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Posted
9 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Yes, I will. Have to find out about reservations.

However, the train coaches are not looking very much inviting or comfortable.😳

And they are not bullet nor bomb proofed...

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Posted
17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Backpackers and railway fans alike are expected to embrace the Bangkok–Kuala Lumpur route for its affordability and scenic allure.

 

I've done Bangkok to Butterworth and the reverse many, many moons ago. Scenic allure? The other one plays Jingle Bells

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Posted
26 minutes ago, JJ-Thailand said:

I took this trip 1979, looks like the same train.

Under the photo on the left hand side is the caption " File photo for reference only" 

 

 

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Posted
3 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Yes, I will. Have to find out about reservations.

However, the train coaches are not looking very much inviting or comfortable.😳

The "combining nostalgic charm" has me thinking.

Posted

I did the best I could in around 2017, but I had to do some of Malaysia by bus because my journey coincided with a national holiday and the trains were booked on that side of the border. Some by train, some by bus in Malaysia

 

Spent a night across the bay from Penang and a day bopping around Penang.  That was good.

 

Then I spent a couple of days in Songkhla town because I love the place. That was great.  I highly recommend Songkhla town and Samila beach.

 

But the train from Hat Yai to Bangkok was miserable.  I couldn't wait for it to be over.  In fairness, I was in cattle class with just a hard sleeper.  I don't recall if there were upgrades to nicer cars that I may have missed because ticket selection was limited on the holiday.

 

I'd do it again only if I intended to make interim stops along the way for a few days in some of the fascinating locales along the way.  That would be a great trip.  But not all at once...  I wonder if that will be feasible when the train goes through from KL to BKK?

 

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Posted
11 hours ago, johng said:

Pity they can't serve alcohol on the trains anymore..wonder if they will allow it on the Malaysian side ?  probably not.

 

thankfully, they can;t serve alcohol.

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Posted
1 hour ago, MarcelV said:

Why would a train need to be?

Maybe because of history of it?

 

A passenger train carrying around 300 people was bombed in Thailand’s Deep South, injuring two train officials and one passenger. [SNIP] No. 452 from Sungai Kolok to Nakhon Si Thammarat was travelling between Pattani and Ta Paet stations, carrying 300 passengers on board. The train driver opted not to halt the train and went as far as Ta Paet station in Songkhla’s Thepa district because he anticipated more attacks.

 

All 16 trains serving the Sungai Kolok-Yala line in Thailand's deep south suspend service indefinitely after suspected insurgents shot dead three railway workers and a police officer aboard a train on Saturday.

 

Gunmen opened fire at a passenger train in the Deep South province Yala, damaging the train’s braking system.

 

Hundreds of commuters were stranded following the bombing, which targeted the railway between Yala and Narathiwat provinces at about 6am today. Police said they believe local separatists were behind the attack

 

And there's a lot more news of unrest from the Southern most provinces, from attacking businesses and government buildings to blocking road and opening fire at public transport vehicles (I was in a very close shave to one of these some good 20 years ago and that's something you don't forget), to putting explosives on the train tracks and firing with automatic weapons into the passenger train cars. Go search this forum. Then ask again.

 

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Posted
8 hours ago, impulse said:

I don't recall if there were upgrades to nicer cars that I may have missed because ticket selection was limited on the holiday.

 

It doesn't matter. I took a luxury cabin to Paris and it was still a valley of tears. Sleeping on a train is a nightmare. Never again.

Posted

In 2019 we travelled from Hua Hin to Hat Yai, the private sleeper compartment was fine. The hassle was then catching a train to Padang Besar walking across the border, another train to Butterworth then ferry to Georgetown. A train straight through to KL sounds inviting. 

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Posted

Looks like a pretty chill idea. I remember there used to be BKK-Penang trains back in 2014. Good to see this is coming back.

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Posted
On 5/28/2025 at 11:47 PM, tomazbodner said:

Maybe because of history of it?

 

A passenger train carrying around 300 people was bombed in Thailand’s Deep South, injuring two train officials and one passenger. [SNIP] No. 452 from Sungai Kolok to Nakhon Si Thammarat was travelling between Pattani and Ta Paet stations, carrying 300 passengers on board. The train driver opted not to halt the train and went as far as Ta Paet station in Songkhla’s Thepa district because he anticipated more attacks.

 

All 16 trains serving the Sungai Kolok-Yala line in Thailand's deep south suspend service indefinitely after suspected insurgents shot dead three railway workers and a police officer aboard a train on Saturday.

 

Gunmen opened fire at a passenger train in the Deep South province Yala, damaging the train’s braking system.

 

Hundreds of commuters were stranded following the bombing, which targeted the railway between Yala and Narathiwat provinces at about 6am today. Police said they believe local separatists were behind the attack

 

And there's a lot more news of unrest from the Southern most provinces, from attacking businesses and government buildings to blocking road and opening fire at public transport vehicles (I was in a very close shave to one of these some good 20 years ago and that's something you don't forget), to putting explosives on the train tracks and firing with automatic weapons into the passenger train cars. Go search this forum. Then ask again.

 

that was 11 may 1834

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Posted
On 5/28/2025 at 9:54 AM, Grumpy one said:

 

Neither are cars and buses, but no one thinks twice before using them

He's trying to joke as the train passes an area of permanent conflict in Southern Thailand. 

It's an awful joke.

Posted
On 5/29/2025 at 12:57 AM, Cameroni said:

 

It doesn't matter. I took a luxury cabin to Paris and it was still a valley of tears. Sleeping on a train is a nightmare. Never again.

 

I have fond memories of watching Silver Streak. 

 

But I doubt I'd run into a Jill Clayburgh between BKK and KL.

 

Posted
1 minute ago, impulse said:

 

I have fond memories of watching Silver Streak. 

 

But I doubt I'd run into a Jill Clayburgh between BKK and KL.

 

 

Oh trains look great in the movies. Cary Grant could make you want to take a train anywhere.

 

The sad reality is pretty much everyone who takes a train does so as a couple or even worse, large family groups.

 

You'd be more likely to meet Jill if you join a mixed basketball club.

Posted
On 5/28/2025 at 10:07 AM, JJ-Thailand said:

I took this trip 1979, looks like the same train.

 

On 5/28/2025 at 10:07 AM, JJ-Thailand said:

I took this trip 1979, looks like the same train.

Really, I also took " this" train in 1979, but you had to change trains in Butterworth. If there ever was a through train to KL, it must have been before 1979. 

Posted
On 5/28/2025 at 8:59 AM, newbee2022 said:

Yes, I will. Have to find out about reservations.

However, the train coaches are not looking very much inviting or comfortable.😳

Not sure how they are going to manage this.

It is my understanding that Malaysia is electrified, why they stopped the train in the first place. I can only assume that at PB you get off the train as previously, walk through the platform immigration and get on a waiting Malaysian train for the remainder of the journey.

If the Thai diesels are allowed to go all the way through then it will be the rolling stock that was introduced about 2017 which are quite comfortable. I would recommend the first class cabins and your own refreshments.

I went down to Butterworth just before the change and yes, the suspension not that great.

Posted
On 5/28/2025 at 10:34 AM, Drumbuie said:

Under the photo on the left hand side is the caption " File photo for reference only" 

 

 

"File photo for reference only" = Not my job or problam to locate up to date information to accompany the press release.🙃🙃

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