How to go to Hatyai via KTM Komuter

KTMB had revised the new timetable for its KTM Komuter service with effect from 1 July 2016. This means there are more frequent commuter trains and the last train from Padang Besar to Butterworth is at 10.25pm.

I had always keen to try the electric train service after the completion of KTMB's double track project. I have tried the ETS from Butterworth to KL earlier and this time I will try the Komuter service up north.

The North-bound KTMB commuter service consists of the old train units that were formerly used in the Klang Valley service. They are also known as EMU (Electric Multiple Unit).

Please note that the KTM commuter service schedule is subject to change from time to time. For latest schedule, kindly visit KTMB website at http://www.ktmb.com.my

19 July 2016

I have made an appointment earlier to meet an old friend of mine in Perlis, I called her Minah as it was the nickname given to her when we were colleagues back in the late 1990s. In fact, I was the one who gave her that nickname. LOL

It was a mixed of business and pleasure trip, actually. Minah is now holding a high-rank position in the Tourism Malaysia stationed in Perlis.

10.00am

Arrived at KTM Bukit Tengah station. The reason I chose Bukit Tengah station is because the Butterworth station's car park is chargeable and is normally full. Car park at Bukit Tengah station is adequate and free of charge.

Bought the KTM ticket from Bukit Tengah to Arau as I am going to meet Minah at Arau.

Elevator is available for the elderly and disabled.

Facing Bukit Tengah roundabout. Bukit Mertajam on the left was being covered by cloud.

10.32am

The train arrived and departed.

It was raining most of the time during my journey from Bukit Tengah to Alor Setar. After Alor Setar the rain had subsided.

It was raining heavily. Otherwise it will be a very beautiful scenery.

Still raining.

...and raining.

The Komuter was unlike the ETS where they displayed the real time train speed on the ETS TV screen. Hence, I used my GPS tracking app on my phone to capture the Komuter speed. The recorded top speed is 132km/h somewhere in between Gurun station to Kobah (Pendang) station.

Max speed 132.42km/h.

It took approximately one and a half hour to reach Arau station.

12.00pm

Upon reaching Arau station, Minah fetched me & we went to a nearby restaurant for lunch and discuss some business matters.

Me and Minah. Old buddies of No. 245 Burmah Road.

Stesen DiRaja Arau

1.50pm

After we have had a fruitful conversation and discussion, Minah sent me back to Arau station as I shall take the next commuter train to Padang Besar.

1.57pm

The train to Padang Besar arrived and off I went to Padang Besar.

2.16pm

Arrived at Padang Besar station. Since it was my first time here via train, I went to an auxiliary policeman (Polis Bantuan) to ask how to go about the immigration to cross the border into Thailand. In front of me was a Chinese uncle, he was asking the same question to that auxiliary policeman. According to the policeman, if the passenger bought a train ticket directly from Malaysia to Thailand, the passenger need to disembark from the train, stamp their passports at both the Malaysian and Thai immigration counter located within the train station itself and then get back on the train to Thailand.

If the passenger bought the train ticket up to Padang Besar station only and wish to go to Thailand by foot or by other public transport, the passenger need to go to the CIQ complex outside the train station.

The auxiliary policemen answered the questions pretty well. He was very pleasant and helpful. Thank you very much, constable!

Ok, that answered my questions. I asked that uncle, where did he wanted to go? He said he's going to Krabi via public transport. Seems I had made some research through other blogs on how to go about and also from my friends' advise, I told the uncle that he need to go to Padang Besar Thailand and take a van to Hatyai. From Hatyai he can either take a bus or a van to Krabi.

The uncle asked me, where am I going? I told him that I was just trying the Komuter service to Padang Besar and perhaps just going about around Padang Besar Thai side. I only planned a day trip before going back to Butterworth on the same day.

He asked me to join him to Padang Besar Thailand and off we go by foot. 

The distance from Padang Besar train station to CIQ complex is about 200 meters. There were motorcycle taxi services available with a fee of RM5 to cross the border into Padang Besar Thailand town. We chose to walk instead.

We introduced each other. The uncle's name is Mr Ang. There was not much queue at both Malaysian and Thai immigration counter and the process to stamp our passports went smoothly.

From the CIQ complex to the nearest van station in Padang Besar Thailand was approximately 1 km. Luckily it was cloudy and the weather was not too hot to walk. If the weather is hot, I would suggest those who do not wish to walk should take the motorcycle taxi service from the train station to cross the border.

Mr Ang and I at the van station.

Once we had reached the van station, Mr Ang asked me to join him to take the van to Hatyai. He offered to sponsor my van ticket. The ticket to Hatyai is 50Baht (RM5.80). Allright then, this is quite an adventure. I have made several unplanned journeys before. Just go with the flow.

