Malaysia
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Thailand and Malaysia are set to bring back the Bangkok–Butterworth train this year, a move that promises to make cross-border travel smoother while giving tourism on both sides of the border a welcome boost.
The revival was announced during the 43rd Joint Conference between the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and Malaysia’s Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB), held earlier this month.
The 2 railway giants agreed not only to restore the service but also to deepen cooperation in double-tracking, ticketing integration, joint rail tourism campaigns, and even shared safety protocols.
The Bangkok–Butterworth line has history. Once known as the Bangkok–Butterworth International Express 35/36, it was a service offering a scenic, convenient route between Thailand and Malaysia.
But in 2016, following Malaysia’s railway upgrades and the rollout of new services in Thailand, the line was suspended, leaving passengers to wrestle with transfers at Padang Besar.
Currently, those bound for Penang must switch from the Thai service at Padang Besar onto Malaysia’s KTM Komuter, before continuing on to Butterworth and then hopping a ferry across to George Town.
When the reinstated service begins, passengers will still clear immigration at Padang Besar but stay on the same train all the way through.
Officials say preparations are well under way, with trains expected to run within the year. Appropriately themed Railnaissance, the conference carried forward earlier commitments made in May during bilateral transport talks in Bangkok.
Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke has also hinted at even bigger ambitions. Beyond Butterworth, there are discussions about extending rail services from Sungai Golok into Kelantan’s border towns, potentially invigorating local economies.
Meanwhile, a revival of the direct Kuala Lumpur–Bangkok train is also on the table for this year.
For travellers who’ve missed the ease of a single-seat journey between Bangkok and Penang, let us hope there won’t be delays anymore for a chance of a seamless travel across borders.
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