Modern ETS electric trains now link KL & Penang
	See interactive map of train routes in SE Asia

Train travel in Singapore & Malaysia...

A metre-gauge railway with daily scheduled trains and cheap fares links Singapore, Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth (Penang), southern Thailand & Bangkok, the ideal way for independent travellers.  It's safe, comfortable way to go, 1,233 miles for only $80, £55 or €70.  Unlike flying it's a real experience, and relaxing on a train is far more civilised than a cramped bus on an ugly motorway.  Singapore to Bangkok takes 48 hours, but I suggest stopping off in Kuala Lumpur or Penang on the way - and perhaps in southern Thailand to catch the ferry to Ko Samui or a bus to Phuket or Krabi.  This page explains how to take the train between Singapore, KL, Penang, Southern Thailand & Bangkok, northbound or southbound, with train times, fares & how to buy tickets.  Click here for a map of train routes in Southeast Asia.

COVID-19 update:  Trains are running, although Padang Besar-Bangkok International Express is suspended between Padang Besar & Hat Yai.  Masks must be worn.  Restrictions may apply on foreigners entering Malaysia.  Restrictions may apply to crossing the Thai/Malay and Singapore/Malay border, please check.

Train times, fares & how to buy tickets 

  Overview - start here...

  Train times Singapore - KL - Penang - Bangkok

  Train times Bangkok - Penang - KL - Singapore

  How much does it cost?

  How to buy tickets

  What are Malaysian trains like?

  Singapore station information

  Kuala Lumpur station information

  Penang & Butterworth information

  Crossing the border at Padang Besar

  Security in Southern Thailand

  The Jungle Line:  Singapore or KL - Khota Bahru

  Train service on Borneo (Sabah State)

  Singapore-Bangkok by Eastern & Oriental Express

  Hotels in Singapore & Malaysia

  Raffles Hotel, Singapore - E&O Hotel, Penang

  Useful country information: visas, currency...

  London - Singapore by Trans-Siberian Railway

How to get to... 

  Malacca

  Langkawi

  Batu Caves

  Kuala Lumpur Airport (KLIA)

  Cameron Highlands

  Perhentian Islands

  Sarawak & Sabah, Borneo

  Singapore to Jakarta, Indonesia

  Singapore & KL to Ko Samui

  Singapore & KL to Phuket

Other information...

  Train travel in Thailand, Cambodia  Vietnam  Laos

  Flights to Singapore or Malaysia

  Travel insurance, Curve card & VPN

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Useful country information

Train operator:		Keratapi Tanah Melayu (KTM), www.ktmb.com.my (for train times, fares, online booking)  Map of train routes in Southeast Asia.  Singapore metro:  www.smrt.com.sg.
Time zone:		GMT+8 all year.
Dialling code:		Singapore +65.   Malaysia +60.
Currency:		£1 = 5.2 Ringgit = 1.8 Singapore dollars.  $1 = 3.4 Ringgit = 1.3 Sin$.  Currency converter
Tourist information:		www.tourism.gov.my & www.visitsingapore.com Recommended guidebooks    Health & vaccination advice
Flights:		Scan multiple airlines to find the cheapest flights to Singapore & Malaysia
Hotels & hostels:		Recommended hotels in Singapore & Malaysia   Raffles Hotel, Singapore   Backpacker hostels in SE Asia
Visas:		UK citizens do not need a visa to visit Malaysia or Singapore.
Page last updated:		25 January 2021

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Singapore - K. Lumpur - Bangkok

In this section...

Start here!   Train times, northbound   Train times, southbound   How much does it cost?     How to buy tickets

What are the trains like?   Map of train routes SE Asia     Security in southern Thailand   Singapore station information   Hotels in Singapore, KL, Penang

Start here:  How to use the train between Singapore, KL, Penang & Bangkok...

• Ideal for independent travellers...

  The train ride from Singapore to KL, Penang, southern Thailand & Bangkok is an epic 1,920 km or 1,233 miles, incredibly cheap & perfectly safe.  Indeed, it's both comfortable & civilised.  The whole journey costs as little as $80 or £55.  Bargain!

  You can travel in either direction, northbound or southbound.  You can stop off where you like for as long as you like.  You don't have to do the whole trip, the train is great just for travel between Singapore & KL, or between KL & Penang.

