkok either at the SRT ticket office at Padang Besar after going through border control or online at www.baolau.com .

For a journey from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur for example, you would buy the sleeper ticket from Bangkok to Padang Besar at the station in Bangkok, then either buy a Padang Besar to KL ticket at the KTM ticket counter when you reach Padang Besar or book it online at 12go.asia and print it out.  Easy when you know how! 

Security warnings for parts of southern Thailand

There are security warnings for the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and parts of Songkhla in southern Thailand.  Most of the problems are at the eastern end of the Thai/Malay border, whereas the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur-Penang-Hat Yai-Bangkok main line passes through the western end of the border via Padang Besar.

Does the Singapore - Bangkok railway pass through the affected areas at all? 

It does not pass through any part of Pattani, Yala or Narathiwat provinces, it just clips the northwest corner of Songkhla province for 80 km (50 miles) through Hat Yai.  In fact, in 2018 the British Foreign Office (FCDO) officially declared the railway (and main road) through Padang Besar safe to use if you were just passing through, by specifically excluding it from their advice to avoid all unnecessary travel to Songkhla province.  Unfortunately, a freight train was derailed near Padang Besar in December 2022 so they've gone and included it again.  You can read the official advice at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand .

However, many Thais, Malays and western tourists use this railway every day and I'd have no hesitation in using this route myself with my family.  It's not as if there's an alternative, this is the main line and main road between Malaysia & Thailand.  The Thai terrorists aren't targeting tourists, in the affected provinces, bombs have gone off outside local bars and police stations and the rail line to Yala and Sungai Kolok has been affected on a number of occasions.  But Yala & Sungai Kolok are not on the Singapore-KL-Bangkok main line, they're on a different line at the eastern end of the border and that is where the main problem is, see the map here .  As far as I know, nothing significant has happened on the main rail route through Padang Besar since the freight train incident in December 2022.

I would avoid visiting Sungai Kolok or Yala, although many westerners do still go there.  However I personally wouldn't worry too much about passing swiftly through the 50 miles of the northern part of Songkhla Province on a direct train on the Singapore-Bangkok main line.  I don't disregard FCDO advice lightly, but if I can go back to work using the London Underground the day after the July 2007 bomb attacks, the derailment of a freight train with no-one hurt in December 2022 wouldn't worry me too much.  The FCDO didn't advise against all but essential travel to London for years after that attack, did they, we just got on with it!  But it has to be your own decision.

What are the trains like ?

Travel tip:   Air-conditioning is always turned up high on Malaysian & Thai trains, indeed this is often the case on air-con trains & buses in much of Asia.  The cool temperature on board catches out T-shirted westerners who have forgotten to bring a jumper or cardigan!

Ekspres Selatan trains

Ekspres Selatan ( Southern Express ) trains run between JB Sentral & Gemas while the Johor Baru to Gemas line is being modernised and electrified.  These trains use the carriages that originally formed the Singapore-KL-Butterworth express trains until 2016, hauled by a diesel locomotive.  They have clean & comfortable air-conditioned 2nd class seats, branded Superior class .  There's no catering, so bring your own food & drink.  Completion of modernisation & electrification between JB Sentral & Gemas was delayed by the pandemic, but we could see direct ETS electric trains from JB Sentral to KL and beyond from 2024.

Malaysian railways are being modernised, speeded up & electrified, and a new generation of trains has been introduced called ETS, Electric Train Service.   Running at up to 160 km/h (100 mph), the first generation ETS Silver trains were introduced in 2010 between Kuala Lumpur & Ipoh, with one class of seating called standard class.  In 2015, bullet-nosed ETS Gold & Platinum trains were introduced between Gemas, KL, Butterworth & Padang Besar, also mostly standard class only, with a bistro car & prayer room.  ETS trains are smooth and powerfully air-conditioned, have a jumper or fleece to hand.  In late 2019, Business class was introduced on some ETS trains with luxurious seats arranged 2+1 across the car width and complimentary refreshments, starting with the 08:30 KL Sentral to Padang Besar & 15:40 Padang Besar to KL.

KTM Komuter trains

KTM Komuter trains operate around KL and between Butterworth & Padang Besar on the Thai border.  No reservation is necessary or even possible and tickets cannot sell out as these are just local trains.  Buy a ticket on the day of travel using the ticket machines or KTMB iPhone app / Android app and hop on!  They are air-conditioned but obviously there's no catering so bring your own food and drink.  Photos below show a Butterworth-Padang Besar Komuter train at Padang Besar, courtesy of David Smith .

Train 45 & 46 Padang Besar - Bangkok

This is the International Express , or Ekspres Antarabangsa in Malay.  It consists of two modern air-conditioned 2nd class sleeping-cars between Padang Besar & Bangkok provided by the State Railways of Thailand.  These cosy 2nd class sleepers are good, clean and comfortable.  Each berth has curtains at night for privacy, and all necessary bedding is provided.  There are toilets (both western and squat type) at each end of each car.

Between Hat Yai & Bangkok these cars are attached to train 37/38 which has a restaurant car , additional 2nd class sleepers and a 1st class sleeper .  You can walk through the train to the restaurant car and use it for dinner and breakfast, or take your own food & drink.

