Singapore to Bangkok Thailand by train (via Malaysia Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh)
Nicoll Highway Singapore This time, I will travel from Singapore to Bangkok by train. First, take the MRT and bus to Woodlands train checkpoint on the northern tip of Singapore. Here you enter Malaysia and then take a train across the causeway to Johor Bahru. From Johor Bahru, take the KTM Intercity to Segamat. Take the ETS, which opened to Segamat on March 15, 2025, to KL Sentral. We take the ETS again to Ipoh to enjoy the historic cityscape. After that, I boarded the ETS Platinum Business Class and headed to Padang Besar, a town on the border with Thailand. After entering Thailand, we took a State Railway of Thailand train to Hat Yai, the largest city in the south. and I took a comfortable sleeper train from Hat Yai to Thailand’s capital, Bangkok. Let’s begin our rail journey across three countries. Take the Circle Line (Orange) MRT from Nicoll Highway to Dhoby Ghaut. Singapore’s subway network is rapidly developing every year, and transfers are easy. Trains to Harbourfront depart from Platform A.
Platform B has trains to Dhoby Ghaut and Marina Bay The stops along the way are Promenade, Esplanade, and Bras Basah. The journey takes about 8 minutes. Arrive at Dhoby Ghaut. Take the train on the North South Line to Jurong East. Dhoby Ghaut Station is connected to the MRT Circle Line, North-South Line and North-East Line. For Jurong East, leave from Platform A All Singapore MRT stations are equipped with full-height platform screen doors at metro stations and half-height platform screen doors at above-ground and overhead stations. Change to a bus at Marsiling station and head for the border. Marsiling station Cross the overpass and go to the other side of the road. turn right at that intersection, you’ll reach the border (Woodlands Checkpoint). Opposite Marshalling Station From here buses 856, 856A, 856B and 950 go to Woodlands Checkpoint bus stop. The distance is 1.6km. It takes 5-6 minutes by bus or 20 minutes on foot. Arriving at Woodlands Checkpoint stop It’s a few dozen meters straight to the checkpoint. Due to border security reasons, photography, video are prohibited inside the station. KTMB ticket booth. Depending on the time of day, there may be no vacancies at all. We recommend that you book your train tickets in advance. That’s the bus stop where I got off earlier. Wait for the gate to open in the waiting area on the left hand side of the second floor of the station. present your passport, then take the escalator down to the first floor and leave Singapore. Then enter Malaysia. Board the train that is stopped at the station. This train has unreserved seats It’s only a five-minute journey, but the seats are soft and comfortable, just like those on long-distance trains. already entered Malaysia, but here is Singapore Island. The train travels north along the east side of the Johor-Singapore Causeway. Visible in the distance from the train window is the RTS (Rapid Transit System) elevated track. The RTS will connect Woodlands North station in Singapore with Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. I heard they are aiming to open at the end of 2026. I saw high rise apartments in Johor Bahru. Johor Yacht and Recreation Club train arrive at JB Sentral Station The train journey from Singapore to Malaysia has ended. There are no trains going any further than Johor Bahru on this day, so I stay here. JB Sentral Station. Check in to a hotel near the station, drop off your luggage, and explore the city. Johor Bahru City Square There are plenty of restaurants, clothing stores and retail shops. Arulmigu Rajamariamman Temple Pasar Karat (Bazar JB) Night Market at Jalan Segget Lokching, Mee Siput, takoyaki, BBQ skewers, coconut ice cream, dragon’s breath ice cream, taro milkshakes, cup corn, fruits, etc. were on sale. Jalan Meldrum. Many restaurants with terrace seating. Good morning! Johor Bahru RTS Link Railway Track stretching towards Singapore. Beautiful. Today I will travel by train to Kuala Lumpur. JB Sentral Station. This facility brings together trains, buses, taxis and international immigration, making it the gateway to Johor Bahru. Considering that the Bukit Chagar RTS Station will also be built here, the sheer size of the facility is astonishing. Construction work around here is still ongoing. JB Sentral Station departure gate The train I am taking today to Gemas, leaves in 46 minutes. Snack and drink shops and ATMs There are many shops. There are also several currency exchange offices. KTMB ticket vending machine. There is also a train ticket office. People queuing at the gate for a train to Singapore Departure time is 8:45am The gate for the train to Gemas has opened. Take the escalator down to the platform If you are traveling to Singapore by train, you will leave Malaysia through passport control on this floor. Go down one more floor and you’ll reach the platform. my car number is C There is a space between seats 8 and 9 The tray table was a little hard but large. The seats are soft and comfortable The seating area was spacious and had a footrest. From the left in the direction of travel, the arrangement is A, B, C, and D in this order, forming a 2+2 configuration. A green light will indicate whether a toilet is available. The train departs from JB Sentral Station. Bukit Chagar RTS Station under construction The Johor Bahru border is said to be the busiest in the world, with approximately 300,000 people passing through every day, and even more on weekends. The RTS will be a great help in avoiding congestion. I’m looking forward to seeing it completed. When we departed from JB Sentral Station, the train’s occupancy rate seemed to be around 30%. Johor Bahru is within commuting distance of Singapore. The view continued with large and medium-sized apartment buildings dotted around. 8:46AM. The train arrives at KTM Kempas Baru Station. The train occupancy rate at this station was about half. The train departs from Kempas Baru station at 8:50am. A large number of people were seen seeing off the passengers. From the window on the right, I could see Depoh Lokomotif & Gerabak KTMB (Kempas Baru). Skudai Junction a train passes near Senai International Airport(JHB). The train is running in Kulaijaya District, Johor Bahru. 