Part 1 To Hat Yai by Train

10 Mar 2012 - KTM’s Senandung Langkawi from KL Sentral to Hat Yai (overnight)

On 10 Mar 2012, our excitement peaked. The day we leave to our neighbouring country, Thailand, has finally arrived. The Hat Yai bound Senandung Langkawi was scheduled to leave KL Sentral at 9.20pm. To my utter surprise, it left on time, exactly at 9.21pm!

Senandung Langkawi at KL Sentral

We had wanted so much to get the sleeper coach but it was fully booked. KTM should add more sleeper coaches. So, we ended up in the 2nd class air-conditioned seaters' coach. The seats was comfortable except for two things-



1. The food tray at most seats were faulty and falling apart. It’s high time they be replaced.



2. The air-condition was centralized so you can’t adjust the temperature, it was COLD.

Harish very quickly found ways to occupy himself

At about midnight, we walked a long way passing many coaches to get to the canteen. The food prices here were almost double of the normal price. A cup of ‘teh tarik’ / hot tea costs RM2.50 compared to the normal price of RM1.50. But the canteen was cosy and so we sat long sipping our tea while watching the night pass by.


There were toilets between each coach; squat and sit toilets. They were tiny and crampy inside but clean.

KTM Staff on duty walked their rounds cleaning toilets, collecting rubbish etc.


The train made many stops at various stations. I lost count of how many..

At dawn, we saw the sunrise over paddy fields.

The sunrise at dawn...

The green paddy field

At about 8.30am, we reached Padang Besar.

At Padang Besar railway station

We carried our luggages out for immigration check. A Thai railway officer gave us the arrival cards to be filled up. We went through a queue for passport check and stamp and to have our photos taken through a tiny web scanner. It was pretty quick.

Immigration check at Padang Besar

We headed for breakfast at Padang Besar railway station's cafeteria. Again, the price was slightly more expensive than normal.

The cafe in the Padang Besar train station

We had a long wait at this station; two hours!

The long wait at padang Besar station

Think this was what they were waiting for..the engine coach?

At last we were allowed to board the train

Finally when the train started moving, we crossed to Thailand very quickly. I realized I was in Thailand when I noticed the signages in Thai language. We passed by many rubber trees, banana trees, fruit orchards, vegetable farms, villages, small towns and mini pagoda shrines.


By the time we reached Hat Yai train station it was almost noon.

Hat Yai Train Station

One look at the Hat Yai train station, my heart sank. It was dirty, old and the tunnel stank of urine. There were people sitting on the cement floors ; beggars and vendors.

The moment the train stopped some Thai men entered the coaches and started approaching the white travellers first and then anyone that didn’t look Thai. These were the taxi and van guys. They were trying to get passengers. We ignored them and walked with our bags out of the station. We weren’t being rude but we just couldn’t understand their language.



Some tips for those wanting to try KTM’s train to Hat Yai :-


1. The booking of tickets opens one month before the date of your travel – so do early booking to get the sleeper coach, especially if you plan to travel on a Fri or Sat night. The booking can also be done online. I went 2 weeks after the booking opened but couldn’t get the sleeper coach. KTM’s booking office is at KL Sentral 2nd Floor, near the KFC.

2. It's a 12 hour journey, but be mentally prepared for a 15 hours.


3. The ticket price for children is not discounted at 50% of the adult rate. But lesser nevertheless. Adult seat =RM48. Child = RM28.

4. If you opt for the seater coach, be reminded that it can get cold at night. If you don’t plan to wear shoes, at least bring stockings to cover your feet. I saw some families with blankets.


5. Check the location of the coach on the train. The end coaches can be bumpy. And do check the location of the canteen from your coach.


6. Pack your own food especially if you are travelling with kids, as the canteen food is not that cheap. One packet of bee hoon is RM4.


7. Be informed that the white fluorescent lights are kept on throughout the night. If you are in the seater coach, this can be annoying.


8. The train leaves on time. So, be on time.


9. Malaysia is ahead by 1 hour – 10am here is 9am in Thai. So you gain an hour upon crossing the border.

10. Expect to be delayed at Padang Besar. It's not because of the immigration check.


All pictures are copyrighted. I can reached at sivakay2009@gmail.com.