Today's International Express is the descendant of the Southern Express inaugurated in 1922, see the history of the International Express .  Until 2016, it ran direct to/from Butterworth, but with modernisation & electrification in Malaysia it now starts/terminates at the border at Padang Besar, with connections to/from Butterworth & KL by Malaysia's new electric trains.

Tip:   Some westerners will be tempted by the 1st class sleeping-car attached between Hat Yai & Bangkok.  Don't be!  Stick with the direct 2nd class sleepers, they're absolutely fine and perfectly civilised with curtains for privacy.  It is more trouble than it's worth to book a 1st class sleeper between Hat Yai & Bangkok, then have to buy a separate ticket between Hat Yai & Padang Besar as these tickets are only sold at the station on the day of travel, and only if space is available.

First class lounge

Passengers with 1st class tickets (seat or sleeper) can use the VIP First Class Lounge at Kuala Lumpur Sentral station.  The lounge isn't well signed.  Walk in through the main entrance from the taxi rank at level 2, do a 180 degree turn to your right up the escalator to level 3, turn left at the top and immediately left again through the lift lobby to the lounge entrance.  The lounge has seats, a TV and washrooms with free WiFi & complimentary soft drinks.  It's open an hour before the departure of each train, you should leave it and join your train 15 minutes before departure.

Traveller's reports

The jungle line, singapore or kl to kota bharu.

Most people use the main line from Singapore to KL, Penang, and Bangkok, which heads up the west coast of Malaysia.  But there's alternative route up the east coast, through jungle scenery to Kota Bharu - even if some of the jungle has now become palm plantations.  It's possible to take this Jungle Line from KL or Singapore to Kota Bharu, then a bus or taxi to the frontier, walk across the border into Thailand to Sungai Kolok railway station, and take a train to Bangkok ( but see the security warning ).  The scenery on this route superb, even seen from the Singapore-Tumpat night train which travels by daylight through much or the morning.

* = To or from Kuala Lumpur, find a suitable connection between KL & Gemas by ETS train in the mainline timetable above .

Key to c lasses :

How much does it cost? 

£1 = 5.2 RM.  €1 = 4.6 RM.  $1 = RM 4.2.

See the how to buy tickets section .

Trains 26 & 27, 2nd class sleepers

The Johor Bahru-Gua Musang-Tumpat overnight train has modern 2nd class sleepers, marketed as Standard Night, accommodation code ADNS.  They are a great way to travel, and are safe, comfortable, cheap and fun too.  They are open-plan, with upper and lower berths arranged along each side of a central aisle running down the middle of the coach.  Each bunk has curtains for privacy, and a nice touch in these Malaysian sleeping-cars is that the upper berth has its own window.  Upper berths are cheaper than lower berths, but they are narrower, so ask for a lower berth if possible, especially if you are over 6' 2".  All necessary bedding is provided, with blankets and fresh clean sheets.  The Butterworth (Penang)-Bangkok sleepers are similar, but provided by the Thai Railways, see below .

Traveller's reports from the Jungle Line

Traveller Jeff Brown travelled from Singapore to Bangkok via the Jungle Line:   "I took a bus from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang [= the Malaysian side of the border] and then made my way across the border and to the train station by foot. I was somewhat more vigilant than usual given the security issues in the past, but luckily my trip out of that area was uneventful. Military presence was very high at SK station as well as on the train and didn't seem to let up until Hat Yai Junction.  The inbound train was three hours delayed arriving, but the crew turned it around fast and we departed only 30 minutes behind schedule at about 14:50.  SK station does not have a left luggage desk, probably owing to security concerns.  If you end up in Sungai Kolok early (which some will by virtue of forgetting about the -1 hour time difference), there are markets on the nearby streets, but I didn't find much in the way of restaurants or street food stalls. After 30 minutes looking futilely with a heavy pack, I punted and had lunch at the Genting Hotel, about 100m south of the station on the main N/S road. It's a 3-star hotel with a proper restaurant and good AC!  I travelled 2nd class and it was awesome, the best experience I've had compared to travelling by rail in India, Vietnam and Malaysia. Cabin was clean and totally functional. Attendants cleaned the train (including toilets) throughout the trip, which made a big difference since the trip was 20 hours total. Dinner was served at my seat (they have an English food menu also). This in addition to the usual hawkers that jump on at each station and make the rounds selling snacks.  2nd class was nearly empty at departure and filled up gradually. For the last hour or so of the journey, it was nearly empty again.  We arrived about 90 minutes late in Bangkok."

Malacca ( Melaka )

The historic town of Malacca is well worth a day's visit as it has some of the oldest colonial buildings in SE Asia.  Pictured right, the distinctive red Stadthuys (town hall), church and clock tower on Malacca's main square.

Kuala Lumpur to Malacca:   Malacca is not on the rail network, but modern buses run by several companies run 2 or 3 times every hour from the Southern bus station in Kuala Lumpur, taking just under 3 hours, fare 10 to 14 Ringgit one-way.

You can check bus times and buy tickets for multiple operators at ticketing website www.baolau.com .

The bus station in KL is known as BTS, Bandar Tasik Selatan, it has its own stop on the STAR line, KTM Komuter train line and KLIA rail link.

Alternatively, take an ETS train from KL Sentral to Pulau Sebang/Tampin station ( see the train timetable above ), then take a bus or taxi from there, the distance is 38 km.  A taxi from Tampin to Malacca costs around 85 ringgit, and you'll usually find some taxis waiting at the station.

