Padang Besar, Malaysia has been a mystery to me for nearly 10 years. Yet, seeing so many recent social media posts about fun train rides from Hat Yai to Padang Besar and beyond kept gnawing at me, because they look fun and adventurous. To be totally honest, my own experience of traveling through Padang Besar haunts me to this day. Could it be possible that going to or from Hat Yai to Padang Besar by train could be a fun, stress-free experience? I made it my mission to find out.
*January 2024 update be sure to get your Malaysia Digital Arrival Card HERE
You see, years ago, as a new blogger, I had a Malaysia taxi mistakenly drop me off at the Padang Besar, Malaysia border crossing. I somehow managed to walk all the way to Thailand before realizing I hadn’t officially checked out of Malaysia. I had walked past Malaysia Immigration but no one stopped me, so I assumed it was not the correct passport stamping place. Even when I yelled hello a few times, no one seemed to be around or even see me. I was invisible.
Imagine my surprise when I eventually saw the Thai Immigration officers and their serious faces. I was new at ‘back road’ travel and it scared me. I then walked back to Malaysia and went to the Bukit Kayu Hitam crossing instead, and vowed never to step foot in Padang Besar again. Well…hello again Padang Besar! Many years later, I finally understand this confusing border crossing thanks to Malaysia and Thailand train travel options. I’m also grateful I didn’t have to walk from Padang Besar, Thailand to Padang Besar, Malaysia again.
Here’s what I learned about going from Hat Yai to Padang Besar by train…
Get to Know the Hat Yai Station (Haadyai Station)
The Hat Yai Train Station (Haadyai Station) is located near the Hat Yai city center, at the intersection of Thumnoonvitha Road and Rotfai Road. In addition to the antique train car adorning the front lawn, the adjacent Train Station Hotel’s distinctive red, white and blue exterior paint is visible from blocks away. You can’t miss it!
Both the SRT (State Railways of Thailand) and KTM ‘Keretapi Tanah Melayu’ (Malaysia Railways) operate services from Hat Yai Train Station. This may be why some find online sources confusing. The SRT lines split at Hat Yai with one line continuing south to Sungai Kolok, Thailand (1 km from the Malaysia east coast border) and the other line going to Padang Besar, Malaysia. The KTM also goes from Hat Yai to Padang Besar, Malaysia.
The train trip from Hat Yai to Padang Besar Malaysia covers a distance of 60 Kilometers and takes about 1 hour. There are two brief stops along the way at two train stations; one is Khlong Ngae and another at Padang Besar (Thailand). Yes, there are two Padang Besars. And yes, I almost got off at the wrong station. Sit tight because a few hundred meters away is the Padang Besar, Malaysia train station.
The Padang Besar, Malaysia train station is the immigration stop for both Thailand and Malaysia train travel passengers. It’s important to remember that there are two border controls to pass through and a time change (Malaysia is 1 hour ahead of Thailand), so be sure to factor that in when planning your itinerary or you may end up missing your train.
Getting SRT Shuttles and KTM Train Tickets
I was told at the Hat Yai Train Station, that I could not buy tickets for the train from Hat Yai to Padang Besar in advance. Not online, nor in person. I could find no options on line for Thailand train tickets, so I had gone to the station the day before my intended day of travel. The attendant told me to just come the next day; 0730, 0900 and 1400 were the scheduled train times for the train from Hat Yai to Padang Besar.
I asked her twice, btw, to make sure I got the information straight. I also asked her if there was any chance that I wouldn’t get a seat because the train was fully booked and she told me, no.
My plan was for a 0900 departure and thankfully I arrived early enough to catch the 0730 departure because it was smooth sailing. Had I been on the 0900 train I think I would have had some layover time, but as it turned out my train travel timing was perfect.