• The Malaysian network is being modernised...

  Trains in Malaysia & Thailand run on metre-gauge track, narrower than European standard gauge, much of it single track, curvaceous and built in the 19th or early 20th century.  However, large sections of line in Malaysia have been modernised for ETS electric trains to run at up to 160 km/h (100 mph) making them probably the fastest metre-gauge trains in the world.  Within Malaysia, you'll often see sections of old colonial singe-track line and the new double-track electrified line side by side.

  In May 2016 KTM restricted the Gemas-KL-Padang Besar section to ETS electric trains, with diesel-hauled trains running a connecting shuttle on the unmodernised section between JB Sentral & Gemas.  You now need to change trains at Gemas when travelling from Singapore or Johor Bahru to KL, which means booking two tickets - I explain all this in the how to buy tickets section.  You'll find a lot of out-of-date information online.  Sleeper trains from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur or KL to Butterworth are a thing of the past.  KL to Butterworth now only takes 4 hours by electric train!  Modernisation & electrification of the Gemas-JB section is expected to be completed by 2020 so that electric trains can run directly between Johor Bahru, KL, Butterworth and the Thai border.

• You need to buy a separate ticket for each train you take...

  There is no such thing as a Singapore to Bangkok ticket.  You buy a ticket for each specific train you want to take on the date you want to take it.  You can buy a ticket between any two stations, in advance or at the station on the day.  Each ticket comes with a reserved seat or sleeping berth on a specific date & train (unless it's a KTM Komuter train).  So look at the timetables below and find trains that suit you, between all the places you want to see.  Then book each specific train individually for the dates you want, as shown in the how to buy tickets section.

• When starting in Singapore, you first need to transfer to Johor Bahru Sentral...

  Until 2011 trains left from the wonderfully faded grandeur of Singapore's art deco railway station, built in 1932.  Sadly, the Singapore government took it over from the Malaysians and promptly closed it, so trains to Kuala Lumpur and the north now leave from Johor Bahru Sentral Station just north of the causeway inside Malaysia.  Shuttle trains operate from Woodlands Train Checkpoint just south of the causeway to JB Sentral, or you can take a frequent local bus all the way from central Singapore to JB Sentral.  The options for transferring to or from downtown Singapore are explained here,

• Singapore to Bangkok by train in just 48 hours...

  If you were in a hurry you could go from Singapore to Bangkok in around 48 hours, first transferring from downtown Singapore to Johor Bahru just across the causeway in Malaysia as explained here, then take train 40 from JB Sentral to Gemas, switching to fast ETS train from Gemas to Kuala Lumpur.  Stay overnight in KL, then take another fast modern ETS train from KL to Padang Besar on the Thai border and train 46 International Express overnight from Padang Besar to Bangkok in a cosy sleeper with a restaurant car for dinner and breakfast.  But of course, you can stop off in for a day or two in Kuala Lumpur and/or a day or two in the historic capital Penang, connected to Butterworth station by frequent ferry shuttle.  What you do is entirely up to you.  I have highlighted these recommended trains with shading in the timetables below.  But by all means take whichever ones you like!

Train times...

All the trains in the timetable below run every day all year round.  Each column is a separate train, and you read downwards.  You can buy tickets for any train between any two stations.  You need a separate ticket for each train.  Please, please, let that sink in!

Shaded = suggested trains for a Singapore-Bangkok journey...

To help you see the wood for the trees, I have shaded the trains I'd suggest for a Singapore to Bangkok journey (or vice versa) with stopovers in Kuala Lumpur & Penang (Butterworth).  You'd go Singapore to KL on one day using the shaded trains, KL to Butterworth (for Penang) on another day, then Butterworth to Bangkok on another day using the shaded KTM Komuter train to Padang Besar and Thai sleeper train overnight to Bangkok.  But there's no reason why you shouldn't use other trains if you like - For example, I have suggested the 08:05 train from KL to Butterworth (Penang), but there's no reason why you shouldn't take a later train instead.  The shading is just a suggestion!

Timetable northbound

Key to types of seat & sleeper...

Take the train!  In contrast to a meaningless flight, or a bus journey along an ugly motorway built in the 1990s, the leisurely Singapore-Kuala Lumpur train ride takes you over the famous causeway, past lush green palm plantations and little wayside railway stations, along the old colonial Federated Malay States Railway...