Singapore to Malacca:   There are regular buses from Singapore to Malacca taking about 5½ hours, check times & buy tickets at www.baolau.com . 

Alternatively, travel the traditional way, by intercity train from JB Sentral to Tampin station ( see the train timetable above , Tampin is listed as Pulau Sebang/Tampin on www.ktmb.com.my ), then take a bus or taxi from there (38 km).  A taxi from Tampin to Malacca costs around 85 ringgit Ringgit.

As a historical note , there used to be a 32 km branch line from Tampin to Malacca, built in 1903, but its rails were taken to build the Death Railway in Thailand and the line was never rebuilt after the war.  The 100-year-old station at Tampin was replaced by a modern one in 2013, as part of the ongoing double-tracking and modernisation project.

Langkawi island

Penang to Langkawi:   Ferry suspended due to Covid-19 and now discontinued.

www.langkawi-ferry.com used to operate two daily fast ferries direct from Penang to Langkawi island, however, it ceased for the pandemic and has not resumed.  Travel by ferry from Georgetown to Butterworth, then train to Arau or Alor Setar for a ferry to Langkawi.

Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi (via Alor Setar)

There is little to choose between the Alor Setar or Arau options.

Step 1, take a fast modern ETS train from Kuala Lumpur to Alor Setar, see the train timetable above .  There is little to choose between the Alor Setar or Arau options.

Step 2, from Alor Setar it's a short bus ride or 17 Ringgit taxi ride to the ferry terminal at Kuala Kedah.

Step 3, the Langkawi Ferry Line ( www.langkawiferryline.com ) sails from Kuala Kedah to Langkawi 5 times a day.  The crossing takes 1h45, foreigner fare 34.50 Ringgit each way, buy tickets at cuticutilangkawi.com .

Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi (via Arau)

Step 1, take a fast modern ETS train from Kuala Lumpur to Arau, see the train timetable above .

Step 2, it's a 20-minute 25 Ringgit taxi ride from Arau station to the ferry terminal at Kuala Perlis, which is slightly closer to Langkawi than Kuala Kedah.

Step 3, the Langkawi Ferry Line ( www.langkawiferryline.com ) sails from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi 5 times a day, sailing time 1h15, foreigner fare Ringgit 27 each way, buy tickets at cuticutilangkawi.com .

Singapore to Langkawi

Transfer from Singapore to Johor Bahru and take the train from JB Sentral to Gemas, connecting there with a fast modern ETS train to either Alor Setar or Arau.  Then follow the instructions above for travel by ferry to Langkawi.

Bangkok or southern Thailand to Langkawi

Take the International Express from Bangkok or Hat Yai to Padang Bear and an an onward train to Arau, a small station in Malaysia not far from the Thai border, see the train timetable above .  From Arau, it's a short taxi ride to the ferry jetty at Kuala Perlis.  www.langkawi-ferry.com sails from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi about every 30 minutes between 07:00 & 19:00, sailing time 1h15, fare 18 Ringgit each way, no advance reservation necessary.

Perhentian Islands

The Perhentian Islands are relatively undeveloped islands off Malaysia's north eastern coast, excellent for scuba diving.  The ideal way to reach the Perhentians is by overnight sleeper train from Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, taxi transfer then ferry:

Step 1, transfer from downtown Singapore to Johor Bahru as explained here .

Step 2, take the overnight sleeper train from JB Sentral to either Tanah Merah or Wakaf Bahru stations, see the Jungle Line section for train times . 

The train fare is about 56 Ringgit including a 2nd class sleeper .  The overnight train from JB = has 2nd class sleepers which are comfortable, air-conditioned and perfectly adequate.  Taking the sleeper train saves a hotel bill, is an experience in itself, and can even save time compared to flying.

Step 3, take a taxi from Tanah Merah or Wakaf Bahru to the main ferry port at Kuala Besut.  Local taxis will be waiting for the train at either station, the taxi fare is 60 Ringgit or so, journey time about 50 minutes from Wakaf Bahru or 30 minutes from Tanah Merah.

Step 4, speedboats from Kuala Besut take about 30 minutes to reach the Perhentian islands, and depart 4-5 times daily 09:00-17:00 according to demand.  The fare is about 70 Ringgit (£13, $17) return.  There are also slow boats which leave Kuala Besut at 08:30 and 14:30, taking 1.5 hours, fare about 45 Ringgit return.

You also pay a 30 Ringgit Marine Conservation charge to enter the marine park that surrounds the islands.

Cameron Highlands

There are no trains to the Cameron Highlands, only buses & taxis, but the nearest stations are either Tapah Road or Ipoh.  Ipoh is the better station to use, as Tapah Road station is 9 km from Tapah town, Ipoh station is more central. 

Step 1, transfer from Singapore to Johor Bharu Sentral and take a train from JB Sentral to Gemas and onwards to Ipoh, see the timetable above .  Or take a train from Kuala Lumpur or Penang (Butterworth) to Ipoh, see the timetable above .

Step 2, in Ipoh, take a taxi or local city bus from the station to the Aman Jaya bus station - a taxi will cost around 35 Ringgit.  There are several bus stations in Ipoh so make sure you're taken to the right one, all buses to the Cameron Highlands now leave from the Aman Jaya bus station.

