Taking the train from Malaysia to Bangkok

Hi!

I'm planning to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok in October. I'll be meeting up with a gay men's tour group, which will start in Bangkok. I have a few questions:

(1) Has anyone taken the overnight train from K.L. to B.K.? I'd like to hear about the experience, and what to expect.

(2)Public Transportation from the Bangkok Train Station to the "gay downtown" area (I'm unfamiliar with the name)--are there busses, or is a taxi a better means?

(3) Customs--what can I expect at the Butterworth rail station?

Thanks for your help! I'm looking forward to visiting Thailand.

That’s a nice trip to do. But it will require some time.

From KL to the Thai border the trains are modern, clean, efficient with some friendly, usually young (ish) staff.

Butterworth train station is modern, but not the border station but the train station for Penang.

Usually at Butterworth station change of trains is needed, but not always.
From Butterworth trains travel to the Thai border.

At border the custom proceedings are usually easy and without any hassle. Malay custom is relaxed. Due to the special situation at the south of Thailand, Thai border police and customer are stricter but usually there is no problem with tourists.

From border station there are trains just travelling to Had Yai which is the main station in the south of Thailand, some trains are travelling directly to Bangkok. The trains bound directly to Bangkok are somewhat more modern but do not expect much. Since 25 years there is as urged need to overhaul the whole Thai railway system but for the Southern line there are no plans yet.

Pending on class you’re travelling in, try to get the lower berth in Thailand. From lover berth you can observe some of Thailand during night time; the upper berth doesn’t have a window.

In Thailand try to buy yourself some food or drinks from pedestrian vendors since this is sometimes better but you’ll pay a lot less.

The Bangkok bound trains do have a restaurant car but you can get food or drinks eerved at your seat.

Trains are pretty safe. Staff is very attentive and friendly.

From Bangkok central station Hua Lamphong to Silom / Suriwong you can take a taxi meter. Do nut use a tuk tuk. By Taxi meter is about 45 to 50 TBT max.

With luggage it’s not worth the hassle using the MRT (underground) from Hua Lamphong to Silom.
You might safe about 15 to 20 TBT but need to carry all your stuff to your accommodation with is not really much fun.

[Dick]

Perhaps not to everyone's taste, but some might consider the Orient Express (http://www.orient-express.com/web/eoe/eoe_a2a_home.jsp) if making the trip, if only for the experience.

Perhaps not to everyone's taste, but some might consider the Orient Express (http://www.orient-express.com/web/eoe/eoe_a2a_home.jsp) if making the trip, if only for the experience.

About two years ago I was invited to travel from SG to BKK on Orient Express. I surely took the opportunity and must say it was a trip of lifetime. All food and drinks served was outstanding, the service was truly excellent. Some of the hard working service staff is also employed by a very good Bangkok hotel and I really enjoyed it to see them again. The trains in Malaysia went smoothly but the tracks in Thailand let us know where we are. It was the only train in Thailand I can remember which arrived on time! ...

I did it once but I am not doing it again.

Several passengers where just ignorant; they didn't care about staff, landscape or culture. They just wanted to add another exclusive mark on there already long list of topics of what excluded them from others. They let me know at any occasion how much the trip would cost and how much they where paying here and there and what's the next thing they wanted to do. This where spoiling the event.

I prefer to contact to ordinary local people like myself and to locals. This is another reason why I like travelling by rail: I can stretch my legs properly or wander around, and I can talk to others. Travelling by bus is boring since 5 minutes after the busis hitting the road all fell asleep…

Therefore I still continue making friendly comments about the good old rattling Thai railway.

Thanks for the tips. I'm going the inexpensive way this time. I understand the cost of the rail trip is reasonable (about $30 US dollars), compared to flying from either Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, to Bangkok.

Is Panang the transfer station with Thai customs? I don't want to get off at the wrong station! From what I understand from the Thai Railroad website, one leaves Kuala Lumpur in the early afternoon, then transfers for customs at Panang, to an overnight train, which arrives in Bangkok the following morning.

Has anyone been on the train recently (within the past year)? It seems the Thai Rail website contradicts itself with departure and arrival times.

Are there translators at the stations, or is English used pretty commonly in the train and bus depots?