9:11AM. The train arrives at Kulai station This is the closest station to Senai International Airport. Domestic destinations departing from Senai International Airport include Kuala Lumpur (KUL, SZB), Penang (PEN), Kuching (KCH), Kota Kinabalu (BKI), Sibu (SBW), Kota Bharu (KBR), Langkawi (LGK), Tawau (TWU), Alor Setar (AOR), and Ipoh (IPH). International destinations departing from Senai International Airport include Jakarta (CGK/SUB), Bangkok (DMK), Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), Guangzhou (CAN), Surabaya (SUB), Kunming Haikou, Madinat/Jeddah, etc. The train was almost full from this station. After passing Kulai, palm fields came into view. These vast plantations appear to be managed by large corporations (Sime Darby, IOI Group, Felda, etc.) as well as small and medium-sized enterprises. 9:39am Arrived at Layang-Layang station. This is a new station that began operation on January 21st, 2025. 9:42am The train departs from Layang-Layang station. It looks like ETS could be operational any minute now. Palm fields stretching to the horizon This vast and beautiful scenery is one of my favorites. The train cars are old but comfortable. The windows are large which is nice. The train arrives at Rengam KTM station. All long-distance intercity trains, including Ekspres Selatan, stop at this station. The new elevated station was opened in January 2025. It was surrounded by large farms. Renggang Station The train departs from Renggam Station. Renggam is seems a small town surrounded by beautiful greenery. The train approached Kluang. The area is dotted with palm oil plantations, banana plantations, pineapple fields, and dairy farms. Arrived at Kluang Station Kluang has a population of approximately 300,000 including the metropolitan area. 10:14am Arrival at Kluang Since the stop was long, I came to use the toilet on the train. Although it is undeniably old, there was plenty of tissue provided and there were no problems with the watar. The train stopped at Kluang station for 30 minutes and departed at 10:44 am. The blue sky and green palm plantations are beautiful. the train approached Paloh, a simple and quiet town surrounded by rural landscapes and palm plantations. According to my research, the local economy is centered on agriculture, and there are many foreign workers (of Indonesian and Bangladeshi descent) living there. am11:03 Arrived at Paloh Station The train leaves Paloh Station at 11:14am The scale of this vast plantation is astounding. The next train arrived at Bekok station. arrival time was 11:25am The train left Bekok at 11:34am. Here too, green plantations continue endlessly. Mown farmland Densely green farmland with trees The train runs through Labis, home to the Labis Hot Springs and Taka Melor Amenity Forest. There are many rubber plantations and palm oil farms in this area too. The area around the Labis station is also very well maintained. The train arrives at Labis station at 11:47am. The train leaves Labis Station at 11:58am The trees are planted at equal intervals and will be a lush, deep green in a few years. Gunung Ledang (Mt Ophir) comes into view The name of this city, Segamat, from which you can see Mt Ophir, the highest peak in Johor. Segamat is a cultivation area for high-quality varieties of durian, such as “D24,” and is famous as the largest durian producing area in Johor. The train crosses the Segamat River. 12:20pm The train arrived at Segamat Station. Most of the passengers got off at Segamat station. I scanned the QR code on my ticket at the gate and exited the station. From this Segamat Bus Terminal, in addition to the state community bus (Bas Muafakat Johor), There are also long distance buses to Johor Bahru (JB), Larkin (near JB Sentral), Muar, Tangkak, Pasir Gudang, Kuala Lumpur (TBS), Melaka, Kuantan, Penang, Ipoh, Butterworth, Kuala Terengganu and Kelantan. Segamat Central Shopping Mall, right next to the bus terminal While I was having lunch in this shopping mall, the train we had taken from JB Sentral (Johor Bahru) departed for Gemas. I then relaxed for a while in the air-conditioned Segamat Central Shopping Mall. Segamat Central Shopping Mall and Segamat Station are just a 2-minute walk away. Modern design of Segamat station building Go through Segamat Bus Terminal and head towards the station Southwest exit of Segamat Station. Waiting room inside Segamat station The next train I will be taking is ETS EG9322, departing Segamat at 15:35 and arriving in KL Sentral at 18:17. The train ticket cost 37 ringgits, but after signing up for insurance and a premium plan, the total I actually paid came to 40.5 ringgits. ETS EG9322 is bound for Butterworth, on the opposite side of Penang Island. The gates open 20 minutes before departure and you wait in the waiting area inside the gate. A staff member was standing in front of the escalator, stopping people from entering the platform. Entry to the platform opened 10 minutes before the train was due to depart. All seats on the train are reserved, so there’s no need to rush. It was a public holiday in Malaysia that day, and there were a lot of passengers on this route, so when I booked, I was almost at the last seat available. So I couldn’t reserve a window seat. I look out the window after going to the toilet. The deck is a little noisy, but the interior is well soundproofed. Afterwards I went back to my seat and took a short nap. I woke up to the sound of passengers disembarking and found the train already stopped at Bandar Tasek station near KL Sentral. Bandar Tasek Station is connected by an access road to Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS), the largest bus terminal in Peninsular Malaysia. Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) operates frequent domestic routes to Johor Bahru, Penang, Ipoh, Melaka, Kuantan, etc., as well as international buses to Singapore and Hat Yai in Thailand. There are also three rail lines connecting the city: KTM Komuter to KL city centre and Seremban, the LRT Sri Petaling line to Bukit Jalil and KL city centre, and KLIA Transit with direct service to KLIA, Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The huge building in the background is Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS). The city of KL is lined with lush hills and apartment complexes, giving the impression of a harmony between nature and human life. Salak Selatan Station on the KTM Komuter (Seremban Line) The train slowly passes through Salak Selatan station. The train entered Kuala Lumpur city center, where skyscrapers tower over the city. The train passes through the Mid Valley City, which has extensive developed on both sides of the Klang River. There are commercial facilities such as Mid Valley Megamall and The Gardens Mall, as well as accommodation facilities such as The Gardens Hotel & Residences and Cititel Mid Valley. Bangsar station or Bank Rakyat Bangsar station?. Rapid KL KelanaJaya Line (KJ16) Arriving at KL Sentral Station This train (ETS EG9322) continues to Butterworth. Hold the QR code in the KTMB app over the ticket gate to pass through the gate. Take the exit where Hilton Kuala Lumpur and Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur are located. I walked through the central corridor, past Pusat Beli-Belah NU Sentral and took the KL Monorail to my hotel. the next day. Ramayana Cave – Suyambu Lingam I met up with a friends to visit the Batu Caves and the surrounding Hindu temples. It is easily accessible by train from within the city, including KL Sentral and Kuala Lumpur Station. Rainbow Stairs, a colorful staircase with 272 steps A huge 43m-tall golden statue of Lord Murugan, a fitting sanctuary for the Hindu faith Let’s going up the stairs There are many lively monkeys, so be careful with your belongings. From the top of the stairs you can see a great view of Kuala Lumpur. Cathedral Cave, over 100m high A very mysterious space Looking from the stairs at the back of the cave, you can see how huge it is. After passing through the cave, you emerge into a space surrounded by towering rock mountains. We enjoyed the mysterious scenery for a while. We returned to the city on the KTM Komuter (Seremban Line) and had lunch near Chinatown. After the meal, we enjoyed the wall art and old townscape at nearby Kwai Chai Hong. Take the MRT Kajang Line from Pasar Seni station to Bukit Bintang station Jalan Alor Food Street is famous as a bustling street food area. We had some snacks here. Bukit Bintang intersection, reminiscent of Shibuya Scramble Crossing in Tokyo A very lively place with many shoppers and tourists. There are shopping malls such as Lot 10 and Fahrenheit 88, as well as famous hotels such as JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur and WOLO Kuala Lumpur. The intersection in front of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. The 3D signboards and vibrant neon lights make this the most cutting-edge place in Kuala Lumpur. It gets very crowded especially after the evening. Malaysia has become the country with the most tourists in Southeast Asia in the first half of 2025.
As you can see, its largest city, Kuala Lumpur, is bustling. Damascus Bukit Bintang, a very popular Syrian restaurant in Bukit Bintang It was dinner time, so there was a huge queue. We crossed Bukit Bintang intersection again and went to Royal Dream, a Yemeni restaurant. The stylish interior had table seats and large sofa seats. We ate on the second floor, but it seems there is a restaurant on the floor above. The next day, we decided to take the KLIA Transit to the Putra Mosque, famous for its pale pink exterior. Purchase tickets from the ticket machine using a credit card. Clean interior Putra Mosque is located in Putrajaya, the administrative capital of Malaysia. It is located south of Kuala Lumpur. Putrajaya Sentral station The KLIA Transit train then departed for Kuala Lumpur International Airport. I used the ride-hailing app Grab from Putrajaya Sentral Station to go to Putra Mosque. The Prime Minister’s Office, located in front of the Putra Mosque. Beautiful design The entrance to Putra Mosque. There were many students group and tourists. The Malaysian flag fluttering in front of the mosque entrance Inside the mosque, volunteer staff guided us and explained about the mosque and Islam. We return to KL Sentral Station and take the LRT Kelana Jaya line to have lunch. Tapestry | Chow Kit. stylish restaurant. I ate a burger, drank some coffee and relaxed. View of Masjid Jamek, Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad from the Masjid Jamek Pedestrian Bridge Merdeka Square, Royal Selangor Club, Kuala Lumpur Memorial Library Central Market (Pasar Seni). I bought some chocolates here as souvenirs. I took the LRT KelanaJaya line again and arrived at KLCC. The Petronas Twin Towers are 452 meters tall and are the landmark of Kuala Lumpur. We had dinner at WET Deck, W Kuala Lumpur. From this sky bar you can see the KL Tower. Absolutely. The selling point of WET Deck, W Kuala Lumpur is the view of the Petronas Twin Towers from the pool. The minimum charge per table was 500 ringgits. We were full. I relaxed on the sofa and enjoyed the atmosphere. The next day. KL Sentral Station Today I leave Kuala Lumpur and head north to the city of Ipoh. Many lines converge at KL Sentral Station. The KLIA Transit I took the other day stops at every station on the way to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. That train you see over there is the KLIA Express, which runs non-stop to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. This is the LRT Kelana Jaya line. Gombak, Putra Heights direction KTM Komuter – Suburban commuter rail linking suburbs and KL (2 lines) Other rail connections include the MRT Kajang Line and the KL Monorail, and there are also buses to KLIA. And today I will be using the KTM ETS. There are many coin lockers As this is a long-distance train, there are many passengers carrying large pieces of luggage. around here is waiting area. Convenient location with many restaurants and grocery stores. ETS business class passengers can wait for their train in the upper lounge. Lounge opening hours can be found here. The lockers are plentiful and come in a variety of sizes. Pay at this machine The departure gate for my train, ETS9004 Express, open at 11:30. 