Travelling to Penang by Train

The main train station of the state is close to the Ferry Terminal at Butterworth (Seberang Perai, Penang). There are Daily train services from Hat Yai and bangkok (Thailand) and from Kuala Lumpur. Then catch the passenger ferry to Penang Island.  From Bangkok you can travel by the International Express to Butterworth. Its a daily service run by Thai Railways.  For  luxurious travel, travel to Butterworth (state of Penang) by the Oriental Express from Bangkok. 

 In Peninsular Malaysia, the KTMB operates 12 intercity express services daily during weekdays, 18 intercity express services during weekend and 8 daily local train, serving a total of 97 intercity stations.    For those coming into the country, there are also services operating from Bangkok, making stops at major towns such as Haadyai(Thailand), Alor Setar, Padang Besar, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Seramban, Johore Bahru, and Singapore.  Passengers traveling by express train from Singapore, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur can stop at Butterworth, a major station in Province Wellesley.    

The International Express (or Ekspress Antarabangsa), operated by the State Railway of Thailand, is a daily express train that runs between Butterworth and Bangkok.   The train, which offers only first- and second-class tickets, has a restaurant car, 1st class sleeping-car and additional 2nd class sleepers. You can buy ongoing tickets at the border crossing in either Malaysia or Thailand.   However, if you come from Thailand, be sure you have ongoing seats if you decide to travel back North. 

KTMB provides comfortable and economical rail services from Kuala Lumpur to Alor Setar and Arau.  Rail passengers going to Penang Island can take the ferry at the ferry terminal, which is within walking distance from the railway station in Butterworth.