Thanks again for the advice.

Mohabee

If economy is the motivation, you should check out the SouthWestAirlines-style air carriers serving the region.

http://www.airasia.com/index_ns.htm

http://www.tigerairways.com/

http://www.nokair.com/nokconnext/aspx/Welcome.aspx

There may be others

Thanks for the tips. I'm going the inexpensive way this time. I understand the cost of the rail trip is reasonable (about $30 US dollars), compared to flying from either Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, to Bangkok.

Using train is defenitely less expensive. BTW There is a 20 day travel pass for unlimited use of Thai Railway which includes even sleeper berth secound class (which prefer to first class) for only 3000 TBT availible. Further information contact in Thailand: Phone 022 233 762 or 022 247 788, and Fax: 0222 256 068


Is Panang the transfer station with Thai customs?
To Thai border you need to use the train from Butterworth to Padang Besar which is a busszlig bordering town where many Thai are bargain hunting. Custom, immigration preceedures happened here, out of Malaysia - into Thailand.
On Thai side Sungai Kholok station Tumpad is a buys traffic centre at the Thai border. This city is also famous for Malay who are enjoying the flexibility of bars, bar staff and short time hotels; accordingly the HIV+ rate is very high. Trains are running via Yala and Had Yai to Bangkok. Don't worry. there are many passengers heading for the same direction. Just follow. On Malay side you can exchange your Malay Ringitt in Thai Bath; the exchange rates are fixed and fair. In Thailand you can withdraw cash from almost any ATM.



I don't want to get off at the wrong station! From what I understand from the Thai Railroad website, one leaves Kuala Lumpur in the early afternoon, then transfers for customs at Panang, to an overnight train, which arrives in Bangkok the following morning.

Don't worry, it's an easy thing to do. And people are very friendly and helpful. Thre is a lot of tranport police and other railway staff around and all of them will assist you, as many fellow passengers will do. Just be relaxex and speak clearly, slowly and smile a lot.

If you like take the opportunity and leave the rail tracks for some days and spend a few Had Yai province. Had Yai City isn't so interesting but it's well worth to take a bus to Had Sonkhla. It's not just a major fishing port but there also have wonderful beaches and very friendly people around.



Has anyone been on the train recently (within the past year)? It seems the Thai Rail website contradicts itself with departure and arrival times.

Do never trust time tables published on internet. Allow yourself always enough time. Do not expect that the ticket office can supply any ticked requested since seats are numbered and only for the specific number of seats are tickets available. With your ticket they will give some more detailed information about trains and schedules. Do also accept that emails are usually unanswered.

If you in a hurry, especially Thailand is well connected with a system of busses. This can be an (faster) alternative to trains. Bus fares are the same or less, pending on type of service.



Are there translators at the stations, or is English used pretty commonly in the train and bus depots?

In Malaysia everything is well signed. In Thailand it's more tricky but adequate. There are always people around whoтАЩre able and willing to help you.


Ask officials or younger people. They usually able to answer you in English too.

Thanks again for the advice.

Mohabee

[colmx]

I spent 12 hours on train from KL to Butterworth...
Its an experience that i would never ever care to repeat!
It was bareable for the first few hours - Aircon failed half way - after that it was awful!

As others have posted above the Low cost air carriers are a far better way of travelling from Malaysia/Singapore to Bkk

I spent 12 hours on train from KL to Butterworth...
Its an experience that i would never ever care to repeat!
It was bareable for the first few hours - Aircon failed half way - after that it was awful!

As others have posted above the Low cost air carriers are a far better way of travelling from Malaysia/Singapore to Bkk


12 hrs from KL to Butterworth is long, and without air-con no fun. I surely agree with that.
The slower night train service takes 9 hours from KL to Butterworth and nearly 13 hrs to the Thai border.

Any railway is a complex system. It’s not always a failure of the operator if delays are occurring; i.e. accidents (i.e. on level crossings), suicides, harsh weather conditions or urged maintenance work can be a cause.

I found KTM (Malay State Railway) services always good and reliable. Maybe I was lucky. Maybe I didn’t notice while I am taking it more relaxed because things happened and I am the very last one who where able to change it. And I will use the KTM services again without any doubt.

