There are two routes for train travel from Bangkok to Malaysia. On the first route Thailand train services go as far as the border town of Padang Besar. Malaysian train services run from Padang Besar to Butterworth Railway Station near the island of Penang on the West Coast of the Malay peninsula. Trains on the other route terminate at Sungai Kolok railway station, which is 2 km from the border with Malaysia, near the East Coast of Malaysia.
Route 1: Bangkok to Padang Besar
This is the route to take if you are heading to Penang, or for onward travel to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. Thai and Malaysian passport control is located inside Padang Besar Railway Station.
- Malaysian train services to Penang, Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur all depart from Padang Besar Railway Station.
Buy Train Tickets to Penang
Use the Search Form below to buy your train tickets from Bangkok to Padang Besar for travel to Penang.
Train Services from Bangkok to Padang Besar
Only one per day from Hua Lamphong railway station in Bangkok.
Departure 1:
- Train Number #45
- Depart: 15:10
- Arrive: 09:50
- Journey Time: 18 hours 40 minutes
Online Ticket Prices (2018)
- 2nd class A/C sleeper – 1,210 THB
Train Services Padang Besar to Penang, Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur
There are 14 KTM Komuter services a day from Padang Besar to Penang (Butterworth Station) and fast 7 fast train services a day from Padang Besar to Kuala Lumpur:
- See train times from Padang Besar to Penang.
- See train times from Padang Besar to Ipoh.
- See train times from Padang Besar to Kuala Lumpur.
Location Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station
Bangkok’s main train station, Hua Lamphong, is located in Bangkok’s China Town and last stop at the Southern end of Bangkok metro’s line.
Travel from Butterworth Train Station to Penang
Butterworth is on the mainland of the Malay peninsula. To get to Penang either take the car ferry, which departs from a pier at the rear of Butterworth railway station, or take a taxi over the bridge connecting Butterworth to Penang.
Arrival at Butterworth Train StationFor onward travel to Kuala Lumpur, and other destinations in Malaysia either take another train, or turn left as you leave the train station and go across the car park to get to Butterworth bus terminal.
Location of Butterworth Railway Station near Penang
Route 2: Bangkok to Sungai Kolok
This is the route to take if you are heading to Kota Bharu to apply for a visa at the Thai Consulate, or if you are heading to the Perhentian islands for diving. The journey to the border is very quick and there are many taxi and motorbike taxis waiting at the railway station.
Buy Train Tickets to Sungai Kolok
Use the Search Form below to buy your train tickets from Bangkok to Sungai Kolok for travel to Kota Bharu.
Train Services from Bangkok to Sungai Kolok
There are two trains per day to Sungai Kolok departing from Hua Lamphong railway station in Bangkok.
Departure 1:
- Train Number #171
- Depart: 12:30
- Arrive: 10:50
- Journey Time: 22 hours 20 minutes
Departure 2:
- Train Number #37
- Departing Bangkok: 15:10
- Arriving Sungai Kolok: 12:30
- Journey Time: 21 hours 20 minutes
Online Ticket Prices (2018)
- 2nd Class A/C sleeper – 1,167 to 1,227 THB
- 2nd Class fan sleeper – 927 THB
- 2nd Class fan seat only – 777 THB
Location of Sungai Kolok Train Station