Train to Penang and maybe onward to KL

[Inyourendo]

Whats it like, anyone here done it ?

Would be needing decent cabin for 4.

Any ideas on cost and how often leaves etc...timeframe to Penang ?

Cheers

[lopburi3]

Might be good to indicate where you want to start your travel?

Have not used for last decade but there was a daily run from Bangkok to Butterworth (Penang) leaving late afternoon every day and arriving about noon next day (normally late). Sleeping was in a car with about 20 plus births (upper/lower) which converted to seats considered 2nd class (also 2nd class seats which not a very comfortable trip). 1st class was two beds per room in upper/lower (but across track so every slow down rolls you over). Not very comfortable on the few times I used.

[Inyourendo]

Bangkok....

[CNXSTEVE]

The man in Seat 61 is your friend

http://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm#.Vo53xLZ95kg

[angsta]

This question has been asked numerous times before so I would politely suggest you search this website and Google as you are likely to find the information you require that way.

[xen]

There was a very good post on this very subject posted on the 17/12/2015 . I am too lazy to search for it for you- you can do that

Also endorse Seat 61 as an excellent site for train info.

[Inyourendo]

There was a very good post on this very subject posted on the 17/12/2015 . I am too lazy to search for it for you- you can do that

Also endorse Seat 61 as an excellent site for train info.

great...i'll try to find.....was it in this section ?......I find searching here with a tablet not very successful....cheers

[neitmoj]

Look up the KTM website: http://www.ktmb.com.my and download the current Intercity timetable, which shoes connections to and from Bangkok. Don't expect speed of high frequencies, and book the Malaysia section inside the country as KTM give 50% discounts to anyone over 50 (or maybe 55, I forget which), making even 1st class very affordable. They'll ask to see your passport as you book and the discount is applied automatically. The onboard food is awful but the trains are very comfortable, and at that price, who's complaining?

[Spaniel]

Here is a bit more practical info as I have made the trip many times but unfortunately not recently. I hate it when people just say, search for it, google it, etc. Things may have changed but when I used to make the trip you departed Hualalongpong train station (Bangkok) around noon and the total traveling time was about 24 hours, arriving in Butterworth around 1 pm the next day. In Hat Yai I believe you change from the Thai train to the Malaysian train to complete the journey to Butterworth. Their is a 1 hour time difference when you enter Malaysia. At the border everyone gets off the train with their luggage to go through Malaysian Immigration/Customs check. At Butterworth it's an easy connecting walk to catch the ferry to Penang, which takes about 30 min. I would always get the second class a/c train, lower bunk. Don't know about the what kind of cabins are available. You are traveling with a group so it can be a fun experience. Many would say boring but you already know it will take 24 hours so you are obviously not in a rush. The last trip I made with wife and son, about 10 years ago, I recall the food was ok but not great. I understand the dining facilities are contracted out so the food quality can well change over the years depending on how good or bad the current food contractor is. Good luck.

[metisdead]

A post containing an inflammatory comment directed at other posters has been removed:

7) You will respect fellow members and post in a civil manner. No personal attacks, hateful or insulting towards other members, (flaming) Stalking of members on either the forum or via PM will not be allowed.

[Inyourendo]

Here is a bit more practical info as I have made the trip many times but unfortunately not recently. I hate it when people just say, search for it, google it, etc. Things may have changed but when I used to make the trip you departed Hualalongpong train station (Bangkok) around noon and the total traveling time was about 24 hours, arriving in Butterworth around 1 pm the next day. In Hat Yai I believe you change from the Thai train to the Malaysian train to complete the journey to Butterworth. Their is a 1 hour time difference when you enter Malaysia. At the border everyone gets off the train with their luggage to go through Malaysian Immigration/Customs check. At Butterworth it's an easy connecting walk to catch the ferry to Penang, which takes about 30 min. I would always get the second class a/c train, lower bunk. Don't know about the what kind of cabins are available. You are traveling with a group so it can be a fun experience. Many would say boring but you already know it will take 24 hours so you are obviously not in a rush. The last trip I made with wife and son, about 10 years ago, I recall the food was ok but not great. I understand the dining facilities are contracted out so the food quality can well change over the years depending on how good or bad the current food contractor is. Good luck.

thanks...appreciate the info....yes agree, hate google and searching....usually ask the question to get up to date info.

didn't know you had to catch a ferry....so learnt something there.

tell me why 2nd and not first class....we are family of 4, so want to stick together, same cabin and sleeping etc.....

[lopburi3]

First class is only available to Hat Yai in Thailand and then you would have to change to 2nd class coach.