Step 3, take a bus from Ipoh Aman Jaya bus station to Tanah Rata in the Cameron Highlands.  There several buses a day, typically at 08:00, 11:00, 15:00, 18:00.  The bus ride takes around 2h20 & costs around 28 Ringgit.  You can usually get a ticket half an hour before the bus goes, but the sooner the better as they occasionally get full.  The bus is spacious and air-conditioned.  The road winds up into the hills, with great views over the fields.  You can buy tickets for some of the buses online at www.baolau.com .

Alternatively, a private taxi from Ipoh to Tanah Rata costs around RM 250 per taxi.

Feedback or photos from travellers making this connection would be welcome.

Kuala Lumpur Airport - fast rail link to city centre

The new KLIA Ekspres train service links Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) with Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station.  It runs every 15 minutes between 05:00 & 01:00 and takes 28 minutes non-stop.  The one-way fare is about RM 55.  See www.kliaekspres.com for more information.

Malaysian Railways KTM Komuter suburban trains run regularly from KL Sentral to Batu Caves.  You can find the timetable on the Timetables page of www.ktmb.com.my .  No booking is necessary, just turn up, buy a ticket and go.

Phuket, Ko Samui, Ko Phangan, Ko Tao, Bridge on the River Kwai, Chiang Mai

See the Thailand page for connection information within Thailand to Phuket, Ko Samui, etc.

How to transfer between Singapore & JB Sentral

What happened to singapore station, what are your options now.

Option 1 , take a taxi or MRT (metro) & bus between downtown Singapore and Woodlands Train Checkpoint, then use the KTM (Malaysian Railways) shuttle train from Woodlands across the causeway to JB Sentral, taking just 5 minutes.  It's nice to say you've travelled all the way to/from Singapore island by train.  On the other hand, the shuttle trains require reservation and can get fully-booked close to departure date.  See the details here .

Option 1 , using the KTM shuttle train

Take the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit metro) from any downtown Singapore MRT station to Woodlands MRT station.  For example, the North-South MRT line links City Hall MRT station (5 minutes walk from Raffles Hotel) with Woodlands MRT station.

MRT trains run every few minutes, fare S$2.05, distance around 26.4 km, journey time around 45 minutes. 

Step 2, take bus 911 from Woodlands MRT station the 3.3 km (2 miles) to Woodlands Train Checkpoint .

Woodlands MRT station is 3.3 km (2 miles) from Woodlands Train Checkpoint.  Take air-conditioned city bus 911 from Woodlands MRT station to Woodlands Train Checkpoint.  The bus is easy to find, just downstairs from the MRT train, go to bus bay 11. 

The bus fare is S$0.99, distance 3.3 km, journey time 10 minutes, buses run every 3 to 10 minutes all day (every 3 to 15 minutes after 7pm).

You should allow at least 1h30 for the whole journey from central Singapore to Woodlands Train Checkpoint, total cost S$3.30 (£2 or $3), but plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your train leaves for passport formalities, ideally more.

See www.smrt.com.sg for a journey planner and a MRT network map .

Tip:   If you want to buy any supplies for the journey, buy them before arriving at Woodlands Train Checkpoint as there are few if any retail outlets there.

Alternatively, take a taxi from Singapore to Woodlands Train Checkpoint.   A taxi from Singapore's central business district to Woodlands costs around S$31 (£15 or US$25) per taxi for the 24 km ride.  Allow at least 40 minutes for the taxi journey, plus half an hour for passport formalities at Woodlands before the train leaves.  If you want to buy any supplies for the journey, buy them before arriving at Woodlands Train Checkpoint as there are few if any retail outlets there.

Passport & customs formalities at Woodlands:   You should arrive at Woodlands at least 30 minutes before your train departure, for passport formalities.  Check-in opens promptly 30 minutes before departure of each train.  You go through Singapore departure formalities then Malaysian immigration formalities at Woodlands before boarding the train.  In the other direction, when arriving at Woodlands from Malaysia, Malaysian immigration formalities are carried out at the station at Johor Bahru, and Singapore passport and customs formalities are undertaken at Woodlands checkpoint after you get off the train.

Ticket office at Woodlands:   There is a KTM InterCity ticket counter at Woodlands station, buy your tickets there.  Only cash is accepted, no credit cards, so ideally get some cash before leaving central Singapore, but if you need cash there are ATMs across the street along the market area about 5 minutes walk from the station.  The ticket counter will not sell tickets less than 20 minutes before the departure of each train.  There are no food stalls inside Woodlands station but there's a small supermarket across the road, or stock up before leaving central Singapore.

Step 2, take the KTM shuttle train from Woodlands Train Checkpoint to Johor Bahru Sentral.

Shuttle trains leave Woodlands for JB Sentral at 08:30, 09:45, 11:00, 12:30, 13:45, 15:00, 16:15, 17:30, 18:45, 20:00, 21:15, 22:30, 23:45.

Option 2 , using MRT & bus

MRT trains run every few minutes, fare S$2.05, distance around 26.4 km, journey time around 45 minutes.

At Woodlands, the bus interchange is right next to the MRT station, known as Woodlands Temporary Interchange or Woodlands Temp Int.

Take bus 950 from Woodlands Temporary Interchange (bus stop 47009) to Woodlands Checkpoint.