After further post trip research, I wasn’t so sure I heard the woman right because I couldn’t find any 1400 train listed. I also came across real time information on this State Railway of Thailand website: HERE . The website is slow as molasses to load, but if you wait long enough it comes up. This website actually does give you the option to purchase a ticket in advance, but it’s painfully slow and not really necessary. It does however confirm the train times. *Do note that arrival times may be displayed in Thai time and all train times are subject to change
Hat Yai to Padang Besar by Train
I didn’t land in a fancy ‘modern’ train, but was assigned a seat on an older train. I assume this was a ‘shuttle’, but no complaints from me as it was a ride heading in the direction I wanted to go. Cheap too. Just 50Baht for the 1-way, hour long journey.
About 30-minutes later our train stopped at Khlong Ngae Train Station for about 10-minutes. Looking on a Google map later, I couldn’t even find this place listed on a map. But it obviously exists, because I have a photo to prove it.
Closer to the 1-hour mark our train pulled up in the Padang Besar, Thailand train station. Don’t let the name fool you, it’s not your stop. After a brief stop at this station, the train continues to the Padang Besar, Malaysia train station.
Arriving at Padang Besar Train Station in Malaysia
Once you arrive at the Padang Besar Train Station, all passengers disembark and go through Thai immigration check point to get their passports stamped out of Thailand. The herd then lines up at the Malaysia immigration check point to get stamped into Malaysia. It may seem a bit chaotic, but they are surprisingly well organized.
So, boom, you’re now in Malaysia. Beautiful Padang Besar, Malaysia. If you don’t already have a KTM train ticket for onward Malaysia train travel, now is the time to hustle your butt upstairs and buy one. If you get lucky (like I did) the next train will be coming soon.
The good news is that the Padang Besar Malaysia train station is a decent place to while away time. It’s spacious, has food, information, a money changer, sim cards and they even sell minivan tickets in case you can’t wait any longer. But! Remember, you are saving a lot of money by taking the train, so patience is a money saving virtue. Oh, and there is also an Indian Temple next door you can visit.
SRT & KTM Hat Yai to Padang Besar Train Times:
Hat Yai to Padang Besar:
SRT Shuttle & KTM train times:
0730 departure/ 0925 arrival (MY time), 0855 departure/ 1050 arrival (My time), 1400 departure/ 1555 arrival (MY time)
Padang Besar to Hat Yai:
SRT Shuttle train times:
0955 departure (MY time), 1600 departure (MY time) 1800 departure (MY time)
KTM train times:
1241 departure (MY time), 1523 departure (MY time), 1633 departure (MY time) and 0004 departure (MY time)
Coming by train from Arau, Perlis?
The KTM train departure schedule for Arau train station to the Padang Besar Train Station is 1230, 1505, 1614 and 2346. The ticket price is just RM3.20. It’s a RM21 GRAB taxi fare from the Kuala Perlis Ferry Jeti to the Arau train station (in case you are coming from Langkawi, Malaysia or the Kuala Perlis bus station). There’s also a car park at the Arau Train Station in case you’re considering leaving your car in Malaysia, while you visit Thailand.
Coming by train from Kuala Lumpur?
Here is what the Padang Besar arrival times look like. The Platinum and Gold ETS trains make the journey rather quickly!
Looks great on paper, no? However, don’t forget the two immigration stops that need to be include in the itinerary; Malaysia and Thailand. Conveniently they are both located at the Padang Besar, Malaysia train station, but there is still an estimated processing time of 30-minutes to 1-hour depending on the crowds. So, heading from Padang Besar to Hat Yai, you can expect at least some wait time between trains.
Confusing? Yeah, maybe a little bit. The biggest takeaway is that the early bird will catch the trains (in both directions) in a timely manner. From Hat Yai south to Padang Besar 7:30am is the winning time slot. Heading from Padang Besar to Hat Yai, be sure you are cleared through immigration and have ticket in hand by 1600 Malaysia time and you’ll be arriving safe and sound in Hat Yai by around 1600 Thai time. You can read more about the train route from Kuala Lumpur to Padang Besar here: All Aboard! Riding the Rails from Kuala Lumpur to Perlis & Beyond
If you decide not to wait for the next train to Hat Yai
If you decide not to wait for the next train from Padang Besar to Hat Yai, do note that those convenient duel Malaysia/Thailand immigration desks are unfortunately only for train passengers. If you decide to take a van or taxi, well it’s almost as labor intensive as waiting several hours for a train. At best you might skim an hour or so from your adventurous journey.