ETS = Electric Train Service.  New generation air-conditioned train with one class of seats & buffet car.

2 = 2nd class seats (Superior).  Comfortable, air-conditioned.

S = 2nd class air-conditioned Thai sleeping-cars Padang Besar to Bangkok & vice versa.

DRC = Diesel Rail Car, 2nd class seats, air-conditioned, like the one shown here.

Kom = KTM Komuter train, modern, electric & air-conditioned.  2nd class seats only.  No reservations, cannot sell out, buy tickets at the station and hop on.  These Komuter trains operate almost hourly between Butterworth, Alor Setar, Arau and Padang Besar although only key departures are shown here.

All times are shown in local time, remember that Thailand is 1 hour behind Malaysian time.  Please check times before you travel at 12go.asia or www.ktmb.com.my as they change from time to time.  And make sure you read the notes by train number below.  You can find a detailed map of train routes in Malaysia on the Malaysian Railways website, www.ktmb.com.my.

To save space, these timetables do not show:

(a)  All ETS trains between KL & Ipoh, but you can check times at 12go.asia or www.ktmb.com.my.

(b)  All Thai domestic trains between Hat Yai, Surat Thani, Chumphon, Hua Hin & Bangkok, the full service is shown in the Bangkok to Southern Thailand section of the Thailand page.

(c)  KTM Komuter trains operate between Butterworth & Padang Besar almost every hour, but I've only shown the ones that provide a key connection into or out of a Thai train.

Timetable southbound

Notes by train number...

Train 45 & 46: International Express / Ekspres Antarabangsa.  Runs every day.  Consists of two modern air-conditioned 2nd class sleepers between Padang Besar & Bangkok provided by the State Railways of Thailand.  Between Hat Yai & Bangkok these cars are attached to train 37/37 which has a restaurant car, a 1st class sleeper & more 2nd class sleepers.  However, I recommend sticking with the excellent Thai 2nd class sleepers and not worrying about 1st class, it's really not necessary.  Read the history of the International Express.  Note that Malaysian & Thai railways often disagree about the exact timings of this train in each other's country, I trust the Thais within Thailand and KTM for times within Malaysia!

IMPORTANT UPDATE:  This train ran Butterworth-Bangkok for many years but in early 2016 was altered to run only between Bangkok and the Malay border at Padang Besar, with a connection by Malaysian KTM Komuter electric train to/from Butterworth.  In December 2016 it was renumbered from 35/36 to 45/46.

Trains 40-43 = Ekspres Selatan (Southern Express) trains.  Locomotive + comfortable air-con carriages, Superior (2nd) class only.  No catering.

Train 170 = Rapid train, 2nd & 3rd class non-air-con seats.

Trains 948-950 = Shuttle trains, 2nd class only, fare 80 baht, run by State Railways of Thailand.  Should be a Diesel Rail Car (DRC) like the one pictured here but may be a locomotive and older non-air-con carriages.

Trains numbered 29XX = KTM Komuter trains =  Modern air-conditioned electric local trains, 2nd class only.  No reservation necessary or possible.

Trains numbered 90xx, 92xx & 95xx = Electric Train Service (ETS) trains =  new fast air-conditioned electric express trains, either ETS Gold or ETS Platinum with one class of seats & buffet counter.  These new trains started running in 2015, the first of a fleet of modern intercity trains, see the ETS trains shown here.

Changing trains & crossing the border at Padang Besar...

Padang Besar is where Malay trains connect with Thai trains.  See border station information about Padang Besar, including border formalities, station facilities and ticket offices.

Bus & ferry connections...

In Singapore, shuttle trains operate between Woodlands Train Checkpoint in the north of Singapore Island & JB Sentral, or you can take local buses between downtown Singapore, Woodlands Checkpoint and JB Sentral.  See the Singapore station section for advice on how to transfer between central Singapore & JB Sentral.  Map showing location of Woodlands.

Butterworth is the station for Georgetown on Penang Island.  Ferries shuttle between Butterworth & Georgetown/Penang every 10 minutes, taking 15 minutes, see the Butterworth & Penang section below.

Langkawi Island ferry connections are explained in the Langkawi section. 

