KTM to Hatyai Guide - How to take train from Malaysia to Thailand

There are different train routes that you can take from Kuala Lumpur (KL), depending on your destination in Thailand, namely Hat Yai, Bangkok, or Hua Hin. Usually, taking a train involves changing trains at least once, which can be a rather tedious commute. Thankfully, with the reintroduction of the limited KTM route My Sawasdee, travellers can get to Hat Yai on the same train.

This guide will take you through how to take the express train route service from KL to Thailand as well as the alternative options for taking a train to Thailand. We’ll also introduce Wise as an option for seamless payments when crossing the border.

What is the KTM to Hatyai?

The express train service operated by My Sawasdee will begin its journey from KL Sentral, subsequently making stops at Tanjung Malim, Ipoh and Tiaping stations where passengers can also hop on board. The train will then make its last pitstop at Padang Besar, where all passengers will disembark to pass through the Malaysian and Thai immigration before boarding the same train again for the final stretch of the journey.

Expect the entire trip to take up to 11 hours. The train will disembark from KL Sentral at 10:50pm (Malaysian time) and arrive at Hat Yai the following morning at 8:50am (Thailand time). With most of the travelling taking place overnight, you’ll be able to make the most of your day.

Although the express KTM to Hat Yai is a limited train service only available on select dates throughout the year, it is the only service that runs over long weekends in Malaysia.

Train to Hatyai from KL Sentral price

One of the main draws of travelling by train to Hat Yai from KL is just how affordable it is. The price of the tickets vary depending on the level of comfort you’re looking to travel in. The following are the fares for one-way tickets for each category of seating:

• Seater – 95 MYR
• Upper berth – 109 MYR
• Lower berth – 119 MYR

While the standard carriage seated tickets will mean only being able to sit upright throughout the journey, the lower and upper berth tickets allow travellers the option of getting some shut eye lying down. The ticket fees are a standard fare that applies across the board to both adults and children.

Also, do note that the tickets are only sold one-way. This means that you will have to purchase your return tickets from Hat Yai back to KL separately.

Train to Hatyai from KL Sentral availability

If you’re planning to take this limited-time train from KL to Hatyai, you will have to work around the MySawasdee train schedule released by KTMB. The following are the travel dates you to keep in mind:

While the KL Sentral to Hat Yai route is only limited to selected dates, it affords travellers the convenience of travelling over the weekend.

What are other train routes to Thailand from Malaysia?

For more flexibility with travelling dates, consider train routes other than the express train to Thailand from Malaysia. The ETS trains from KL to Thailand present cost-effective alternatives that offer a wide range of dates for travel.

Depending on your intended destination within Thailand, your route will vary. However, all routes will first take you from KL to Padang Besar – the border between Malaysia and Thailand where you will have to pass through immigration. Here's some other routes you can use to take train to Thailand from Malaysia.

Train from KL to Hatyai (via Padang Besar)

Getting to KL from Hat Yai¹ is a journey that can be broken down into 2 legs. The first, from KL to Padang Besar and subsequently, from Padang Besar to Hat Yai.

The first half of the trip will take a little less than 6 hours with ticket prices that range from 79 to 102 MYR due to flexi fares. There are multiple departures throughout the day that make it easier to facilitate your connecting train. The train schedule is as follows:

These trains make a number of stops including Kajang, Seremban, and Rawang before arriving at the final destination – Padang Besar.

After clearing customs at Padang Besar, the cheapest way to get to Hat Yai will be taking the shuttle train service. You will have to purchase the tickets on the day of your travels. The cheapest option, for the 3rd class carriage is priced at 50 bhat.

The journey from Padang Besar to Hat Yai is fairly quick, taking less than an hour with only 2 other stops – Khlong Ngae and Padang Besar in Thailand. The following summaries the schedule of the trains available:

The total time of travel from KL to Hat Yai can differ based on the connecting train.

❗ Pay for your train tickets in THB with the Wise card. Simply top-up your MYR balance and pay just as you would at home

✍️ Sign up for Wise now

Train from KL to Bangkok (via Padang Besar)

There is a daily overnight sleeper train that runs between Padang Besar and Bangkok² that takes just over 16 hours from the Malaysian border.

The train departs at 6pm (Malaysian time) from Padang Besar daily and reaches Bangkok the following morning at 9:05am (Thailand time). Tickets for this service are available in 2nd Class air-con sleeper coaches only charging 918 THB for the lower berth and 848 THB for the upper berth.

Train from KL to Hua Hin (via Padang Besar)

To get to the island resort of Hua Hin³, one will have to first get to Hat Yai. From Hat Yai, there are four overnight sleeper trains that will get you to Hua Hin by early morning. Most sleeper trains have the option of air-conditioned sleeprs or fan cooled seats. The timing and cost of the trains are as follows:

Taking the train to Thailand? Bring along the Wise card for seamless THB payments after crossing the border

Even if you’re only headed to Thailand for short getaway, remember to slide your Wise card into your wallet.

The Wise card makes overseas spending in 150+ countries easy, Thailand included. With over 40+ currencies, transparent fees, and MYR to THB conversions using the mid-market rate, you can avoid extra transaction and hidden fees that you might incur with your local credit or debit card⁴. To get the best rates, exchange your THB in advance or opt for auto conversion at your desired exchange rate with Wise.

With the Wise card, you can also make up to 2 free ATM withdrawals should you need cash during your travel. Consider all your bases covered – the Wise card is the only card you’d need for all your travel spending needs.