Step 1: Go to the entry of the Padang Besar train station steps and hire a taxi. That taxi will then take you to another immigration stop for cars. It’s a drive thru actually. Step 2: And once you are officially checked out of Malaysia, your Malaysia taxi will then take you to Padang Besar (Thailand) immigration and drop you there. I paid RM30 for my taxi, but the price could vary, so don’t be surprised. Step 3: Entry to the Padang Besar (Thailand) Immigration is in the front of the building (in case your taxi drops you in the back like mine did).
*Do also note that there are quite a few aggressive taxi touts hanging around behind the Padang Besar (Thailand) Customs/Immigration, so beware. I was quoted a whopping 1000baht for a taxi ride from Padang Besar to Hat Yai, which is rediculous. There is a mini van stand across the street and they charge just 60baht. The trip takes about 45-minutes and you will be delivered to Hat Yai’s Bus Station #1. From there you can flag down a taxi or songthaew to your Hat Yai destination of choice.
If you are heading south from Padang Besar into Malaysia, the farther south your destination is, the more likely you will need to book your train tickets online in advance because tickets sell out. Traveling through Northern Malaysia, both Perlis and Kedah are fairly easy to navigate spontaneously, but things can get more complicated once you hit Penang and Perak, because train travel is extremely popular there.
The beauty is that buses, taxis and ferries offer ‘other’ affordable transportation options, should you hit a snag along the train route. Oh, and online transportation sources sometimes say ‘tickets’ aren’t available, which may well mean that tickets can only be booked in person, so don’t panic. Happy train travel!
Hi, thanks for the review on the recent situation! I’m travelling from Thailand to Malaysia in June 2023 and I was confused with the information out there!
On the internet I found some information that the Thai immigration border location changed or so, but that’s not the case right?
Also, do you know if there are mini busses going from Hat Yai to Padang Besar, in case I miss the train?
Thanks
Hey Lia, immigration locations not changed that I know of. You can also cross at Dannok to Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah. Padang Besar is the Perlis crossing and the train route. Can catch mini vans at bus station #1… lots of mini vans. It can all get a bit overwhelming at times, so in a pinch a taxi can take you for about 1500 baht. If you take a mini van to Padang Besar, Malaysia ask them to drop you at the train station there, not just ‘on the street’. The Thai and Malaysia immigration offices are there. *There is also a Padang Besar, Thailand. And the time changes once you cross the border. Malaysia is one hour ahead of Thailand. Good luck and safe travels.
Hey! Thanks for awsome post! I will be doing it next week and it was very helpful! I know you mentioned currency exchange at the station in Padang Besar. Thats my only concern. So I will be able to change my Thai Bhat to Malaysian money?
Hey Pati, I didn’t use the money changer myself, but did see the money changer sign. :)
How’s the immigration? What’re the documents/requirements needed for a smooth entry?
you need to apply for the digital on arrival visa thing now. And have your passport of course. Link is at the top of this post.. https://www.theislanddrum.com/satun-ferry-to-langkawi-travel-tips/. the system may not accept you until the day before your arrival though (despite what the website says about 3 days). Just make sure it’s done before you arrive at the border and take a photo of the email they send you.
This is an absolute gem! You saved me a lot of time and potential problems. Thank you!
Thank you! It wasn’t easy. I think I’ve already made all the mistakes, so hopefully it should be smooth sailing for you.
Hi.
Need an advice. I manage to book 730 am ticket from Padang Besar to KL Sentral. But I wonder I can make it to the station at the right time or not (due to hotel distance to padang besar, Hatyai immigration process, Padang Besar immigration process etc).