At the van station, passengers who wish to park their cars can do so with a fee of 50Baht per day. The car park is covered. Not bad.

Seems I was going to Hatyai, I need to change the currency. The van station also provide currency exchange. The exchange rate for that day was RM1 = 8.60Baht. The Ringgit is on the declining trend as compared to Thai Baht now.

I'm not sure about the van schedule to Hatyai, but I was told that the van will depart once they have adequate passengers.

3.30pm

The van took off about 10 minutes after we bought the tickets. Along the way, we had a good conversation. Mr Ang is from Kepala Batas, Penang. He took the Komuter from the Tasek Gelugor station. He is 60 now but he doesn't want to retire yet. He was on holiday now before going back to work in Petaling Jaya in a few days time. He was an accountant. He had worked in many countries around Southeast Asia before. He's a very nice guy.

Mr Ang decided to take another van from Hatyai to Phatthalung and spend a night there. He shall then take another van to Krabi the next day. Seems I have been to Phatthalung before, I told him about the travel time and the places that I have visited there before such as the Lampam Beach and... err... I guess that's the only place I have been in Phatthalung.

The travelling time taken from Padang Besar to Hatyai was normally one hour but the van driver made it within 50 minutes. It was raining again after we left Sadao district.

4.20pm

We reached Hatyai bus station. They called it bus station but there were more vans than buses.

I thanked Mr Ang and we went separate ways. It was a pleasure meeting him.

Royal Thai Navy sailors at the bus station. I believe they're stationed at Songkhla naval base.

The sailor at the center immediately stood at attention when I wanted to snap their photo.

Seems it was raining, I waited for a while in front of the convenient store outside the bus station. There were lots of people and travelers. While waiting for the rain to subside, I asked the salesgirl at the mobile phone booth about the Thai sim card and the mobile data charges. The salesgirl can't speak English.

At the same time, there was a guy nearby asked me, "Abe orang Malesia?" (Are you Malaysian?) in a familiar Kelantanese-Patani accent.

I said, "Ya, saja nak tanya dia pasal prepaid sim & internet plan" (Yes, I was just asking her about the prepaid sim card and the internet plan).

From there, the guy became my unofficial interpreter with that Thai salesgirl. It was very kind of him.

His name is Ayob. We had a little chat. I asked him where he was from. He said he's from Patani and heading to Krabi.

I asked him where can I go about within the walking distance from here. He said I can either go to the Central Festival Mall or the ASEAN Night Bazaar. They were just nearby.

Well, thank you so much, Ayob. It was very kind of you. This is what people always highlighted about Thai hospitality. The Thais really appreciate tourists as tourism is a major contributor towards Thai economy.

It was still drizzling and I decided to walk to the ASEAN Night Bazaar area. The distance is about 200 meters from the bus station. I did not go the the Central Festival Mall because it is the same as the malls in Penang. In fact, it is almost the same size of Queensbay Mall, Penang.

Upon reaching there, many shops were still unopened. I went to the food court and get myself a hot cup of Nescafe. Oh how pleasant it was, having a nice cup of hot drink in the cool weather (because of the rain) and enjoying the scenery of the people walking by and the shop owners busy opening their shops.

After a while, I went for window shopping. I bought a camo shorts for 200Baht (RM22). Took some photos and then walked back to the bus station.

6.15pm

I bought the van ticket back to Padang Besar.

6.25pm

The van departed. It started to rain again after we had left Hatyai.

7.20pm

The van dropped some passengers at the CIQ complex. I took off there. Luckily the queue at the immigration counter was short. Seems it was still drizzling and if I were to proceed to the Malaysian immigration by foot, I would be soaking wet. Hence, I took the motorcycle taxi service for RM5 up to the train station.

7,35pm

Bought the Komuter ticket back to Bukit Tengah.

8.20pm

The commuter train arrived and departed at 8.25pm.

10.08pm

Reached Bukit Tengah Station. Took my car and headed home.

Butterworth - Hatyai - Butterworth within 12 hours. What an experience. Phew!

Well, thats how I go to Hatyai via KTM Komuter. Hope this will help those who wish to travel via KTM Komuter or ETS to Padang Besar and Thailand.

Allright then, till the next trip. Cheers!

The cost incurred:

Car park: Free

Komuter from Bukit Tengah to Padang Besar: RM10.90 x 2 way = RM21.80

Van from Padang Besar Thailand to Hatyai: 50Baht = RM5.80 (1 way as Mr Ang paid for my ticket to Hatyai)

Motorcycle taxi from Thai CIQ to train station: RM5

Total cost = RM32.60

Note:

The above is the transportation cost only.

ETS ticket fee is higher than Komuter.

The time mentioned in this article is according to Malaysian time.