Bus, ferry & train connections in Thailand:  Ko Samui, Phuket, Krabi, Kanchanaburi & River Kwai Bridge, Chiang Mai.

Timetable downloads:  Handy to print out & take...

KTM timetables valid from July 2019 until further notice...

Singapore Woodlands - JB Sentral shuttle trains

JB Sentral - Gemas intercity trains

Gemas - Kuala Lumpur - Ipoh - Butterworth (Penang) - Padang Besar ETS trains

JB Sentral - Gemas - Kuala Lipis - Gua Musang - Tumpat (Jungle Line)

Butterworth - Padang Besar Komuter trains

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How much does it cost?

There is no such thing as a Singapore to Bangkok ticket.  Or even a Singapore to Kuala Lumpur ticket these days.  Each individual train has its own ticket and its own fare, so first look up which trains you want to take in the timetable above.  Then if you want to go from Singapore to KL for example, you'd take local transport from downtown Singapore to JB Sentral as explained here, then use the table below to look up the fares from JB Sentral to Gemas and from Gemas to KL Sentral.  To go from KL to Bangkok, you'd look up the ETS fare from KL Sentral to Padang Besar, then add the sleeper fare from Padang Besar to Bangkok.  Easy when you engage brain...

Add up the fares in the shaded squares if you take my suggested shaded trains between Singapore & Bangkok in the timetable above.

£1 = 5.1 RM or 38 Thai baht.  $1 = RM 4.1 or 30 Thai baht.

Children aged 0 to 3 travel free, children aged 4 to 11 travel at half fare, children aged 12 and over pay full fare.

Sleeper fares shown above are per person for lower berths.  Upper berths are about 14% cheaper.

You can check these fares at 12go.asia or on KTM's own website www.ktmb.com.my using the e-ticket page.  Remember that Kuala Lumpur is listed under S as Sentral Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru is listed as JB Sentral.  KTM calls 2nd class Superior.  Classes and class codes used on ktmb.com.my are as follows:

AFC = 1st class seats (also known as Premier)

ASC = 2nd class seats (also known as Superior)

AEC = 3rd class seats (also known as Economy)

ADNS = 2nd class sleeper (also known as Superior Night)

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How to buy tickets

Do I need a reservation? 

Yes.  All long-distance trains in Malaysia & Thailand are reservation compulsory, and tickets always include a seat or sleeper reservation on a specific date & train.  You cannot hop on and off without a reservation.  Malaysian train reservations open 30 days before departure (it used to be 60), Thai trains open 60 days before departure.  One exception, no reservation is necessary or possible for KTM Komuter trains.

Can I stop off?  Can I hop on & off?

Yes of course, you can stop off wherever you like for as long as you like.  But no, you cannot buy an open ticket and hop on and off trains at random without a reservation.  There is no such thing as a Singapore to Bangkok ticket, you must buy a separate ticket for each individual train, and each ticket comes with a specific seat or berth number on a specific date on a specific train.  You can buy all your tickets in advance online or buy them at the station as you go along, it's up to you.  If there are seats still available (as there usually are), you can buy tickets right up until the train leaves.

	Recommended:
	Tickets for KTM (Malaysian Railways) tickets are print-at-home. Tickets for State Railways of Thailand trains must be collected at one of 12go's collection points, or sent to any address worldwide for an extra fee.  Full details are on the Thailand page.

Option 1:  Buy tickets online at 12go.asia...

Who are they?  12go.asia is a reliable agency selling train, bus, ferry & plane tickets in Southeast Asia. 

12go.asia offers easy online booking for both Malaysian Railways (KTM) & State Railways of Thailand (SRT), including the Woodlands-JB Sentral shuttle trains.  They cannot book KTM Komuter trains as tickets for these are only sold at the station on the day, no reservation necessary.

12go.asia is much easier to use than KTM's own site and they can book Thai trains too, so you can book a whole Singapore to Bangkok itinerary in one place.  They sell KTM tickets at a similar price to KTM themselves with the same print-at-home tickets.  They sell SRT train tickets with a small fee, but they fulfil manually using the SRT staff system so can access all of SRT's available seats & berths, not just the small proportion which SRT allocates it website and which can sell out.

How are tickets delivered?

For Malaysian KTM trains 12go.asia offers 'live' online booking & you simply print your own ticket.

