Train Hat Yai to Butterworth Penang
On this page you will find information, timetables and ticket prices for the train from Hat Yai to Butterworth Penang, for travel by train between Thailand and Penang Island.
Now that the International Express Train (operated by Thai Railways - SRT) is terminating at Padang Besar Railway Station on the Thailand - Malaysia border, there is currently no direct train from Hat Yai to Penang.
This means that you will now have to first take a train to the border station of Padang Besar, then connect to a Malaysia Railways (KTM) train from there to Butterworth.
For travel in the opposite direction on the Butterworth to Hatyai train click here >
Train from Hat Yai to Butterworth Penang
Catching the train from Thailand to Butterworth is now actually quicker than it used to be.
To get from Hat Yai to Penang by train, you can take the following route:
First take one of the cheap Shuttle Train services or the International Express that operates between Hat Yai Junction station and the border station at Padang Besar (just across the border in Malaysia).
Click here for the latest timetables for the all Trains from Hat Yai to Padang Besar >
Once at Padang Besar, you will have to go though all the immigration procedures and get your passport stamped out of Thailand and in to Malaysia.
From here you can then take one of the cheap KTM Komuter Trains (commuter) to Butterworth Penang.
Click here for the latest Komuter Timetable from Padang Besar to Butterworth, Penang >
The slightly faster ETS Trains that used to run from Padang Besar to Butterworth have now been cancelled (from February '17) and all ETS services leaving PB for KL, no longer take the branch line to Butterworth.
Once at the border, you can also choose to travel on other ETS services that can connect you to Kuala Lumpur or all the way down to Singapore.
To see the latest ETS Train timetable from the border click here >
Bus and Train from Hat Yai to Butterworth Penang
Another alternative is to take a bus or minibus to the border from Hat Yai.
It is quite easy and cheap to get from Hat Yai to the border, as the are regular cheap buses that leave from the clock tower close to Hat Yai city centre, or minibuses that leave from Hat Yai bus station.
The buses cost 44 Baht and minibuses 50 Baht.
Get off at the border control and once you are in Malaysia, the train station is just to your right (over a pedestrian bridge).
You can then take the train to Butterworth.
You can also take a minibus all the way between Hat Yai and Penang.
See our bus booking page to search for minivans here >
Ticket Prices for the Train Hat Yai Butterworth
Tickets for these train services cost:
International Express from Hat Yai to Padang Besar: 50 THB (3rd Class) - 342 THB (2nd Class - best avoided as very expensive for this short sector).
Shuttle Trains from Hat Yai to Padang Besar: 50 THB
Komuter Trains from Padang Besar to Butterworth (Penang Sentral): 11.40 MYR
Alternative Ways to Travel Between Hat Yai and Penang
There are regular minibuses that operate on this route from Penang to Hat Yai and vice versa.
There are about 4 to 5 departure times a day in either direction.
For the latest departure times and fares please see:
our online bus booking page here >
Related Pages:
Padang Besar Railway Station >
More Trains to and from Hat Yai Thailand
More Trains From Butterworth Penang