Direct Train Service From Butterworth To Bangkok To Be Revived
The train will travel between Butterworth station in Penang and Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok.
By May Vin Ang — 22 Aug 2024, 12:19 PM
Malaysia and Thailand have agreed to revive the direct train service between Bangkok and Butterworth, Penang
According to the Bangkok Post, the plan was agreed upon in principle during the 42nd Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB)-State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Joint Conference held last week.
The two railway agencies have agreed to run a six-month trial as a joint study in the proposal.
The SRT cancelled its daily express service between Bangkok and Butterworth in 2016, with the route ending at Padang Besar at the Malaysia-Thailand border instead
This was after KTMB introduced its then-new KTM Komuter Utara service between Padang Besar and Butterworth.
Without the direct train, passengers must switch to KTMB trains at Padang Besar to continue to Butterworth and elsewhere in Malaysia.
As for the upcoming direct train, it will be operated by SRT and travel between Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok and Butterworth station in Penang.
Besides that, SRT and KTMB have also agreed to extend the route of KTMB's MySawasdee tourist train further up north to Surat Thani, instead of only to Hat Yai station
MySawasdee operates only on holidays and takes Malaysians from Kuala Lumpur to Hat Yai, which is very popular with Malaysian visitors.
SRT noted that KTMB's train service has been a success, with the train reaching full capacity with every trip.
It hopes that the extended route to Surat Thani, which is the port gateway to many popular resort islands, will boost tourism and economic growth.