At Woodlands checkpoint you must get off the bus to go through passport & customs into Malaysia.

You then re-board the next available bus 950 from Woodlands Checkpoint to JB Sentral bus terminal.  JB Sentral bus terminal is right next to JB Sentral station.

Option 3, by private transfer

Singapore's original railway station.

From 1932 until 30 June 2011, trains to Malaysia left from the magnificent faded grandeur of Singapore's colonial art-deco station in Keppel Road, sometimes known as Tanjong Pagar.  The station was designed by Singapore's oldest architectural firm Swan and Maclaren, with Italian sculptor Rudolfo Nolli responsible for the four figures on the station's facade representing Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Transport.  The letters 'F M S R' on the front of the building stand for "Federated Malay States Railway", the railway's original title when Singapore & Malaysia were both part of British Malaya.

A railway was first built on Singapore island in 1903, linking the port area with Woodlands in the north of the island, although for the first two decades passengers had to take a ferry from Woodlands across the Johor Strait and board another train to continue their journey up the Malay Peninsula.  However, a causeway linking Singapore with Malaysia was built in 1923 and the railway was extended across it, finally allowing trains to run direct between Singapore and mainland Malaya.  The trains used a temporary station until the present station opened in 1932.  When Singapore split from Malaysia in 1965, the station and mainline railway remained the property of the Malaysian government, even though they stood on Singaporean territory.  This became a longstanding political thorn in Singapore's side, and the Singaporeans tried for years to buy or sequestrate the land so the railway could be closed and built over.

Unfortunately, the Singaporean and Malaysian governments reached an agreement in 2010.  The historic station in Singapore closed on 30 June 2011, and taking a train from this wonderful building is now a thing of the past.  Trains now start/terminate at Woodlands, just south of the causeway to Malaysia, far less convenient for travellers and a totally backward step in transport terms.  Sadly, in Singapore it seems they know the value of office blocks and shopping centres but not of city centre railway connections!  From 1 July 2011 you have to take a taxi or the MRT (mass transit metro) plus a bus to Woodlands Train Checkpoint to pick up the trains to Malaysia there.  Malaysian and Singaporean border control are co-located at Woodlands, so at least this saves the long stops for border control en route, cutting journey time.  At least it's planned to preserve, rather than demolish, the old station building.  As it used to be:  There's a good look round Singapore's railway station in this video or see this panorama photo inside Singapore station .  Map showing location of Singapore's old railway station

Kuala Lumpur Sentral station

Long-distance KTM InterCity trains between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Penang were switched to Kuala Lumpur's shiny modern KL Sentral station in 2001, and no longer start from the famous Moorish-style railway station built by the British in 1910.  However, the old station is still an operational station and suburban KTM Komuter trains still stop there, as do many fast new ETS trains.  You can easily take a frequent suburban train from KL Sentral to the old KL station, which is a landmark in its own right.  Map showing location of the new KL Sentral and original historic KL stations .

KTM InterCity ticket office:   Located on level 2, along the passageway on your left as you walk in through the main station doors from the taxi rank (the dark passageway in the background in the photo above left).  Open for advance sales 07:00-21:30 every day.  Sales for immediate travel 07:00-23:00 daily.  An organised waiting system operates, ask for a numbered queuing ticket from the first counter on the left and wait for your number to be called.  Can sell tickets for any KTM train within Malaysia, but not for Thai trains.

Left luggage office:   You can leave your bags at the left luggage office, located directly opposite the KTM InterCity ticket counters on Level 2.  Open every day 08:00 to 22:30.  3 Ringgit (£0.80 or $1) for a small bag, 5 Ringgit (£1 or $2) for a large bag.

Access to mainline trains:   The stairs and escalators down to the KTM InterCity trains (platforms 1 & 2) start from Level 2, labelled 'Gate A' and 'Gate B' to left and right as you walk in through the main doors from the taxi rank.  In the photo above left, 'Gate A' is in the far background on the far right of the photo.  Actually, both gates go to the same pair of platforms. 

Access to Komuter and KLIA airport trains:   KTM Komuter trains leave from separate platforms accessed from the KTM Komuter area downstairs on Level 1.  Access to KLIA airport trains is also from Level 1.

First class lounge:   First class KTM InterCity passengers can use a VIP lounge with complimentary soft drinks and free WiFi.  It opens an hour before each train departure.  It's poorly signed:  Go through the main doors from the taxi rank, walk forward, do a 180 degree turn up the escalator to the Level 3 walkway you can see in the photo above left, turn left at the top of the escalator and left again through the lift lobby to the door to the lounge.

Food & drink:   There's a KFC on Level 2 and a MacDonald's and other food outlets just on Level 1.  There are many 7-11 style shops to stock up for your train journey.

Kuala Lumpur's original station

Built in 1910 and designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, KL's famous Moorish-style station served as KL's main station until superseded by KL Sentral in 2001, which is located a little way to the south.  Commuter trains & many ETS trains still call at the old station, although the trains from KL to Singapore now all start from KL Sentral.  However, the old station is a famous landmark in its own right, and well worth a visit.  Note that on the KTM website, plain Kuala Lumpur means the old station, Kuala Lumpur Sentral means the new one.  Sadly, it's reported that the Heritage Station Hotel (which was part of the old 1910 station building and a good cheap choice) has now closed down.  More about the station .