If you are staying in Padang Besar, can make it. But if you are coming from Hat Yai, you should book from Padang Besar (10:30am I think) . Because you can catch the shuttle train from Hat Yai at 7:30am and immigration 30-min+ and then you have a time change. Leaving Hat Yai at 7:30am is 8:30am in Malaysia. You arrive in Padang Besar 8:30am Thai Time. There ‘may’ be a mini van option at Bus Station #1. Go there and ask them what the departure times are. Otherwise private taxi. If you rebook a later train ticket make sure it’s a Platinum or Gold (cuz they are faster and more comfortable). I think you’ll save mioney by just rebooking a train ticket (if you can) rather than hire car. That immigration office at the train station is only for train passengers. If you go by taxi or mini van it’s a little time consuming cuz you have to go through Thai customs office. ** Train route 100% of the way is much more efficient (in my opinion). Hope this makes sense..:)
Hi…I had plans to go to Padang Besar from Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral) this February, but ETS tickets were sold out on the KTMB online platform, and so was the reverse direction. Is it possible to buy the tickets directly to the officer at the station counter?
If your travel dates are during Chinese New Year it will likely make no difference, but you could try. *Or check with a travel agent cuz maybe some of them book seats in advance to corner the market. CNY in Hat Yai is HUGE. Did you look at Butterworth to Pedang Besar? That ‘might’ be a sneaky way to get in; as in book to Butterworth and then book another for Padang Besar. To be honest you’d be lucky to even get a decent room in Hat Yai at this late date. But if CNY is not the reason you are going to Hat Yai, you might better look at changing your dates. (I got stuck in KL during an Indian Holiday for the same reason, trains ALL booked and flights to my intended destination were through the roof). Good luck! :)
Please advise: I am booked on the overnight train from Padang Besar to Bangkok Krung Thep terminal. It leaves at 17:00. I am in Georgetown, Padang and would take ferry to Butterworth terminal. Would the train from Butterworth leaving at 14:35 and arriving at Padang Besar at 16:26 leave me with enough time to make the 17:00 train? I am concerned by possible differences in time plus immigration procedures — not understanding if I have 30 or 90 minutes for transit time. Of course I will leave earlier if necessary
Is that 5pm Thai time? If arriving at 430pm Malaysia time (it will be 330pm Thai time). An hour and a half ‘should’ be ok. But you have very little room for error. Just hustle your butt as soon as you get to Padang Besar (Malaysia side). 2 hours just to get to Padang Besar sounds so slow. Another option for you would be to get to Sungai Petani and get on a KTM Platinum train to Pedang Besar, which is faster. Looks like there is a 2:16pm Platinum pick up there and it arrives in Padang Besar at 3:30pm (Malaysia time). GRAB might be about 50RM. But to answer your question 90 minutes should be adequate if you don’t have any problems or passport issues, etc..
Thanks for your timely advice. For future travelers who may ask the same questions, just wanted to inform that the border control opens one hour before departure time. This gives 30 minutes of “free” time if the KTM is running late, or to get something to eat at the station.
The weird thing was that the time on my phone changed automatically when I got off the KTM and was looking for the small sign indicating where to wait for Thai border crossing.
I’ve found that not everything is written in stone when it comes to transportation. Anything ‘free time’ less than an hour is not something I like to test. :D I stick with the herd to make sure I don’t get left behind.
Booked KTM Train from KL Sentral to Hat Yai. Questions ;
1) get down at padang besar immigration to get passport stamped?
2) continue journey to Hat Yai Train Station?
3) how far from Hat Yai train station to Tuscany hotel by sky park in Hat Yai?
4) types of transport to the hotel from the train station?
Appreciate your kind assistance. Tq 🙏🙏🙏
Yes when the train stops in Padang Besar, Malaysia follow the crowd. Don’t be shy to ask other passengers questions either. You switch trains to go to Hat Yai and depending on what time you left KL, you may have to wait an hour or so. Go from immigration to Thailand train ticket counter or ** can check if any VIP Vans about to leave.. (see the booth near train station cafes). I have no idea about the distance your hotel is from train station. You can get a blue or red taxi truck at the Hat Yai train station… or you can call GRAB tax, which aren’t as reliable as Malaysia, but less hassles. Be prepared to negotiate if you are traveling alone You may or may not get ripped off a bit, so if anyone quotes you 300baht or anything like that, walk away. If taxi dudes giving you an attitude, walk down the street a bit and flag someone down. If you aren’t carrying much luggage, then moto taxis are usually 40baht. The next road over from the train station also has a ton of hotels, so you can also ask them to help you get a taxi.