30 minutes before the train departs I through the gate and wait at the waiting area again. Go down the escalator to the platform This is the train bound for Ipoh. My reserved seat is in car D. I reserved the window seat on the right hand side of the train. Simple but functional seating The train to Ipoh leaves KL Sentral Station. The next stop is Kuala Lumpur Station. Merdeka 118. 118 floors above ground. The train arrives at Kuala Lumpur Railway Station The historic Les train station has a beautiful palace-like facade with its white domes and spires. The station from the British colonial period is still in use today. What surprised me most was the extremely long platform. A bridge over the Klang side provides access to Pasar Seni station, where you can also transfer to the LRT and MRT. Masjid Negara (National Mosque), Islamic Arts Museum, Masjid Jamek are all within walking distance. From here you can see Kuala Lumpur’s most famous skyscrapers, including KL Tower, Merdeka 118, and the Petronas Twin Towers. Kuala Lumpur has high-rise apartments in the city and suburbs, which are well balanced with the greenery of the trees. Savio @ Riana Dutamas The train is passing through KTMB Kepong Station. The train was traveling in Selangor state, northwest of Kuala Lumpur, approaching Sungai Buloh Station. This Sungai Buloh station is a transportation hub connecting with KTM Komuter’s Port Klang Line and the MRT Putrajaya Line. This train passes through Sungai Buloh station as it runs non-stop from Kuala Lumpur to Batu Gajah. The train is passing through Kuang station, a small town in Gombak district, Selangor. The road above is the North South Expressway. The terrain around this area is made up of mountains and basins, so the train has to go through many curves. The train passes through Rawang Railway Station, in the town of Rawang, once a thriving tin mine and rubber plantation town. Passing Serendah Station at a speed of over 100km/h Passing Rasa Station ETS trains pass through Kuala Kubu Bharu station Passing Behrang Station Passing Tapah Road Station Depoh EMU KTMB Batu Gajah (EMU KTMB Batu Gajah Depot) A large train depot in Kulong Pisang, Batu Gajah, Perak KTM ETS series (high-speed trains) and KTM Komuter series (commuter trains) trains are here. Further inside are CRRC Rolling Stock Centre (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd and KTMB Fleet M&E Main Workshop, Batu Gajah. The train began to slow down towards Batu Gajah station. The train arrives at Batu Gajah Railway Station Near the station are Silverlakes Village Outlet and Dinosaur Encounter World: Area 65. Trains depart from Batu Gajah The next stop is the terminus, Ipoh Station. The train arrives at Ipoh station Today I will stay overnight in Ipoh. It took 2 hours to get here from Kuala Lumpur. The Ipoh station building was designed by Arthur Benison Hubback. It is an Indo-Saracenic architecture that combines Moorish/Mughal style with Edwardian Baroque. Ipoh Heritage Square Ipoh Station, like Kuala Lumpur Station, is a well-preserved building from the British colonial period. Beautiful. Birch Memorial Clock Tower Lorong Panglima The area around Ipoh Station is packed with cafes and restaurants. Concubine Lane Ho Yan Hor Museum Third Concubine Lane (Market Lane) Sultan Iskandar Road Bridge Night market in Ipoh. It was too early in the morning and they were still setting up. A large restaurant area that seems to be bustling at night. I went back to the hotel early to rest. Good morning. This is the Sultan Idris Shah II Mosque in Ipoh. Walk to Ipoh Station. Then I take the train to Thailand. Ipoh Town Hall. This is the last time to see Ipoh’s nostalgic buildings. Ipoh railway station The departure and arrival gates are separate. The waiting area looks like this. KTMB Ipoh Station Ticket Office The gate for the train to Padang Besar, the border town between Thailand and Malaysia, has opened. Head to the platform Trains to Padang Besar arrive at platform 3. The stopping position of each car was indicated. From Ipoh to Padang Besar, I booked business class on ETS flight EP9272. A train bound for Segamat, towards Kuala Lumpur, arrived at the opposite platform. On the opposite platform, a train bound for Segamat, Kuala Lumpur, departed from Ipoh Station. This train is KTM Komuter (Ipoh Line) bound for Butterworth. Departs at 10:55. Very long freight train A freight train slowly moves cement carrying train that I also saw when passing through Depoh EMU KTMB Batu Gajah yesterday. This is also a very long train. 9:50 AM. The train to Padang Besar arrives. The train left Ipoh station at 9:53 am, nine minutes late. USB port and power socket Hanging hook The 2+1 seating arrangement and carpeted flooring give the cabin a relaxed atmosphere. Hanging hook The business class in car A was almost full. There is enough luggage space to fit a suitcase that fits within the airline’s carry-on baggage regulations. Meal service is available in business class on this train. Nasi lemak, rice cooked in coconut milk served with sambal (chili sauce), fried small fish and peanuts Coffee and drinking water were also provided along with the meal. The train will arrive at Kuala Kangsar Railway Station shortly. The luxuriously designed Kuala Kangsar Railway Station incorporates modern Islamic architectural elements. Here in Kuala Kangsar, there are Ubudiah Mosque, Istana Iskandariah, Istana Kenangan, Victoria Bridge and many more. After the meal was finished, the food was collected and dessert was served. Fruit juice, nuts and muffins were provided. The train runs through the mountains towards typing Bukit Berapit Tunnel. A 3.3km twin-tube railway tunnel, one of the longest in Southeast Asia. The ETS Platinum train to Padang Besar arrives in Taiping, the most historic city in the Malaysian state of Perak. I didn’t stop by this time, but I would like