Butterworth & Penang

Penang is an island, and the city on Penang Island is called Georgetown, once the capital of British Malaya.  The railway station for Penang is Butterworth, located on the mainland directly opposite Georgetown.  When you arrive by train at Butterworth station, you walk from the station over a walkway to the ferry terminal to take the ferry to Georgetown (Penang).  Georgetown has some excellent British colonial buildings, interesting museums and temples, a large Chinatown and a Little India.  Well worth a visit!

Map showing station & ferry terminal locations in Penang & Butterworth

Butterworth station

A new station has been built at Butterworth as part of KL-Penang-Padang Besar railway modernisation project.  There is still some construction going on, but access between the station and the ferry to Penang is now by walkway and lift, no need for any stairs.  Butterworth station has a ticket office, open 07:00-22:30 every day (with breaks 09:00-10:00 & 16:00-17:30).  They accept MasterCard & Visa.  There's a money changer, but no ATMs, nor is there any left luggage office.  There's not much in the way of food shops at Butterworth, just a small snacks & drinks kiosk opposite the ticket office, so when catching a train it's best to stock up before you leave Georgetown.  If you get stuck, you might find a shop at the bus station next door.

The ferry from Butterworth to Penang

It's a clearly-signed 5-minute walk along a covered walkway from Butterworth railway station to Butterworth Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal.

Fast air-conditioned passenger ferries shuttle back & forth between Butterworth & Georgetown (Penang) every 30-60 minutes between 06:30 & 20:30 on weekdays, every hour weekends & holidays, crossing time around 10 minutes, see www.penangport.com.my/Services/Ferry-Services .

In Georgetown, these passenger-only fast ferries use Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal.  See map showing ferry route & terminals .

The fare is 2 Ringgit each way.

Buy a ticket on the day, it's cashless so cards only, or buy online on the day of travel at ferry.penangport.com.my/products .

The old non-air-con ferries that used to carry passengers and vehicles now only carry bicycles and vehicles, foot passengers use the new air-con fast ferry service.  There is no longer any KTM train ticket office in Georgetown.

Alternatively,  you can take a taxi between Butterworth & Penang (Georgetown):   You can take a taxi the long way round via the lengthy Penang Bridge, about 60 Ringgit (£11 or $17) from a central Penang hotel to Butterworth station, driving time at least 25 minutes but this depends on the traffic so could take a lot longer.  Don't cut things fine when catching a train.

Hotels in Penang

For hotels in Penang, use the hotel search engine below or see TripAdvisor's Penang hotels page .  The most famous & historic place to stay in Penang is of course the historic Eastern & Oriental Hotel , around £150 for a double room.

Padang Besar Thai/Malay border

There are two stations at Padang Besar, but the main Padang Besar station is the only one that matters:  This main station is on the Malaysian side of the border, it's where Malaysian trains meet Thai trains and passengers interchange.  The other Padang Besar station is a minor halt on the Thai side of the border referred to as either Padang Besar II or Padang Besar (Thai) .  When going southbound from Bangkok or Hat Yai, don't get off at the wrong one! 

Border controls at Padang Besar

At Padang Besar main station there are Malaysian and Thai border controls located on the ground floor inside the station building just a few metres apart, you go through one and then the other depending whether you're travelling north or south.  Normally you'll breeze through both sets of border controls in minutes.  Further feedback always appreciated .

Thai border staff may want to see evidence of 10,000 baht in cash (who carries $300 in cash on them these days??) though in my experience they may only ask if you look down-at-heel.

Fun with time zones

Padang Besar is in Malaysia , local time is Malaysian time , 1 hour ahead of Thai time.  All Malaysian KTM timetables & websites correctly show Padang Besar departures & arrivals in Malaysian time.  However, State Railways of Thailand timetables & websites (including the 12go.asia & Baolau websites when showing Thai cross-border trains) incorrectly show Padang Besar arrivals & departures in Thai time.  So when the Thai railways say their sleeper train to Bangkok leaves Padang Besar at 17:00, they mean 18:00 local/Malaysian time.  When they say the sleeper train from Bangkok arrives in Padang Besar at 09:50, they mean 10:50 local/Malaysian time.  Got it?

Ticket offices & station facilities

The Malaysian KTM ticket office upstairs accepts Thai baht or Malaysian ringgits, but not credit cards.  It closes for lunch 11:00-12:00 .

The Thai SRT ticket office at track level accepts both Thai baht and Malaysian ringgit, but not credit cards, open 09:00-10:00 & 15:00-17:35 Malaysian time .

There is no ATM or (official) bureau de change at the station, if you need cash there is an ATM 20 minutes walk away, or take a taxi.  Several travellers report people unofficially happy to change money for you.

The station cafe is upstairs, it and sells decent food and drink.  It's on the Malaysian side of the border controls, so when travelling north don't go through the border to early as there are no facilities on the Thailand-bound platform once you're through.

Further feedback on facilities, opening hours & border experiences would much appreciated .