**Make sure you have baht with you before you arrive in Thailand, so you have options. *You could also contact your hotel and ask if they can arrange a pick up for you.
Hi! I’ve booked the KL Sentral – Padang Besar ETS, arriving at 12:41 pm.
The only bookable train on 12Go from Hatyai-Bangkok departs at 17.45 pm. Do you think I could still make it, considering I have to take another train from Padang Besar to Hatyai and clear the immigration?
I have tried to book via D-Ticket, but it shows that the train from Hatyai Junction to Bangkok is unable to be booked. My train would be on 8 June 2024. Is it because it’s too early?
Do you have any other recommendations on where I could buy the train to Bangkok at a later time?
I’ve personally never been a fan of 12Go. Last I saw you should be able to book directly with the Thai Railway Company. They have a website booking system. But that is probably the only time slot anyway. If I was you I’d take a taxi or shuttle from the train station (to Hat Yai) as soon as you arrive in Padang Besar, just to be safe timewise. And don’t forget that you have a time change of one hour. Arriving 12:41pm Malaysia time is 1:45pm Thai time. And I think the next shuttle train at 330ish… take about an hour… putting you in Hat Yai around 4:30pm to 5:00pm (if everything goes according to plan). Ahh…. just rereading your message. That may be the case that you are booking so far in advance.
Is it everyday open for the route from Padang Besar to Hat Yai ? As I looked for the route through SRT, there’s no selection for Padang Besar, meanwhile KTM, there is a route, but it wouldn’t appears the prices, even I am selecting for the next day (13/04/2024). And for go through immigration, is it checked through Padang Besar before Hat Yai? What kind of supporting documents should I prepare, other than passport? Is there any forms that required to fill in? If there’s form need to fill, is it takes time, or is it need to prepare a day earlier before depart?
Route from Padang Besar is open every day. There are two Padang Besars (which can make things confusing). Padang Besar , Malaysia and Padang Besar, Thailand. The immigration point is here. There is one at the train station (only for train passengers) or you can arrive in Padang Besar, Malaysia and exit Malaysia and take a taxi to Padang Besar, Thailand immigration to check into Thailand. Once through, you can also catch a mini van or taxi onward to Hat Yai. Hat Yai is about one hour from Padang Besar (Malaysia and Thailand). This is a border crossing. You need your passport. If you are returning to Malaysia later you will need to fill in the visa on arrival form online withing 3 days of your arrival. Malaysia and Thailand are on different timelines. Information you get from KTM may not ‘make sense’ with information you get from Thailand train info. Book KTM platinum ticket to Padang Besar, Malaysia and decide when you get there how you want to do your onward travel. If you are looking at the special KTM KL all the way through to Hat Yai route… then that I don’t know. I’m not even sure it really exists except for VIPs or special media trips.
**You cannot book in advance the Padang Besar to Hat Yai shuttle**. The shuttle costs 50baht.. a mini van is about 60baht and a taxi could be anywhere from 700baht to 1500baht. Your main objective is to get across the border, once across you will have no problem finding a ride to Hat Yai. The ‘shuttle’ train just happens to be the cheapest and most convenient, from my own experience. If the train route is too complicated for you, you can always take a bus to Hat Yai or even fly, as Hat Yai also has an international airport.
Thanks for this helpful guidance. Do you recall if it’s possible to buy the 50 baht SRT ticket with credit card? Or is it cash only? This would be for the northbound trip from the border to Hat Yai, if it matters. Thank you!
Hey Sean, I don’t remember, but there is a money exchange at the train station. I always enter Thailand with baht in hand for ’emergencies’. *you may decide to change your plan at the last minute and you would need more than 50baht to take a taxi.. So, if you have time change some rinnget to baht before hand. If coming from KL sentral they also have money exchanges there. (good question btw!)