to walk the Heritage Trail and see the Taiping Night Market someday. I heard that Taiping is a rainy town where about 4,000mm of rain falls annually, but it was a sunny day. Taiping Railway Station The train departs from Taiping Railway Station On the KTMB journey from Johor Bahru, you can always enjoy the lush green scenery of the Malay Peninsula. Speaking of beautiful scenery, I previously rode the KTM Express Rakyat Timuran, Malaysia’s only overnight sleeper train. Next time, I’d like to ride that train, also known as the Jungle Train, from Johor Bahru. While I was thinking about the next train, Bukit Merah Lake came into view from the window. Bukit Merah Lake is a man-made lake in the middle reaches of the Perak River, and its shores are dotted with resorts, fishing villages, and fish farms. The railway bridge across the lake is a twin-rail box girder bridge approximately 3.45 km long. The train is heading north along the west side of the Malay Peninsula towards Padang Besar. The train will arrive at KTMB Sungai Petani Station shortly. Sungai Petani has a population of approximately 540,000. Sungai Petani has a population of approximately 540,000. Sungai Petani Railway Station The train departs from Sungai Petani Railway Station. The ETS heads north, overtaking one car after another on the highway. The train arrives in Alor Setar, the capital of Kedah state, Malaysia. Popular tourist attractions include Zaher Mosque, Kedah State Museum, Mahathir’s Birthplace, Balai Besar and Alor Setar Tower. The train departed from Alor Setar. Ferries to Langkawi Island depart from Kuala Kedah Ferry Terminal near Alor Setar. As we approached Padang Besar, the unique landscape of karst topography came into view. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes by car from the station to the port. The nearest pier from Arau, Terminal Feri Kuala Perlis, is where ferries to Langkawi Island depart, with frequent departures. Arau Royal Railway Station Looking around the train at this station, I saw that about 70% of the passengers had already got off. Take a look at the seats on the second row of business class. The train departs from Arau Royal Railway Station Next stop is Padang Besar Beautiful towering limestone mountains Passing through Bukit Ketri Railway Station The container storage area at Padang Besar Station comes into view. Arrive at Padang Besar Station Many passengers got off at the final stop, Padang Besar Station, but most of them headed to Hat Yai by van rather than train. The front car has a sophisticated design Go up the stairs and head to the ticket gate. Previously, the toilets inside the ticket gates at this station required payment, but when I checked this time they were free. The areas around the ticket gates and waiting rooms were very crowded. Check the opening hours of the ticket office on the Thai side. This ticket cannot be reserved or buy before the day of travel. This is the ticket booth on the Thai side. This is the ticket booth on the Malaysian side. There’s a toilet over here This is the ticket counter mentioned earlier, and behind it are the ticket gates and waiting area. Northwest entrance of Padang Besar Station Hello! Around the waiting room, vans to Hat Yai and SIM cards for Thailand and Malaysia are sold. When passing through a ticket gate in Malaysia, if your bag triggers the sensor on the side, the gate won’t open. If that happens, pull your bag back a little and then hold the QR code over the gate, and the gate will open smoothly. We had a late lunch in the restaurant attached to the waiting area. Layout of Padang Besar Station Connecting bridge to Padang Besar Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex Across the street are Padang Waremart, Arked Niaga Padang Besar, etc. If you take a van, you will pass through the Padang Besar Border Checkpoint at the back. Singapore, Johor Bahru, Segamat, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Padang Besar. Follow the places you have traveled. This is the entrance and exit for trains in Malaysia. This is the entrance/exit for the railway on the Thai side. The train to Hat Yai was scheduled to depart at 3:40 p.m., but the immigration gates for Malaysia and Thailand didn’t open until 3:30 p.m. When the gate opens, go down the stairs to leave Malaysia and then go further in to enter Thailand. The train to Hat Yai departs from the next platform, so we pass through this passage. The train was stopped there. To enter Thailand, you need to enter TDAC online and save the QR code. This was checked when I entered Suvarnabhumi Airport, but not here. (I showed my phone with the QR code displayed along with my passport just to be safe.) At this time, it was already 4pm, 30 minutes past the scheduled departure time. I was planning to take the night train from Hat Yai to Bangkok at 5:45pm, so I was worried whether I would make it in time. According to the timetable, it takes about an hour from Padang Besar to Hat Yai. I still could make it, but if I couldn’t, I started thinking about staying overnight in Hat Yai and catching the night train tomorrow. A freight train pulled by a State Railway of Thailand locomotive arrived at Padang Besar Station. A few minutes later, the train to Hat Yai departs. The actual departure time was 4:12pm. Even if it takes an hour from here, we’ll arrive in Hat Yai around 5:15pm. I had confident that I would be able to make the night train to Bangkok that I had booked in this moment. The train runs along the border between Malaysia and Thailand. The train will soon arrive at Padang Besar (Thailand) Station. The distance between these stations is only about two and a half minutes. The train arrived at Padang Besar (Thailand) Station. It’s a very peaceful place. The town spreads out mainly to the west of the station. The train to Hat Yai departed from Padang Besar (Thailand) Station. A State Railway of Thailand train travels north through vast, beautiful rubber tree fields. This train runs with the windows open, so you can feel the natural breeze of southern Thailand. About 10 minutes after departure, the conductor will come to check your