Ferries to Sarawak & Sabah States on Borneo

Since 1988 there have been no ferries between Singapore or mainland Malaysia and the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah on the island of Borneo.  The only option is a ferry from Malaysia or Singapore to Java in Indonesia (see the Indonesia page, ferry section ), then a ferry from Java to the Indonesian part of Borneo, then overland the Malaysian part of Borneo.  Ferries run by www.pelni.co.id link Tanjong Priok (near Jakarta) with Pontianak, also Semarang (Java) with Ketapang, Kumai & Sampit, and Surabaya (Java) with Sampit, Kumai or Batulicin, with each route operating on a handful of dates each month, see www.pelni.co.id .

Trains in Sabah State (North Borneo)

The scenic North Borneo Railway, now known as the Sabah State Railway, links Khota Kinabalu (or strictly speaking, a station called Tangjung Aru located 10 km outside it) to Papar, Beaufort and Tenom, a total journey of 134 km.  For details see Lee Carter's excellent blog and information page, global-goose.com/travel-photos/north-borneo-railway-sabah .

Beaufort to Tenom:   One train daily at 07:50, journey 2½ hours, fare around 2.75 ringgit.  Return train leaves Tenom at 13:00.

Beaufort to Tangjung Aru (Kota Kinabalu):   Two trains daily at 05:00 & 11:00, journey 3 hours, fare 4.30 ringgit.  Return times not known.

The photos below show the Beaufort to Tenom train, courtesy of Michael Pick, who describes the journey as a highlight of a visit to Borneo.  Beaufort to Tenom can easily be done as a day trip.

The Eastern & Oriental Express

The luxurious Eastern & Oriental Express runs once, twice or sometimes 3 times a month between Singapore, Penang and Bangkok, usually including a city tour in Penang and a brief diversion to Kanchanaburi and the famous Bridge on the River Kwai.  It also runs some rail cruises to Chiang Mai and other destinations.  Operated by the same company that runs the superb Venice Simplon Orient Express, it uses sleeping-cars originally built in Japan for the New Zealand Railways Wellington-Auckland 'Silver Star' sleeper train (which ran 1972 to 1979). The Eastern & Oriental gets great reviews from travellers, and it's easily the most luxurious way to travel from Singapore to Bangkok, seeing both Malaysia and the famous Bridge on the River Kwai on the way.  In other words, it isn't cheap, but you certainly won't regret taking this train!  See the Eastern & Oriental Express page for times, departure dates, prices & online booking.

London to Singapore by Trans-Siberian Railway

If you have the time (we're talking a minimum of 3½ weeks one-way), you can travel from London to Singapore overland using the Trans-Siberian Railway between Moscow & Beijing, see the route map here .  The links below cover travel in either direction, eastbound from London to Singapore or westbound from Singapore to London.

Step 1, London to Moscow by train .  There are daily departures via Brussels, Berlin & Warsaw, but the best option is to take the excellent Paris-Moscow Express which runs once a week.  The journey takes 2 nights, from around £250 one-way with sleeper.  Spend at least 1 night in Moscow.

Step 2, Moscow to Beijing by Trans-Siberian Railway .  Two direct trains every week all year round, 6 nights.  Fares from around £500 one-way with a bed in a 4-bed sleeper.  Spend at least 1 night in Beijing.

Step 3, Beijing to Hanoi by train .  There are two direct trains a week, 2 nights, about $320 or £220 one-way in soft sleeper.  Alternatively, there are daily trains with a change in Nanning.  Spend at least 1 night in Hanoi.

Step 4, Hanoi to Saigon by train .  There are several comfortable air-conditioned trains every day over the Reunification Railway taking 2 nights.  Why not stop off to see Hue or Hoi An?  About $90 or £50 one-way in soft sleeper.

Step 5, Saigon-Phnom Penh by bus .  There are lots of buses every day, journey time 6 hours, $12.  Spend at least 1 night in Phnom Penh.

Step 6, Phnom Penh to Poiphet by bus or train, train to Bangkok .  Takes a day.

Step 7, Bangkok to Singapore by train .  Daily departures, takes 2 nights.  It costs around £40 or $80 including sleeper for 1 night.

How to arrange this trip

There aren't many travel agencies who can arrange the whole trip, so you will need to plan it out and arrange each stage of the journey yourself, an exercise in project management!  Unless time is no object, you should book the key sections in advance through various travel agencies.

Book London-Moscow as shown on the London to Russia page ;

Book Moscow-Beijing & Beijing-Hanoi through a local Russian agency or through Real Russia as shown on the Trans-Siberian & Vietnam pages.

Tickets for other parts of the trip, for example, Hanoi-Saigon-Phnom Penh-Bangkok can all be bought locally, as you go along.

You'll need to pre-arrange visas for Belarus, Russia, possibly Mongolia, China & Vietnam, and in many ways complying with the various visa requirements (which sometimes require confirmed onward tickets to be held) is actually the biggest challenge, not buying the tickets, so check this out carefully using the relevant embassy websites.

Where do you start?  First, read through the seat61 pages linked above, then sketch out your itinerary using a simple spreadsheet like this , deciding where and for how long you want to stop off.  Next, check out the visa situation for each country.  Finally, follow the advice on each seat61 page to buy tickets for each train journey that you want to pre-book.

Some inspiration

You won't be the first to travel between Europe and Southeast Asia overland this way, far from it.  Check out this excellent blog from Tom Woods, "Woodlands to Woking",  woodlandstowoking.wordpress.com and Matthew Woodward's equally excellent blog from Newcastle to Singapore www.matthew-woodward.com/edinburgh-to-singapore .

