How to Travel From Butterworth (Penang) to Bangkok by Train

The train journey from Butterworth, the railway station for George Town and Penang Island, to Bangkok is one of the classic overland routes in Southeast Asia.

Although the trip involves a change of trains at the Malaysian–Thai border station at Padang Besar, this is a straightforward connection.

Let’s take a look at what the journey is like and how you can book tickets!

Butterworth (Penang) to Bangkok by train

To get from Malaysia’s Penang State to the Thai capital of Bangkok overland requires the following steps:

Step 1: If you are staying in George Town on Penang Island, you first have to take one of the ferries between George Town and Butterworth on the Malaysian mainland.

The ferry crossing takes 20 to 30 minutes during peak hours, with departures every 30 minutes during off-peak times and every 60 minutes late at night. You can simply pay for your ticket at the ferry pier. The fare is 2 Malaysian ringgit (€0.42, £0.36, US$0.49).

Step 2: Take either a KTM ETS express train or KTM Komuter local train from Butterworth to Padang Besar. The journey takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes, and there are several departures throughout the day.

The express train can, and ideally should, be booked online in advance on the Malaysian Railways website, as it has reserved seating and can sell out.

However, local trains cannot sell out, and tickets for these can simply be bought on the spot at Butterworth station. A ticket for the local train costs 12 Malaysian ringgit (€2.54, £2.18, US$2.93).

Step 3: At Padang Besar station, you will go through Malaysian exit procedures and Thai immigration.

The station itself is located in Malaysia, and passport control only opens shortly before the departure of a train into Thailand.

When planning this trip, it is important to remember that local time in Malaysia is one hour ahead of Thailand.

Although the station has a small hawker centre where you can buy food and drinks, there are no official currency exchange facilities. It is therefore highly recommended to exchange some money into Thai baht in Penang before you depart.

Step 4: From Padang Besar, you can take the Special International Express Train number 46, which runs directly to Bangkok.

This daily train only has second class sleeper carriages.

The journey from Padang Besar to Bangkok takes around 16 hours, with the train also serving destinations such as Hat Yai, Surat Thani and Hua Hin along Thailand’s Southern Railway Line.

It departs Padang Besar at 18:00 Malaysian time and arrives the following morning at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station in Bangkok at 09:05.

Alternatively, you can take one of the cross-border shuttle trains from Padang Besar to Hat Yai and continue from there on one of the multiple daily sleeper trains between Hat Yai and Bangkok.

This can be a great option if the International Express train is fully booked, or if you prefer to travel in a first class sleeper on one of the Hat Yai–Bangkok night trains.

Shuttle train 948 departs Padang Besar at 11:15 and arrives in Hat Yai at 11:00, while shuttle train 950 leaves Padang Besar at 16:40 and arrives in Hat Yai at 16:36 local time.

Booking tickets

Check prices and book tickets for the International Express train from Padang Besar to Bangkok on the reliable booking website 12Go, which can also be used to book all Hat Yai–Bangkok night trains if you prefer to take that option.

Make sure you book your night train in advance, as these trains are popular, sleeping berths are limited, and tickets often sell out a few days before departure.

Tickets for the shuttle train (third class only) can only be bought at Padang Besar station about an hour before departure.

A ticket for the shuttle train costs either 50 Thai baht or 7 Malaysian ringgit (around €1.31, £1.12, US$1.51), and tickets cannot sell out.

From Bangkok to Butterworth

If you are travelling in the reverse direction from Bangkok to Butterworth, check out my Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur by train guide, which also explains how to reach Butterworth.

Conclusion

The train journey from Butterworth, the jumping-off point for George Town and Penang Island, to Bangkok is one of the classic South-East Asian overland routes.

It is a beautiful and adventurous journey through the lush countryside of northern Malaysia and southern Thailand before arriving in the bustling Thai capital the following morning.

The journey involves a short train ride from Butterworth to the Malaysian–Thai border station at Padang Besar, where you go through passport control and connect with the night train to Bangkok.

It is an easy journey to make, although you should remember to book your night train ticket at least a few weeks in advance to secure a sleeper berth.