ticket, so make sure you hold on to it. The train arrived at Khlong Ngae station. The stop time was only a few seconds. At 4:30 pm, the train departed from Khlong Ngae Station. When the train departed Khlong Ngae station it was 26 minutes behind schedule, but it was 42 minutes behind schedule when it departed Padang Besar station, so the train made up quite a bit of time. Amazing views Beautiful blue sky Arrive at Hat Yai Junction Station Arrival time at Hat Yai Junction Station is 4:53pm. At the next platform, CNR night train number 32 bound for Bangkok Krung Thep Apiwat Station was waiting. On this day, I had reserved the lower bunk of a second-class sleeper (bunk bed). A State Railway of Thailand sleeper train stops at Hat Yai Junction Station. Before it is converted into a bed, it serves as a seat where people on the upper and lower bunks sit facing each other. I bought a quick dinner on the platform. There is also a dining car, but I didn’t go there because I was planning to go to bed early. Famous foods of Hat Yai, Southern-style fried chicken “KaiTod Hajyai” and sticky rice. Luggage storage area for upper bunk passengers The seat I reserved was at the very front of the train, close to the toilet and bathroom. The train departed Hat Yai Junction Station on time. This is the last train on this trip. I think the occupancy rate was over 80% when we departed Hat Yai. Among the State Railway of Thailand’s sleeper trains, the CNR is still newer, with clean interiors and good facilities. The train leaves the city of Hat Yai at dusk. Night is approaching. The next stop is Phatthalung Station. Agriculture here in Songkhla province is said to be thriving with palm oil, natural rubber and rice cultivation. 6:55pm. The train arrives at Phatthalung Station. Immediately after we departed from Phatthalung Station, the conductor made our seats into beds. There is a space under the bed where you can put a small suitcase, which can also be used by those sleeping in the upper bunk. I went to the bathroom before going to bed. A clean feeling is maintained with beautifully polished mirrors, toilet paper, hand soap, etc. I went back to my bed Closing the curtains will help maintain personal space. About 30 minutes after leaving Phatthalung, trouble occurred on the train. Many conductors and cleaning staff came to the car I was in to ask passengers something. After asking more about it, I found out that someone had brought durian onto the train and that it smelled bad, so anyone who had it should turn it in. In the end, no one came forward, but the conductor discovered something smelling bad in a plastic bag under the seat and threw it away. Although Southeast Asia is rich in fruits, durian is banned in most places, not only on trains but also in buses, hotel rooms, and other areas. The train runs in complete darkness. I like this unique atmosphere. As far as I know, in Southeast Asia, sleeper trains operate in Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos (international trains) and Myanmar. The train arrives at Thung Song Junction. Located 750 km south of Bangkok, Thung Song, in Nakhon Si Thammarat province in southern Thailand, is a railway town that has developed as a key transportation and logistics hub since ancient times. Inside a late-night State Railway of Thailand sleeper train. The second-class bunk beds all had their curtains closed and appeared to be almost full. I woke up at 4:50am to find the train passing Hua Hin Station in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. The train approaches Hua Hin Station and runs on an elevated section. Early in the morning, Hua Hin city seems to still be asleep. The elevated section had a great view, and we were able to enjoy the view of Hua Hin city even before sunrise. Its attractions include a relaxed atmosphere associated with the royal family and a comfortable, well-developed tourism infrastructure. Guests can enjoy nature at Hua Hin Beach, Khao Takiab, Sai Noi Beach and Suan Son Beach, while there are other tourist attractions such as Mrigadayavan Palace, Klai Kangwon Palace, Hua Hin Night Market and Cicada Market. There are also plenty of golf courses There are many luxury hotels such as Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin, InterContinental Hua Hin Resort, Hyatt Regency Hua Hin, Anantara Hua Hin Resort, Mövenpick Asara Resort & Spa Hua Hin. Stylish boutique hotels include Putahracsa Hua Hin, Cape Nidhra Hotel Hua Hin, and The Standard, Hua Hin.Famous value-for-money hotels include Baan Bayan Beach Hotel and Chalelarn Hotel Hua Hin. At 5:02 a.m. the train arrived at Hua Hin Station, a beach resort in Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The station is located approximately 850m from the coast, and the current station building was operational as an elevated, dual-track station from December 11, 2023. The train left Hua Hin Station at 5:10 a.m. 43 minutes late. It’s still dark outside The eastern sky is getting a little brighter. The morning sky appears a different color every minute. At 5:30am the train slowly passes through Cha-am. This area is also famous as a beach resort. Palm trees grow here and there in the rice fields. Beautiful morning sky 5:41 AM. The train is passing through Nong Chok station. 5:45 AM. the train passing through Nong Mai Luang station This area is Phetchaburi Province. A charming destination where history, nature, sea and food culture come together in harmony. The train entered the city of Phetchaburi. The train arrives at Phetchaburi Railway Station Regular trains also run between Bangkok and Phetchaburi from Phetchaburi Railway Station, taking about 2 hours one way. Use it as a base for sightseeing in Phetchaburi city. From the station, you can easily enjoy Cha-am, Khao Wang Palace and stroll along the river. The train leaves Phetchaburi Railway Station at 5:58am. The station building exudes a sense of history and has an atmosphere of local travel. After passing Phetchaburi, the sky in the east began to brighten considerably. Beautiful rice field views Passengers in the lower bunks have that large window all to themselves.