Hotels in Singapore & Malaysia

The classic choice in singapore:  raffles hotel.

Well, it has to be Raffles, hasn't it?  A major Singapore landmark and a tourist attraction in its own right, all rooms are suites and will set you back upwards from £300 per night.  But it's one of the world's greatest hotels, and one of several famous Asian hotels founded by the Sarkies brothers.  The main building dates from 1899, although the two side wings date from 1889 and 1896.  Even if you can't afford to stay there, at least drop in for a refreshing Singapore sling in the famous Long Bar, a rather more affordable option, though still pricey!  At least the peanuts are free.  Remember to follow tradition by dropping the peanut shells straight onto the floor.  Book a room at Raffles .

The classic choice in Penang:  Eastern & Oriental Hotel

If you like Raffles, try another of the Sarkies brothers' hotels, the equally historic Eastern & Oriental Hotel in Georgetown, Penang, equally historic but a bit cheaper at around £150 for a double room.  It's grand, well-located with gardens to the rear backing the sea.

You might also want to check Tripadvisor:  Tripadvisor Singapore hotels    Tripadvisor Malaysia hotels .   Suggested hotels in Bangkok .

Backpacker hostels in Singapore & Malaysia

www.hostelworld.com :  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.

G uidebooks

I recommend investing in a decent guidebook, even in the age of free info on the internet.  It's a tiny fraction of what you're spending on your whole trip, and you will see so much more, and know so much more about what you're looking at, if you have a decent guidebook.  For the independent traveller, I recommend either the Lonely Planets or the Rough Guides.  Both provide an excellent level of practical information and historical and political background.  You will not regret buying one!

Buy from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Alternatively, you can download just the chapters you need in .PDF format from the Lonely Planet Website , from around £2.99 or US$4.95 a chapter.

F lights to Singapore

1)  check flight prices at opodo, www.opodo.com, 2)  use skyscanner to compare flight prices & routes worldwide across 600 airlines....

3)  Lounge passes

Make the airport experience a little more bearable with a VIP lounge pass, it's not as expensive as you think, see www.loungepass.com

Travel insurance & other tips

Always take out travel insurance.

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit.  An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list .  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data .

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:   1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android .  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card , they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  W hy you need a VPN

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained .  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I get a small commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from Buy from Amazon.com .

Back to home page

Thailand Trains

Thailand train times & tickets, train travel from bangkok to malaysia, international train travel.

There are two routes for train travel from Bangkok to Malaysia. On the first route Thailand train services go as far as the border town of Padang Besar. Malaysian train services run from Padang Besar to Butterworth Railway Station near the island of Penang on the West Coast of the Malay peninsula. Trains on the other route terminate at Sungai Kolok railway station, which is 2 km from the border with Malaysia, near the East Coast of Malaysia.

Route 1: Bangkok to Padang Besar

This is the route to take if you are heading to Penang, or for onward travel to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. Thai and Malaysian passport control is located inside Padang Besar Railway Station.

• Malaysian train services to Penang, Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur all depart from Padang Besar Railway Station.

Buy Train Tickets to Penang

Use the Search Box below to buy your train tickets from Bangkok to Padang Besar for travel to Penang.

Train Services from Bangkok to Padang Besar

Only one per day from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok.

Departure 1:

• Train Number #45
• Depart: 16:10
• Arrive: 08:05
• Journey Time: 15 hours 55 minutes

Online Ticket Prices (2024)

• 2nd class A/C sleeper – 1,208 THB

Train Services Padang Besar to Penang, Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur

There are lots of KTM Komuter services a day from Padang Besar to Penang (Butterworth Station) and several fast train services a day from Padang Besar to Kuala Lumpur:

• See train times from Padang Besar to Penang .
• See train times from Padang Besar to Ipoh .
• See train times from Padang Besar to Kuala Lumpur .

Location of Bangkok Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal

Bangkok’s main train station, Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, is located close to Chatuchak Park.

Travel from Butterworth Train Station to Penang

Butterworth is on the mainland of the Malay peninsula. To get to Penang either take the car ferry, which departs from a pier near Butterworth Railway Station, or take a taxi over the bridge connecting Butterworth to Penang.

For onward travel to Kuala Lumpur, and other destinations in Malaysia either take another train, or turn left as you leave the train station and go across the car park to get to Butterworth bus terminal.

Location of Butterworth Railway Station near Penang

Route 2: Bangkok to Sungai Kolok

This is the route to take if you are heading to Kota Bharu to apply for a visa at the Thai Consulate, or if you are heading to the Perhentian islands for diving. The journey to the border is very quick and there are many taxi and motorbike taxis waiting at the railway station.

Buy Train Tickets to Sungai Kolok

Use the Search Form below to buy your train tickets from Bangkok to Sungai Kolok for travel to Kota Bharu.

Train Services from Bangkok to Sungai Kolok

There are two trains per day to Sungai Kolok departing from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok.

• Train Number #171
• Depart: 15:10
• Arrive: 10:10
• Journey Time: 19 hours 00 minutes

Departure 2:

• Train Number #37
• Departing Bangkok: 16:10
• Arriving Sungai Kolok: 10:35
• Journey Time: 18 hours 25 minutes

Location of Sungai Kolok Train Station

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