If you want to travel by train from Bangkok to Penang you now need to take Train #45 to the Thai-Malaysia Border and then change trains to a Malaysian KTM Kommuter service for the final section of the journey to Penang. This is an improvement over the old service (the now defunct Train #35) as the KTM Kommuter trains run a lot a faster than the old direct train service ever did.
Train times from Bangkok to Penang
- Stage 1: Train times from Bangkok to Padang Besar.
| Train | Bangkok | Padang Besar | Service |
| 45 | 15:35 | 09:50 | Special Express |
- Stage 2: Train times from Padang Besar to Penang.
| Train | Padang Besar | Penang | Service |
| 2941 | 05:25 | 07:16 | KTM Kommuter |
| 2945 | 06:25 | 08:16 | KTM Kommuter |
| 2949 | 07:25 | 09:16 | KTM Kommuter |
| 2953 | 08:25 | 10:16 | KTM Kommuter |
| 2957 | 10:25 | 12:16 | KTM Kommuter |
| 2961 | 12:25 | 14:16 | KTM Kommuter |
| 2963 | 13:25 | 15:16 | KTM Kommuter |
| 2965 | 14:25 | 16:16 | KTM Kommuter |
| 2967 | 15:25 | 17:16 | KTM Kommuter |
| 2969 | 16:25 | 18:16 | KTM Kommuter |
| 2973 | 17:25 | 19:16 | KTM Kommuter |
| 2977 | 18:25 | 20:16 | KTM Kommuter |
| 2981 | 19:25 | 21:16 | KTM Kommuter |
| 2985 | 21:25 | 23:16 | KTM Kommuter |
Buy Tickets from Bangkok to Penang
Use the Search Box below to book your tickets on Train #45 from Bangkok to Padang Besar for the first stage of the journey from Bangkok to Penang:
Tickets for the second stage of the journey from Padang Besar to Butterworth Railway Station can be purchased at Padang Besar Railway Station on arrival. This is a commuter service and there is no need to book in advance. There are 14 trains a day and even in the unlikely event that the train you want to take is full then you will only have to wait a short time for another departure.
Little India in PenangLocation of Bangkok Train Station
From the 19th January 2023 the main railway station in Bangkok is Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station (also known as Bang Sue Grand Station).
Arrival in Penang
You need to cross over a short stretch of sea to get from Butterworth Railway Station to reach the island of Penang. There are two ways to do this.
1. From the train station you can easily walk to the ferry pier. The ferry takes you to the edge of Penang City from where it is an easy 15 minutes walk to the popular tourist areas of the City around Chulia Street, where many of the best hotels are located.
2. Your second option is to take a taxi from the railway station over a nearby bridge onto Penang by road.
Onward Travel from Penang
Onward travel is very easy from Butterworth railway station because it is very close to Penang Sentral Bus Terminal. From Butterworth bus station it is a 4 hour bus journey to Kuala Lumpur. The bus route is quick as the road is mostly 3 lane motorway.
Route to Penang Sentral Bus Station
- Walking distance from Butterworth Railway Station to Penang Sentral Bus Terminal: 550 metres
- Walking time from Butterworth Railway Station to Penang Sentral Bus Terminal: 8 minutes