Check these web sites for price/time/photos.

http://www.railway.co.th/checktime/checktime.asp?lenguage=Eng

http://www.railway.co.th/Ticket/CheckPrice_TrainGo.asp?Sta=%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%9E&Fin=%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%95%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C%E0%B8%98&IdTrain=35&NFee=*%E0%B8%94%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B4%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A8%E0%B8%A9&Ori=Bangkok&Dep=Butterworth&lenguage=eng

http://www.railway.co.th/Ticket/CheckPrice_TrainGo.asp?Sta=%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%9E&Fin=%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%94%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%8D%E0%B9%88&IdTrain=35&NFee=*%E0%B8%94%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B4%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A8%E0%B8%A9&Ori=Bangkok&Dep=Hat%20Yai%20Junction&lenguage=eng

[xen]

There was a very good post on this very subject posted on the 17/12/2015 . I am too lazy to search for it for you- you can do that

Also endorse Seat 61 as an excellent site for train info.

great...i'll try to find.....was it in this section ?......I find searching here with a tablet not very successful....cheers

The post is called (guide) ​Travelling to Georgetown, Penang and back to Thailand posted on the 17 /12/2015 .

I agree about searching. Google is not too bad as I do a lot but on TVF I can never get the result I am looking for. I only know this one because I looked back thru my contents. I can't do a cut and paste because I have updated to Win 10 and still haven't worked out why I can't cut and paste into explorer from google.

[Inyourendo]

Xen....found it, thanks

[siam2007]

Here is a bit more practical info as I have made the trip many times but unfortunately not recently. I hate it when people just say, search for it, google it, etc. Things may have changed but when I used to make the trip you departed Hualalongpong train station (Bangkok) around noon and the total traveling time was about 24 hours, arriving in Butterworth around 1 pm the next day. In Hat Yai I believe you change from the Thai train to the Malaysian train to complete the journey to Butterworth. Their is a 1 hour time difference when you enter Malaysia. At the border everyone gets off the train with their luggage to go through Malaysian Immigration/Customs check. At Butterworth it's an easy connecting walk to catch the ferry to Penang, which takes about 30 min. I would always get the second class a/c train, lower bunk. Don't know about the what kind of cabins are available. You are traveling with a group so it can be a fun experience. Many would say boring but you already know it will take 24 hours so you are obviously not in a rush. The last trip I made with wife and son, about 10 years ago, I recall the food was ok but not great. I understand the dining facilities are contracted out so the food quality can well change over the years depending on how good or bad the current food contractor is. Good luck.

thanks...appreciate the info....yes agree, hate google and searching....usually ask the question to get up to date info.

didn't know you had to catch a ferry....so learnt something there.

tell me why 2nd and not first class....we are family of 4, so want to stick together, same cabin and sleeping etc.....

Just don't try to get to a station called "Hualalongpong" as such thing does not exist.

I recommend to get to HUA LAMPHONG instead

[Inyourendo]

So found out that there apparently is 1st class from bkk to Butterworth, or is it just the border ?.....and that you cannot book more than 60 days prior....so, how do we guarantee 4 seats, 2 cabins opposite each other in 2nd class...travelling with kid's and do not wantto be separated

[4evermaat]

Here is a bit more practical info as I have made the trip many times but unfortunately not recently. I hate it when people just say, search for it, google it, etc. Things may have changed but when I used to make the trip you departed Hualalongpong train station (Bangkok) around noon and the total traveling time was about 24 hours, arriving in Butterworth around 1 pm the next day. In Hat Yai I believe you change from the Thai train to the Malaysian train to complete the journey to Butterworth. Their is a 1 hour time difference when you enter Malaysia. At the border everyone gets off the train with their luggage to go through Malaysian Immigration/Customs check. At Butterworth it's an easy connecting walk to catch the ferry to Penang, which takes about 30 min. I would always get the second class a/c train, lower bunk. Don't know about the what kind of cabins are available. You are traveling with a group so it can be a fun experience. Many would say boring but you already know it will take 24 hours so you are obviously not in a rush. The last trip I made with wife and son, about 10 years ago, I recall the food was ok but not great. I understand the dining facilities are contracted out so the food quality can well change over the years depending on how good or bad the current food contractor is. Good luck.

thanks...appreciate the info....yes agree, hate google and searching....usually ask the question to get up to date info.

didn't know you had to catch a ferry....so learnt something there.

tell me why 2nd and not first class....we are family of 4, so want to stick together, same cabin and sleeping etc.....

The 2nd class air condition sleeper cars are the same ones that decouple at Hat Yai and continue onwards to Butterworth. So no need to change cars. You stay together by booking early (at least 3-4 days in advance, or further out during holiday seasons like Ramadan, King's Birthday, etc). You either book adjacent 2 upper and 2 lower beds, or you can book them so that you sit across from each other. You can get an electrical outlet at certain seats, bring a small 2 prong power strip (and possibly an extension cord) to take advantage. Of course you'd have a prong converter for malaysia also .

With 1st class you'd have a little more privacy, and you would own the whole room (2 beds in a split room, you take both sides for a total of 4 beds) but it will likely be double price of 2nd class. You get a face basin and a/c outlet, but the toilet is still in a separate room. Then you must remember to change train cars at hat yai. 2nd class is one straight shot to Butterworth; easier especially for a first time traveler. Lots of families have used 2nd class and stay together with no problems. Plus you will meet people and share stories.

