Taking the train is the safe, comfortable, cheap and traditional way to travel independently between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang & Bangkok. It's environmentally-friendly, too, compared to unnecessary short haul flights. Singapore-Kuala Lumpur takes 6 hours on one of two modern daytime trains or 8 hours on a time-effective overnight sleeper train, from just approximately $9 one-way. Singapore to Bangkok is a wonderful 1,249 mile overland journey, it takes about 48 hours including an afternoon free in KL and a morning spent in Penang, departures are daily, and it costs a bargain of approximately $50 one-way including comfortable sleeping-berths with fresh clean sheets. You change trains at Kuala Lumpur and Butterworth (Penang), and of course you can stop off to see Kuala Lumpur or Penang as long as you like, or catch the ferry to Ko Samui or the bus to Phuket or Krabi. See train schedule below:
Footnotes:
L = Deluxe sleeper(Premier Night Deluxe), 1 or 2-bed compartments with private shower & toilet, air-conditioned.
F = 1st class sleepers(Premier Night Standard), 2-bed compartments with washbasin.
S = 2nd class sleepers(Superior Night), upper & lower berths with curtains for privacy, air-conditioned.
1 = 1st class seats (Premier). Quite luxurious, reclining, air-conditioned.
2 = 2nd class seats (Superior). Comfortable, air-conditioned.
3 = 3rd class seats (Economy). Modern & fairly comfortable, but basic.
* = Only one 2nd class sleeper & seats car runs to/from Hat Yai. The 1st class sleepers only run between Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth & Padang Besar.
** = Trains 3 & 4 have been suspended from 17 March 2008 until further notice, so please use other trains until or unless they reinstate this one.
All times shown in local time (remember that Thailand is 1 hour behind Malaysian time!).
Please check times before you travel at www.ktmb.com.my, as they change from time to time. See notes by train number below.
Each column is a separate train, and you read downwards. You can buy tickets for any train, between any two stations. So for example, in the second column you see that train number 2, with 1st & 2nd class seats, running daily, leaves Singapore at 07:40, stops at Johor Bahru, Gemas, Tampin, calls at Kuala Lumpur at 14:19, stops at Ipoh and finally arrives at Butterworth (for the Penang Ferry) at 21:35. You could change trains at KL onto train 8. Or you could stay on board till Butterworth, stay overnight and catch train 36 to Bangkok next day. It's up to you...
Fares:
The above are summarised from http://www.seat61.com/. They have a comprehensive list of international train rides, including the trans-siberian railway!
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