Penang to Hat Yai by Train: Ferry, Transfers and the Border

1. The route at a glance: RM 21.40 one way

Three legs, with a transfer at each end. Costs and rough timings:

Fares do not vary by age or distance, and children pay the full fare. That differs from how rail is priced in many countries, so budget per head if you are travelling with family.

2. Leg one: the ferry off Penang island

From Penang island the first move is the ferry terminal. In a taxi, just say you are taking the ferry — drivers know where to drop you.

• Fare: RM 2 each, no child rate.
• Frequency: roughly every half hour, with the next sailing shown on a screen in the terminal.
• Waiting: the hall is large, well-seated and air conditioned, so arriving early costs nothing.
• Boarding order: motorcycles first, then foot passengers.
• On board: open deck seating and an air-conditioned cabin. The crossing is only about fifteen minutes, and the deck is usually the better choice.

You land at Butterworth, a transport hub combining ferry, long-distance bus and railway.

3. Leg two: Butterworth to Padang Besar

Follow the KTM signs from the ferry — about a ten-minute walk to the platforms. There are ticket machines and an official app.

Buy on the app. Entry and exit are by QR code, and a phone ticket removes the risk of losing a paper one.

• Fare: RM 11.40, flat regardless of age or distance.
• Buy to where: Padang Besar only. It is the border station, and you must clear immigration there before continuing on a Thai train. You cannot buy through to Hat Yai.
• Platform: a small station, about four platforms; the border service usually leaves from a fixed one.
• Waiting: no air conditioning at the station and it gets stuffy. The mall area in the middle of the complex is cooler and has food, and the bus ticket hall is air conditioned.

Board towards the front of the train or you may end up standing. Seating is mostly in rows, with some bays.

4. At the border: two customs services on one floor

At Padang Besar, follow the crowd out of the station first — you are still in Malaysia. There are food stalls outside if you need to eat.

Then follow the Tiket (tickets) signs. You will find two counters: one for the Malaysian train, one for the Thai leg.

• Thai leg fare: RM 8 each, no child rate, payable in ringgit.
• Waiting: after buying, wait in the seating area on the left. You cannot cut straight across — walk round the back.
• Downstairs: the staircase to the customs hall is locked until officers open it, and everyone goes down together.

Both countries' customs are processed on the same floor: Malaysian exit stamp first, then walk forward for the Thai entry stamp. Check your stamps before moving on.

One contrast worth expecting: the upstairs waiting area has fans only and is genuinely hot, while the customs hall downstairs is aggressively cold. Knowing this in advance makes it much easier to handle.

5. Leg three: the vintage Thai train to Hat Yai

Once cleared, staff outside will check your ticket. Then you will see the vintage local train: no air conditioning, fans only, every window open.

It feels hot when you first board, but once moving the through-draught is lovely, and the southern Thai scenery is worth watching. About 45 minutes later you arrive at Hat Yai.

Ride-hailing from outside the station works well. There is little touting, and it is fairly quiet.

6. The return leg: the temperature gap is a real risk

The route in reverse is identical, but the experience is completely different and deserves its own section.

1. Hat Yai station has no air-conditioned waiting room. It is an open area cooled by ceiling fans. Half an hour of waiting redefines the word "humid".
2. The Thai train has no air conditioning either. Every window is open and you rely on the draught. Not stuffy once moving, but still hot.
3. Changing to the Malaysian train drops the temperature off a cliff. From the mid-thirties into a sealed carriage that feels like low teens. Clean, comfortable seats — but the air conditioning has no notion of a middle setting.

7. Before you go

1. One long-sleeved layer each. You will need it on both Malaysian legs.
2. File the Thai arrival card (TDAC) in advance. Doing it at the border slows the whole line down.
3. Carry small cash. Ferry, train and the Thai leg are all small-denomination payments.
4. Install a ride-hailing app. It is the easiest way out of Hat Yai station.
5. Allow a full day. Five hours of actual travel, but with transfers and queues you should not plan anything else that day.

Frequently asked questions