How to Take the Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok Train
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2021: You’re backpacking through Asia on a budget and you don’t want to fly right? Travelling overland is much more ‘real’ travel anyway. Ok so you want to know how to Take the Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok Train – this post should sort it out for you. You have 2 options for the Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok train, one requires just 1 change, whereas the other requires 2 changes.
NOTE: If you want to extend this and go from Singapore to Bangkok, them you just need to add one more train journey from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur (bus or train – both take about 5 hours and they go every 30 mins, you can work that one out yourself!)
Table of contents
You Have 2 Options When Taking the Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok Train
OPTION 1): Take the train from Kuala Lumpur to Padang Besar, on the Malaysia side of the Malaysia/Thai border. Then change trains at Padang Besar, from Padang Besar to Bangkok.
FIRST TRAIN:Kuala Lumpur to Padang Besar:
Takes: 5 hours on the new trains. If you’re on a tight budget, take the night train. You can see the daytime time table here.
Costs: $20-$25 depending if you take gold or platinum tickets
Departs KL Sentral: 7.20, throughout the day until 22.50pm. Take the first 3 trains to catch the overnight train in the second leg on time.
Arrives Padang Besar: 1pm until 4.35am.
SECOND TRAIN: From Padang Besar to Bangkok
Takes: 17 hours
Costs: $26-$29 depending on upper or lower berth sleeper.
Departs Pedang Besar: 5pm
Arrives in Bangkok: 10am
TOTAL COST FROM KUALA LUMPUR TO BANGKOK BY TRAIN: $46- $54
TOTAL JOURNEY TIME: 24 HOURS
NOTE: Check out the prices and options by typing in your departure point and arrival point below here, it will give you an up to date price, and allow you to book online too!
OPTION 2) Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth train, then Butterworth to Pedang Besar, then Pedang Besar to Bangkok train.
First take the train from Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral) to Butterworth:*
Takes: 5 hours
Costs: $20-$25 depending if you take gold or platinum tickets
Departs Kuala Lumpur: 08:05, 11:15, 13:30, 17:36, 20:20. 22:30
Arrives Butterworth: 5 hours after departure
Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth train timetable
Train From Butterworth to Bangkok: EDIT 2020. YOU KNOW MUST GO FROM BUTTERWORTH TO PEDANG BESAR, AND THEN ON TO BANGKOK. THEREFORE JUST TAKE OPTION 1, IT ONLY REQUIRES 1 CHANGE.
Singapore to Bangkok by train?
Overland train from Singapore to Bangkok is a great adventure. I’d recommend doing it in this order, with 2/3 nights in each spot:
Singapore -> Melacca -> Kuala Lumpur -> Penang -> Phuket/Krabi -> Bangkok
You can still take the trains the whole way, on the same timetables, but you’ll enjoy your journey much more. Good luck with the journey and happy travels.
Helpful links:
Malaysian trains – www.ktmb.com.my
Thai trains – www.thaifocus.com
Check out other stuff in Malaysia:
Climbing Kinabalu in Borneo
Plan your Penang Itinerary
Or things to do in in Langkawai Itinerary
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