Does anyone have any experience with getting an onwards ticket for travel between Hat Yai and Butterworth on the day of travel at hualamphong station?

I would like to do the online booking from Bangkok to Hat Yai first, just to be on the safe side, instead of taking the chance to get a ticket for the whole distance to Butterworth, as the train might possibly be fully booked on the day of travel.

Any recommendations are much appreciated!

Just Google "the man in seat 61" you will find a great web site with all the information you need for train travel in Thailand and the rest of the world. Up to date and worth reading especially for the "international train" regarding booking from Thailand.

Just to finish this topic off, I will give a summary of the procedures I went through to get from Bangkok to Butterworth, Penang.

(I have to honourably mention a forumer, who went beyond the call of duy to send me valuable advice by PM. My sincere thanks to him.)

I did the online booking on the thairailwayticket website, they only allow you to book online up to Hat Yai.

Tuktuk from Khaosan Rd to Hualamphong station. The ones inside Khaosan Rd ask for 150 Baht, outside on the main road I waved one down and offered 100 Baht, probably could have gotten it for a bit less still.

The Express train departs Bangkok 14.45, I took a sleeper cabin, an attendant unfolds the beds and supplies you with blankets at around 6 pm. The trip to Hat Yai was 900 Baht for a lower berth, which is larger than the upper berth.

Arriving in the morning in Hat Yai, opposite the train station is a travel agency, that sells tickets for the minivan to Butterworth or Penang for 300 Baht.

The van departed around 9 am and it took until around 1 pm to drop us off in Penang, somewhere near the bus terminal. From there it´s a short walk or a 10 Ringgit Riksha ride to the ferry terminal with the other bus station. From there a bus will get you to Kek Lok Si.

All in all, I enjoyed the train trip, but probably would stay on the train for the whole distance, as the minivan is not really that faster. Onwards tickets should be easy to get in Hualamphong station on the day of travel, as your berth usually would not be booked for between Hat Yai and Butterworth.