Butterworth (Penang) to Bangkok Train Times, Booking and Journey 2023
Taking the scenic route from Butterworth in Penang to Bangkok by train? You’ll need a plan and information on how and what to do.
I will cover the train times, costs, booking and journey information to enable you to have a smooth and enjoyable trip to the heart of Thailand (Krung Thep – Bangkok).
Transport Itinerary:
- Penang to Butterworth
- Butterworth to Padang Besar KTM Train
- Overnight Train from Padang Besar to Bangkok (17.00 Departure)
- Onward from Bangkok – Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal train station
Important: The Padang Besar train to Bangkok departs at 17.00 hours. You must allocate enough time to travel to Padang Besar and get stamped out of Malaysia and into Thailand (passport control).
This journey involves changing transport and passport control. To time arrival at Pedang Besar correctly, aim to be at Swettenham Pier (Ferry Port – George Town-Penang) no later than 13.30 to start the journey off well.
Penang Island to Butterworth Railway Station — Ferry Option is Best
The first leg of the journey is getting from Penang island to Butterworth railway station on the mainland. While you can take a taxi or car transport, Butterworth is 32km from the main tourist area, George Town (Penang), and this is where the ferry port (Swettenham Pier) is conveniently located.
If you have never travelled from the Island to the mainland and train station, don’t worry it’s easy (this would have only happened if you arrived by plane). If you’re staying in or near George Town, Chulia St, just ask anyone for directions to the Jetty (Swettenham Pier). Many buses travel to the Jetty if you don’t want to be carrying your luggage.
The large Ferries that frequently went from Butterworth to Penang for many years and vice versa have been out of operation since 2020 and have been replaced with quicker Catamarans.
Boats are frequent and depart every 20 -30 minutes (peak hours) to every 60 minutes (off-peak). You can check the times on the PenangPort website. The boat journey is only 15 minutes, approximately.
When you arrive at the ferry port in Butterworth, you’ll then have to walk for only a few minutes (follow the signs and people) to the train station.
Tickets are free on the return to Butterworth.
KTM Train Times to Padang Besar (Penang) from Butterworth
The trains are frequent and cost 11.40 MYR (Malaysian Ringgit). The best trains to take are 14.35 or 15.05, but 15.05 is a bit risky if passport control is very busy or the Butterworth train is late.
Buy your tickets at the station ticket counter.
| Station | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butterworth | 05:20 | 06:25 | 06:55 | 07:35 | 08:35 | 10:35 | 12:35 | 14:35 | 15:05 |
| Padang Besar | 07:11 | 08:16 | 08:46 | 09:26 | 10:26 | 12:26 | 14:26 | 16:26 | 16:56 |
There are later trains if needed, but these will miss the connection with the Bangkok train.
Deduct an hour on your watch or phone –Thailand is one hour behind Malaysia.
Arriving at Padang Besar and Passport Control
When you arrive at Padang Besar you will then have to stamp out of Malaysia and into Thailand before taking the train from Padang Besar to Bangkok. Padang Besar is a road and train border between Thailand and Malaysia.
This is a very easy border to cross, and it usually does not take too long to get stamped out of Thailand and into Malaysia. The busiest times are when there are Thai or Malay holidays.
Train Times and Prices — Padang Besar to Bangkok
The last and longest part of the journey is taking an overnight train from Padang Besar to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal train station in Bangkok.
| Train No | Departs | Arrives | Duration | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP46 | 17.00 | 11.05 | 18h 05m | 2nd Berth (A/C) |
| Seat/Berth (a/c) | Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| 2nd Class Upper | 868 THB |
| 2nd Class Lower | 958 THB |
Booking Bangkok to Padang Besar Tickets
Train 46 from Padang Besar requires you to book in advance for at least 2 hours prior to travel, and it’s best to book well in advance. High season and Thai or Malay holidays is time you should book well in advance.
If you cannot book online, then you can use a travel agent along Chulia Street (George Town, Penang).
Note: We have used and continue to use trusted travel booking agents to book trains as the State Railways of Thailand booking websites have always become unreliable to use and unsafe to link to. More about booking trains in Thailand.
Onward Transport from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal
When arriving at the Central Terminal train station in Bangkok, one of the best transport options is to use the MRT (Underground) Bang Sue, which is located at the Central Terminal. The MRT will take you to various stations in Bangkok and connect passengers to the BTS (Skytrain) lines (for Sukhumvit).
You can also take a taxi or bus from outside Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal. However, traffic will be an enemy at certain times of the day.
Recap
Let’s get this journey right –I’ve done this number of times. Here is a quick recap of the itinerary:
- Book the train ticket from Padang Besar to Bangkok two days before travelling
- Aim to be at Swettenham Pier (ferry port) no later than 13.30 to start the journey off well
- Take the next boat over to Butterworth ferry pier and train station. Walk a couple of minutes to the railway station
- Train from Butterworth to Padang Besar — (14:35 departure is best)
- Arrive at Padang Besar and go through passport control then to the platform
- 17.00 train to Bangkok
- MRT (underground) Bang Sue, taxi or bus to your final destination in Bangkok
I’m Jonesy. The one responsible for whole lot of things including having this Thailand site up and running. I first arrived in Thailand in 2008 and being a web developer it made sense to create a website and write some stuff about my second home. Enjoy your travels!
