Getting the train in Malaysia should be part of any overland travel experience in mainland Southeast Asia. The railway line from the Thailand border to the Singapore border forms part of a journey where you can travel by train from Laos to Singapore.
The most frequent train services in Malaysia are through the more populated west coast states. There is also the iconic Jungle Railway that runs through the middle of the peninsula to the east coast.
There is only one small line in Borneo Malaysia, with no railway connecting the states of Sabah and Sarawak.
This guide lists all of the current railways in Malaysia, how to buy tickets, and other frequently asked questions.
Malaysia Railways
Maps of Malaysia railway lines
How to buy tickets
Malaysia railway lines
West Coast Line (Padang Besar-Kuala Lumpur-Johor Bahru)
– Gemas-Kuala Lumpur-Butterworth (Train for Penang)
– Butterworth–Padang Besar (Penang to Thailand)
East Coast Line (The Jungle Railway)
Sabah Railway (Borneo Malaysia)
International train services
Padang Besar-Bangkok (International Express)
JB Sentral-Woodlands (Singapore shuttle)
Special trains
Sawadee Special (Kuala Lumpur to Hat Yai)
Eastern & Oriental Express (Luxury train from Bangkok to Singapore)
North Borneo Railway (Nostalgia steam train in Sabah)
Frequently asked questions
Maps of Malaysia railway lines
All operating railway lines in Malaysia are listed on this Google Map.
[View map of Malaysia railways.]
Map of the Electric Train Service on the West Coast Line. This will eventually be extended south to Johor Bahru.
[ETS Route Map via KTM (view full size).]
KTM Intercity map includes the East Coast Line.
[KTM Intercity Map via KTM (view full size).]
KTM Intercity System Map by Wikimedia.
[Map via Wikimedia Commons (view full map).]
Sabah Railway Map.
[Map via Sabah Railway (view full map).]
How to buy tickets
Tickets can be bought for same-day travel and in advance at stations. ETS services sell out so it is best to book in advance.
Official website: KTM – Malaysia national railways.
Official booking agent: 12Go Asia.
[Nomadic Notes is an affiliate partner with 12Go.]
Malaysia railway lines
These are the main railway lines in Malaysia. There is some overlap where the national railway (KTM) operates commuter railways in the Greater KL area (Klang Valley). Those railways are excluded from the list and are listed in the KL urban rail transit article (coming soon).
West Coast Line
[The old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station.]
The West Coast Line is the main line of Malaysia, running from the Thailand border to the Singapore border via Kuala Lumpur.
This line is being upgraded to a double-track electric railway, enabling faster trains and more frequent services. The project is about 3/4 completed, with the Gemas to Johor Bahru the only section remaining of the old single-track railway using diesel locomotives.
The Line from Padang Besar to Gemas is now a double-track electric railway, and this is served by the KTM Electric Train Service (ETS). The ETS has an operating speed of up to 140 km/h, making it one of the fastest trains in Southeast Asia.
[Ipoh railway station on the West Coast Line.]
The section from Gemas to JB Sentral is the last diesel Intercity service on Malaysia’s West Coast.
Here are instructions on how to go from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore by train.
Gemas-Kuala Lumpur-Butterworth
[ETS at Butterworth.]
There are direct trains (ETS) from Gemas and Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth (the station for Penang) for connections to Georgetown. Butterworth Station is next to the ferry terminal, so foot passengers can get a boat to the island of Penang.
The train to Butterworth is on the Bukit Mertajam Junction–Butterworth Branch Line, which branches off the West Coast Line after Simpang Ampat.
Butterwork is also served by KTM Komuter from Butterworth to Padang Rengas.
Here is my review of getting the train from Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth.
Butterworth–Padang Besar
KTM Komuter Northern Sector operates from Butterworth to Padang Besar. From Padang Besar, there are trains to Hat Yai and Bangkok.
East Coast Line
The East Coast Line is a single-track metre gauge line that runs from Gemas to Tumpat in Kelantan State. It gets its name because it terminates on the east coast, even though it travels through the interior for most of the way. The railway is better known as the Jungle Railway as it passes through the jungle of the peninsula (though a more accurate description would be the palm oil plantation railway).
The railway passes by Taman Negara National Park which can be accessed from Jerantut station.
The railway is also used as a way to get to the Perhentian Islands, via transfers at Tumpat.
It’s not an efficient way to travel if you are starting or ending in KL as you have to go via Gemas. For visitors, it’s a way to add some variety to your travels if planned in advance.
Here is my review of the Jungle Railway, with the best train times and most scenic sections.
The East Coast Line (as this is officially known) may have to change its name in the future when the East Coast Rail Link is completed. This is a new railway that will connect Kuala Lumpur to the actual east coast of Malaysia.
Sabah Railway
Official website: sabahrailway.my
The Sabah Railway runs from Sembulan (Kota Kinabalu) and travels south for 134 km to Tenom. Considering how big Borneo Malaysia is, this is not a lot of railways. For visitors, the section between Beaufort and Tenom travels through the Padas River gorge.
Here is a review of the new (old) North Borneo Railway.
International train services
Padang Besar-Bangkok
The International Express is a State Railways of Thailand overnight service that runs from Bangkok to Padang Besar (Malaysia). This used to run from Bangkok to Butterworth, but the rest of the journey is now completed by KTM Malaysia.
JB Sentral-Woodlands
The railway from JB Sentral to Woodlands is the last remnant of the old Singapore-KL Railway. This shuttle service takes 5 minutes, and it usually books out a month in advance due to its popularity with cross-border commuters.
Read more at www.ktmb.com.my/intercity-from-jb-to-woodlands.html.
Here is my review of the KTM Shuttle Tebrau.
Special trains
Sawadee Special
KTM has run a special overnight train service from Kuala Lumpur to Hat Yai (the “Sawadee Special” train). This is not a scheduled service so it is placed in the category of special trains.
Eastern & Oriental Express
The Eastern & Oriental Express is a luxury train that runs tours between Bangkok and Singapore, with stops in Malaysia. The service was suspended during the pandemic, but it is expected to recommence in 2024.
North Borneo Railway
The North Borneo Railway is a special steam train service in Sabah. The train runs from Tanjung Aru to Papar and the trip takes about 4 hours.
The service is suspended until further notice.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct train from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore?
There used to be a direct Kuala Lumpur-Singapore service, but that was discontinued in 2015. The trip now requires three trains that need precise planning to do it in one day.
Here is my guide on How to go from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by train.
Is there a high-speed railway between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore?
There is a plan for a high-speed railway between Singapore and KL, but that has been put on hold. Read more about the proposed Kuala Lumpur–Singapore High-Speed Railway.
Is there a train to Georgetown?
There is no train to Georgetown. The nearest station is Butterworth, which is next to the ferry terminal for Georgetown.
Are there international trains from Malaysia?
It is possible to get the train from Malaysia to Thailand at Padang Besar and Singapore from JB Sentral. In Borneo Malaysia, there are no connections to Brunei or Indonesia.
Read more about international train services in Southeast Asia.
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