We have done this trip a couple of times more than 35 years ago. I do remember the necessity to change platform when going through immigration because the Malaysian railroads gauge is wider than the Thai gauge. So this new direct train needs to be equipped with the variable width bogies or as they used to do between France and Spain lift the carriages and replaced the bogies. Some express trains have the variable gauge wheelsets or automatic gauge changers. Same issues with the Russian gauge wider than the European standard gauge.

Alcahol will need to be served at specific times of the journey. Perhaps meal times ?

Well they've certainly been doing a lot of work on the tracks  and some of the stations. When are they going to start improving the coaches? When are they going to start supplying coaches that look like they came from at least the late 1990s? 

 

It is quite embarrassing how far Thai rail is behind the curve. Almost reminds me of American rail. LOL. 

On 6/1/2025 at 3:08 PM, thecyclist said:

 

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. 

It was in December 1979. Bangkok - KL - Singapore, no change as far as I can remember.