They cost slightly more than the upper bunks. The train passes under National Highway 35, which connects to Bangkok. The train passes through Pak Tho Railway Station, about 118.6km from Bangkok. In addition to serving passengers using local and express trains, it also operates as a freight train exchange point. 6:32AM. The train arrives at Ratchaburi Railway. Ratchaburi, with a population of approximately 36,000, is a historic city in southwestern Thailand. located approximately 100 km west of Bangkok. It has flourished as a commercial city along the river since ancient times. The train left Ratchaburi Railway Station at 6:35 a.m. 27 minutes behind schedule. Bridge over the Maeklong River The Maeklong River is approximately 132km long. A sleeper train from Hat Yai to Bangkok, Krungthep Apiwat Station passes through Photharam Railway Station in Ratchaburi Province. 7:00 a.m. Special Express No. 32 arrived at Ban Pong Station. During World War II, prisoners of war (POWs) sent from Singapore disembarked at Ban Pong Railway Station and travelled via Nong Pladuk to the Burma Railway construction site, which was an important route. Ban Pong is a market town along the Mae Klong River, and is a multicultural town formed by the Chinese, Hmong, Lao and other peoples who once settled here. The train departs from Ban Pong Station at 7:01. Further ahead, at Nong Pla Duk Junction, the Nam Tok Branch Line (Death Railway) runs west towards Kanchanaburi. The train arrives at Nakhon Pathom Railway Station at 7:19 AM. The city is rich in historical and cultural assets, having been the centre of the ancient Dvaravati Kingdom and an early centre of Buddhism and Indian civilisation. It is also famous for Phra Pathommachedi, the oldest and largest pagoda in Thailand, which is approximately 120m tall. 7:23AM. The train left Nakhon Pathom Railway Station 17 minutes behind schedule. Work was carried out to transform the bed into a chair. Surprisingly, many passengers had already got off, and there were many empty seats. The passenger in the bunk above me had already disembarked. I forgot to mention that there are reading lights and electrical sockets. It’s very comfortable. Iron bridge across the Tha Chin River. Passing Wat Ngni Rai Railway Station slowly Apparently, the Thailand Wax Museum is located a few kilometers from this station. The train will soon arrive at Salaya. In this area, there are Thai Film Archive, Phutthamonthon Park, Central Salaya 7:52am. The train arrived at Salaya Station. 7:54am. The train departed from Salaya Station 20 minutes behind schedule. The market on the east side of the station was bustling despite the rain. The Prachim Ratthaya Expressway came into view from the train window. The train arrives at Taling Chan Junction station. Taling Chan Junction is where the Southern Main Line of the State Railway of Thailand and the branch line to Thonburi join. Taling Chan Junction Station is also home to the Railway on the River Kwai tour train to Nam Tok. Taling Chan Junction Station is also the starting point for the Light Red Line to Krung Thep Aphiwat. Weekday in Bangkok. There is heavy traffic at this time. The train crosses the Chao Phraya River and enters Bangkok. The Rama VI Bridge is approximately 442 metres long. Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is one of the largest cities in Southeast Asia, with a metropolitan population of approximately 15 million. Rounding this curve is Krungthep Apiwat Station, Bangkok’s largest train station. Bang Sue Diesel Shed In addition to the train I’m taking from southern Thailand, all trains from the north, northeast, and east of Thailand arrive at this station. State Railway of Thailand’s carriage depot That’s a Red Line train The sleeper train departed Hat Yai at 5:45pm yesterday and arrived at Krung Thep Apiwat station in Bangkok at 8:33am. This station marks the end of my train journey from Singapore. Although the train was a little late, we arrived safely in Bangkok. The train was comfortable. The final station, Krung Thep Apiwat. people get off the train after a long journey. This concludes our train journey across the three countries of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. In each country, I was able to enjoy its different history, culture, religion, food, etc. These three Southeast Asian countries are truly similar yet very different. This route will undergo many changes in the future, including electrification works on the tracks in Malaysia and the operation of an international train from Bangkok to Butterworth. I would like to enjoy this travel route again, with different stops. Here is the total cost of travel for this trip: It is also possible to arrange it to reduce costs or make it more luxurious. Finally, I hope this video will be helpful to you. See you on the next trip.