BTW. I just found an old rail pass I used before on Malaysia. It worked out very well for me. I bought this pass in Singapore. The Malay rail pass can only be bought by foreigners excluding Singaporeans. I’ve bought mine in Singapore.

For 10 days of unlimited travels with any intercity train throughout KTM’s network from Singapore to any destination in Malaysia I’ve paid 55 USD. There was another rail pass available for 5 days only but this didn’t suit me at the time. There was a very small supplement for use of sleeper berth which I was willing to pay since I did save time and more expensive hotel accommodation.

I spent 12 hours on train from KL to Butterworth...

When I look under http://www.ktmb.com.my/E-Ticket.asp they offer 2 connections from KL to Butterworth. Sinaran Expres or the Langkawi Expres with travel time of 7.45 hours for the day train and 8.50 hours for the night train. Langkawi Expres is going to Hat Yai and needs from Butterworth 5.30 hours.

Here you can find some informations for railway travel http://www.seat61.com/Malaysia.htm#Train%20times┬а
http://www.asia-discovery.com/train.htm
http://www.traveller2000.com/train/
http://www.thaifocus.com/travel/train/
http://www.railway.co.th/english/index.asp

I spent 12 hours on train from KL to Butterworth...

When I look under http://www.ktmb.com.my/E-Ticket.asp they offer 2 connections from KL to Butterworth. Sinaran Expres or the Langkawi Expres with travel time of 7.45 hours for the day train and 8.50 hours for the night train. Langkawi Expres is going to Hat Yai and needs from Butterworth 5.30 hours.

Here you can find some informations for railway travel http://www.seat61.com/Malaysia.htm#Train%20times┬а
http://www.asia-discovery.com/train.htm
http://www.traveller2000.com/train/
http://www.thaifocus.com/travel/train/
http://www.railway.co.th/english/index.asp

Yes, that's OK, the Lankawi Ekspress is the international night train from KL to Had Yai. This train is not as fast as the day train.

Do not relay on time table. Since mid of April some north bound trains have been re-scheduled. For ekpress trains tickets are sold with seat number. At the sales counter they will provide any traveller with all information needed.

In Thailand the station name, platform number, train number, carriage and seat number as well as time of departure is printed on tickets; tickets are in Thai and English. Large station have sometimes different ticketcounters for foreign and Thai passengers. The tariff is the same at any counter but on international counters staff is English speaking.

... a story in (I think) Thailand Tatler some years ago about the Malay who traveled on the train and kept worrying about the food - specifically whether the meat was pork. He was reassured each time by the Thai waiter telling him that the meat was "moo"

OK here is another one:


BANGKOK (Reuters) - A 76-year-old Malay Muslim woman from southern Thailand who got on the wrong bus 25 years ago and ended up living at the other end of the country has been reunited with her family, officials and domestic media said on Tuesday.

Unable to speak, read or write Thai, Jaeyaena Beuraheng boarded a bus in Malaysia thinking it was bound for Narathiwat, one of three Muslim-majority provinces in Buddhist Thailand's far south.


Instead, she ended up 1,200 km (750 miles) to the north in Bangkok. Her predicament grew worse when she boarded a bus she thought was heading south only to end up in Chiang Mai, another 700 km to the north, the Nation newspaper reported.

She eked out a living as a beggar for five years before being arrested in 1987 and put into a centre for homeless people in a nearby province, where she has remained ever since.

She was finally reunited with her eight children -- who were told she had been run over by a train -- after three students from Narathiwat came to work at the centre and spoke to her.

"It was only when the students in Muslim clothes visited her and she started chatting to them that we realised she wasn't mute," centre director Jintana Satjang told Reuters.

The woman had been known as "Mrs. Mon" because centre staff thought her mutterings sounded like Mon, a tribal language in neighbouring Myanmar, she added.

Thailand's three southernmost provinces were annexed by Bangkok a century ago and remain culturally distinct from the rest of the country. Eighty percent of the population are Muslim and speak Malay as a first language.

(c) Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.

Last updated: 06-Feb-07 09:21 BST

------------------

Everything will turn put OK by the end, even it takes some some. Just be patient.
That's what I love in Thailand ...