Taking the fast KTM ETS to Padang Besar train (keretapi laju) is the easiest way to travel from Malaysia to Thailand as the station is located on the border of the two countries.
Once at the border, you can pass through immigration, then you can take a
State Railway of Thailand train to Hat Yai or a long distance sleeper
train to Bangkok.
Below is a list of stations within Malaysia that have the fast Electric Train Services to Padang Besar.
To see the timetable and fares for that specific route, click on the link provided in the list below.
For some of the smaller destinations with only a few trains a day, you can see the full ETS northbound using the timetable link below:
Stations from south to north:
Batang Melaka
Pulau Sebang / Tampin (nearest station to Melaka town) >
Bandar Tasik Selatan (TBS Bus Terminal) >
KL Sentral Station Kuala Lumpur >
Kuala Lumpur (Old Station) - See KL Sentral link above ^^^
Padang Rengas - (from this station you have the option of taking the much cheaper KTM Komuter train to Padang Besar, changing at Bukit Mertajam).
Taiping (Komuter or ETS) >
Bagan Serai (Komuter or ETS)
Parit Buntar (Komuter or ETS) >
Butterworth > (for the ferry to Penang Island / Georgetown) - Now only KTM Komuter trains on this route >
Bukit Mertajam - Now only KTM Komuter trains on this route >
Tasek Gelugor (Komuter or ETS)
Sungai Petani (Komuter or ETS) >
Gurun (Komuter or ETS)
Alor Setar (Komuter or ETS)
Anak Bukit (Komuter or ETS)
Arau (Komuter or ETS)
ETS fares to Padang Besar vary depending on what type of train you take.
There are two types of ETS services on this route:
ETS Platinum (the quickest, with the least amount of stops).
ETS Gold (slightly slower with more stops).
To see a full prices list of fares (tambang) to and from Padang Besar to all stations along the line:
Visit our Padang Besar ETS fares page here >
Once you reach Padang Besar Railway Station by ETS or Komuter train, you are still just inside Malaysia.
If you are continuing your journey by train from here in to Thailand, you will have to pass through both countries immigration areas to get your passport stamped out and in.
The immigration area is on the platform the trains arrive at, so just follow the signs.
First get stamped out of Malaysia, then stamped in to Thailand.
Immigration at Padang Besar station only opens when there are trains arriving and departing.
Usually the train arrives and all passengers go through the immigration process.
Once all arriving passengers have been processed, departing passengers get then go through.
This often leads to the train to Hat Yai being delayed, so don't worry if you are arriving just a short time before the departure - the train will wait for all passengers until they have all been processed by immigration.
To learn more about Padang Besar Railway Station and alternative ways to travel from here to Hat Yai:
See our Pdg. Besar station page here >
For the times and fares for the train from Padang Besar to Hat Yai click here >
For the departure times and fares for the Padang Besar to Bangkok night train click here >