Travel by train from Singapore to Bangkok, Thailand.
This video is silent and without description. But I wrote video details in translated subtitles , so please click the CC button and select your language.
If the subtitles are distracting, please turn off the CC button.
-overview-
From the modern city-state of Singapore, take a train across the Causeway to Johor Bahru. Travel north through the lush Malay Peninsula and arrive in Kuala Lumpur, a city lined with skyscrapers. Visit the historic city of Ipoh on the clean and comfortable ETS, enter Thailand at the border at Padang Besar, and travel from Hat Yai to Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, on a comfortable State Railway of Thailand sleeper train. A train journey spanning three countries.
Ticket prices and timeline are as follows.
Singapore to Johor Bahru (Singapore and Malaysia border)
The border crossing from Singapore Woodlands Checkpoint to Johor Bahru is just a 5-minute trip through the causeway.
Woodlands (Singapore) departure 18:30
JB Sentral (Johor Bharu) arrival 18:35
Travel time 5m
Train number is Shuttle Tebrau – 92
Ticket price MYR 16.85 (USD 4.0 , EUR 3.4)
*If you purchase a round trip ticket from Johor Bahru the ticket price will be this price MYR 5 (USD 1.17 , EUR 1.01) Per one way.
*RTSLink is scheduled to open by the end of 2026, and some government and media outlets have stated that commercial operations will begin on January 1, 2027.
*How to get a Malaysian train ticket?
Tickets can be easily reserved and purchased from this website or the KTMB app.
https://online.ktmb.com.my/
Johor Bahru to Segamat
Train: KTM intercity
JB Sentral departure 08:30
Segamat arrival 12:38
Travel time 4h 44m
Train No Express – 42
Coach C / Seat 8A
Ticket price MYR 20.00 (USD 4.7 , EUR 4.0)
Segamat to KL Sentral by ETS train
The train number is EG9322
Gemas departure 15:35
KL Sentral arrival 18:17
Ticket price MYR37.00 ($8.7 , €7.5 *approximately)
Coach B / Seat 2B
Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh by ETS train
Train Number 9004
Departed from KL Sentral Station in Kuala Lumpur 12:00
Arrived Butterworth 14:00
Coach D / Seat 6D
The seats are large and arranged in a 1+2 seating configuration.
The car number is A. The toilet is located in car number B.
Ticket price: MYR160.5 ($34.2, €31.5 *approximately)
Ipoh to Padang Besar
Ipoh departure 09:44
Penang arrival 12:41 *11:41 (Thailand Time)
Ticket price: MYR143 ($33.8, €28.8 *approximately)
Class: Business class
Coach A / Seat 4A
The seats are large and arranged in a 1+2 seating configuration.
The car number is A. The toilet is located in car number B.
Ticket price: MYR160.5 ($34.2, €31.5 *approximately)
*Padang Besar Station is the Malaysia-Thailand border checkpoint.
Immigration and customs are located within the station.
Padang Besar to Hat Yai Junction
Train number 950
Train type EXPRESS
Padang Besar departure 15:40 (Thailand Time)
Hay Yai Junction arrival 16:25
2nd class Lower Sleeper: THB50baht ($1.5, €1.3 *approximately)
This train is operated by the State Railways of Thailand.
Hat Yai Junction to Bangkok
Train number 32
Train type SPECIAL EXPRESS
Hat Yai Junction departure 17:45
Krung Thep Aphiwat (Bangkok) arrival 08:10
2nd class Lower Sleeper: THB1103 baht ($33.9, €28.9 *approximately)
This train is operated by the State Railways of Thailand.
For reservation for Thailand train ticket, please visit this website.
https://www.dticket.railway.co.th/DTicketPublicWeb/home/Home
*Reservations can be made from 3 month in advance.
*Payment is by credit card or debit card only.
*Also be purchased at the counter at each station. You can pay in cash at the station counter.
Total Ticket Price :
USD 100.01 , EUR 85.21 , MYR423 , THB3255.75
Video Chapters
00:00 Singapore to Johor Bahru
09:09 Johor Bahru to Segamat
32:41 Segamat to Kuala Lumpur
39:58 Kuala Lumpur
47:09 Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh
01:06:15 Ipoh to Padang Besar Border
01:22:30 Padang Besar Border to Hat Yai Junction
01:32:27 Hat Yai Junction Border to Bangkok
This video was filmed in late June to early July 2025.
Camera : iPhone 14 Pro
If you like this video please subscribe my channel and Hit the LIKE Button !
And please check out this one too: Bangkok to Singapore by train 2023 https://youtu.be/q-Llv5bO7Ko
Jakarta to Bali by Train and Bus Journey via Yogyakarta and Mount Bromo | Indonesia
Bangkok Thailand to Luang Prabang Laos by train – Thailand to Laos cross border journey Laos-China Railway https://youtu.be/U8W1LYKE4kQ
Istanbul to Ankara by train – Turkish high speed train (YHT) Travel Turkey. a train journey through beautiful snowy scenery https://youtu.be/3HZy6SyEdSQ
@emmatravelreports
#thailand #malaysia #singapore #train #travel #businessclass #firstclass #bangkok #hatyai #kualalumpur #johorbahru #butterworth #penang #traintravel #asia #southeastasia #traintravel #traintrip