Train food is not that bad, although I would advise you to at least bring your own water. You can get big 1.5 litre for 15 baht at 7-eleven. Good idea to bring some prepared food with you, to cut down on cost. ChinaTown (Yao-ro-wat) and Little India (Pa-ruu-hat) is the closest day/night market. You can take the local bus (forgot what #s, you can ask information desk) for 6-8 baht. Siam Paragon or MBK's food court is not far. There is a covered market across the street from Siam Paragon's main entrance (food court with Bangkok Bank/SCB) that serves local food at local prices. You might have missed it in the afternoon/evening time as the street vendors make it less visible. Not sure what time local market opens, but Siam opens 10:00.

A metered taxi is better from Hua L to Siam P, but sometimes they are scarce (in the morning you should be ok). , Tuk tuk will want 80 baht 200 baht from there to Hua Lampong. The same distance might be about 500-600 baht for Phuket's tuk tuk rates, so you can't complain too much. You might want to leave your stuff @ Hua Lampong and one 1 or 1/2 the group do the food run. This way, you're not lugging around too much bags...if that makes any sense. Even if you want to take everyone, Hua Lampong has a luggage storage shop.

The post is called (guide) ​Travelling to Georgetown, Penang and back to Thailand posted on the 17 /12/2015 .

I agree about searching. Google is not too bad as I do a lot but on TVF I can never get the result I am looking for. I only know this one because I looked back thru my contents. I can't do a cut and paste because I have updated to Win 10 and still haven't worked out why I can't cut and paste into explorer from google.

Glad to see the word is getting around http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879418-guide-travelling-to-george-town-penang-and-back-to-thailand/ . So many people asked about it....I just put the info in one place and organized it a bit.

Seat 61 website is also good for train times/info. The schedule is in a table grid format so easy to follow.

And the KTM has their website in english so you can look up train times. You can only purchase in Malaysia. You would book in Butterworth (or in Weld Quay office) or any of the train station offices allow booking. You can book online also....not sure how that works for foreigner; I've always gone to the station. Be mindful of Friday Ju-maa prayer time around 13:30 - 15:30 approximately, ticket office might be empty at that time.

I assume you would lay over in Penang for at least a day? Doing the complete trip from Bangkok to KL by train might be a little exhausting. Plus you'd likely miss the 15:00 train to KL anyway. You'll get into KL late, and you still need to find a hotel, food, etc.

[Inyourendo]

Great info cheers.

We are looking at possibly doing it in reverse...KL to penang for few days, then onto bkk......decisions decisions....need to do visa in penang and travelling before songkran.

[4evermaat]

Well that's a little different than OP. The long way is to do the train to butterworth, then another train or coach bus to KL (Penang Sentral Bus terminal is 4 min walk from butterworth train terminal, NO ferry needed). If you can book early enough, flying to KL might be quicker/less hassle. Then do the train or bus to penang.

Up to you really. But the air travel requires some planning to get good prices on tickets. Can any of the 4 people sit in your lap (toddler)? That also helps with bus/train ticket (sharing with toddler or child under 60-70cm) can save you a ticket. Anyway i wish you well in your travels. You can do a trip report in a new thread when you come back.

Edited February 7, 2016 by 4evermaat

[Inyourendo]

No...all big enough for seats now...still deciding which way to take the train...at beginning or end of trip.....we are coming firm Indo and need the penang indo embassy for visa...bkk cannot issue....so thought a nice train trip one way would be sweet with KL as end or beginning destination to the massive water park there....anyway, surely not much difference which way we go....just in the booking and ticketing procedure if not in Thailand or beginning from Malaysia. ..

[4evermaat]

How long is the overall trip? How many days do you intend on going to Indonesia?

Plane tickets can be bought online. Most other things like bus, boat, and train tickets are bought as you go in the country you are in.

[Inyourendo]

Coming from Indo.....problem with waiting until in the country...is getting berths together for the 4 of us.....anyway, great info in here and we'll sort it out......already been in contact with the Thai agent to book well in advance if we decide to go bkk to penang and kl.....but if we go the other way..not sure yet how/who to book with yet.

[4evermaat]

Bus/train/boat tickets are rarely a problem if you book 1-3 days in advance, only the busiest of holidays like Songkran, Ramadan, Kings Birthday, New Years Day, etc is where you might consider 2+ weeks in advance. Air travel is the only type of travel in the region where advanced booking makes any significant difference. A hotel reservation in a developed area is not a bad idea if it is 3+ star class hotel. In SE Asia, you want your travel options somewhat open in case you want to stay an extra day somewhere.

One leg in advance is really all you need. But since you have a travel agent...you'll be fine. Or at least that's what you believe.

Edited February 14, 2016 by 4evermaat