Butterworth is the gateway to Penang Island and an important station on Malaysia’s West Coast railway line. Many travellers making their way through Peninsular Malaysia include a stop in Butterworth to explore Penang, before jumping back onto the train and continuing northwards to Thailand on the sleeper train.
The journey from Butterworth to Padang Besar (at the border with Thailand) is reliable and inexpensive, served by eighteen daily trains.
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Route map and details
While the vast majority of the route from Butterworth to Padang Besar uses the West Coast mainline, the first 10km is on a small branch line that serves Butterworth and its large port area. Once the train reaches the junction just past Bukit Mertajam, it joins the mainline and continues north to the Thai border, 170km away.
Timetables
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There are eighteen trains per day from Butterworth to Padang Besar. As this is mainly a commuter service, the frequency of services drops in the late morning and early afternoon.
How to buy tickets
It’s usually easier to buy Malaysian train tickets online using a ticket agency such as Baolau, but the Butterworth to Padang Besar trip is one of the few that can only be booked either at the station or via the official KTMB website (select ‘Komuter’ then ‘Komuter Utara’ from the top menu) on the day of travel.
You can also ‘tap in and out’ using a contactless credit card or with Touch n Go.
This is KTMB’s Komuter service, aimed at mass-transit commuter traffic, so you won’t be allocated a reserved seat; it’s first-come first-served, although it’s usually possible to get a seat at Butterworth if you board early. Tickets can’t sell out so you’ll definitely be able to board the train, even if you have to stand.
How much does it cost?
Tickets from Butterworth to Padang Besar cost:
| Class | Cost (MYR) |
|---|---|
| Unreserved seat | 11.40 |
What to expect onboard
Modern electric trains run along the route from Butterworth to Padang Besar, with the emphasis on fitting in the maximum number of passengers. Trains can be at capacity during busy periods, so it will be difficult to find a seat if you haven’t boarded at Butterworth.
As this is a mass-transit service, you won’t be given a reserved seat and there aren’t many attempts to make the journey particularly comfortable or memorable. Seating is either along the side of the carriage, or in pairs of seats either side of the aisle.
Three-pin plug sockets are available next to some of the seats (it’s pot-luck as to whether they work).
In general, the Komuter trains don’t feel like a premium service, although they are efficient at moving people from A to B. Several of the carriage windows on our trip had been vandalised and not yet been repaired, and the lack of toilets, no catering options, and poor signage on the platforms, all remove something from the overall experience.
What are the toilets like?
There are no toilets onboard Komuter trains.
Catering options
There are no catering options on this service, nor can you consume your own food and drink onboard.
Journey description
The first few kilometres after leaving Butterworth station are quite bland, passing by industrial buildings and the edges of the town. Once the train joins the mainline at Bukit Mertajam and begins heading north, the number of passengers increases and the scenery improves.
Around the town of Gurun, the view opens out and you’re treated to mountains, rocky outcrops, river crossings and acre upon acre of palm oil plantations. Plenty of passengers board and disembark at the busy northern towns of Arau and Alor Setar before the train rolls into Padang Besar station, only a few metres from the Thai border.
READ OUR GUIDE: How to get from Padang Besar to Bangkok by train
Useful reads before you go:
Top tips for Southeast Asia train travel
Reasons why you should travel by train around Southeast Asia
The BEST train journeys in Southeast Asia
10 essentials experienced travellers always take on trains in Southeast Asia
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