For Thai SRT trains, 12go.asia shows availability online, when you select a ticket and pay they book the ticket for you manually.  The booking confirmation is not valid for travel, you must collect the actual tickets from one of 12go's official collection points, which include Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani & several other stations, or if necessary you can usually have tickets couriered to you, see details on the Thailand page.  Tickets for train 46 from Padang Besar to Bangkok can be collected from the staff on board the train for a 400 baht ($12) fee with at least 3 or 4 days notice required, as there is no collection point at Butterworth or Padang Besar.

When do bookings open?  Malaysian train bookings usually open 30 days before departure.  Thai trains usually open 60 days before departure.

Stations:  For JB Sentral type JB and select Johor Bahru.  For Kuala Lumpur type KL S and select KL Sentral.

You must book each train separately, you cannot book Singapore to Bangkok all in one go.  To book a whole Singapore to Bangkok or Bangkok to Singapore journey, follow the advice below.

Option 2:  Buy tickets online at www.baolau.com...

Who are they?  www.baolau.com is another reliable agency selling train, bus, ferry & plane tickets in Southeast Asia.  Like 12go they can book both Malaysian Railways (KTM) trains & State Railways of Thailand (SRT) trains.  They cannot book KTM Komuter trains as tickets for these are only sold at the station on the day, no reservation necessary.

How are tickets delivered?  For Malaysian KTM trains & Thai SRT trains you simply print your own ticket.

When do bookings open?  Malaysian train bookings usually open 30 days before departure.  Thai trains usually open 60 days before departure.

You must book each train separately, you cannot book Singapore to Bangkok all in one go.  To book a whole Singapore to Bangkok or Bangkok to Singapore journey, follow the advice below.

To book a northbound journey from Singapore to Bangkok...

	The view from the train...
	Seen from the train:  A green and fertile landscape...
	... and many palm oil and rubber plantations.
	... with strange rock outcrops in places.
	... a lake between Kuala Lumpur & Butterworth.

Each specific train needs to be booked separately which should be easy enough to understand, but I'll spell it out here...

Step 1, use the Northbound timetable above to decide which trains you want to take, on which dates between which cities.  If your planned journey involves 3 trains, that's 3 bookings and 3 tickets.  For example, a journey from JB to KL now means booking JB to Gemas then again from Gemas to KL.

If you're starting in Singapore, decide how you want to transfer from downtown Singapore to JB Sentral using the advice here.

Step 2, use 12go.asia or www.baolau.com to book each Malaysian KTM train you want.  You can't book KTM Komuter trains (marked Kom in the timetables above), just buy tickets for those at the station on the day, it cannot sell out, it's mass transit.

Step 3, use 12go.asia or www.baolau.com again to book each State Railways of Thailand train you want, including Thai-run train 46 from Padang Besar to Bangkok or any trains wholly within Thailand.  With 12go, Tickets for train 46 can be collected from the staff on board the train for a 400 baht ($12) fee, unless you happen to be visiting Bangkok or Chiang Mai beforehand where tickets can be collected for free.

Important:  12go has a temporary problem booking train 46 from Padang Besar to Bangkok at the moment, but simply use www.baolau.com instead...

To book a southbound journey from Bangkok to Singapore...

You can't just enter Bangkok to Singapore as each train needs to be booked separately.  Easy enough, but I'll spell it out here...

Step 1. use the Southbound timetable above to decide which trains you want to take, on which dates between which cities.  Remember that each specific train needs to be booked separately, if you are planning a journey involving 3 trains, that's 3 bookings to get 3 tickets.  A journey from KL to JB now means booking KL to Gemas, then making a second booking Gemas to JB.

If your final destination is Singapore, decide how you want to transfer from JB Sentral to downtown Singapore using the advice here.

Step 2, use 12go.asia or www.baolau.com to book each State Railways of Thailand train you want, including Thai-run train 45 from Bangkok to Padang Besar or any trains wholly within Thailand.  Tickets can be collected in Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Hat Yai, or if necessary sent overseas by courier for $42.

Step 3, use 12go.asia or www.baolau.com again to book each Malaysian KTM train you want.  However, the KTM Komuter trains between Padang Besar & Butterworth (marked Kom in the timetable above) are local services which cannot be booked online, no reservation is possible, just buy ticket at the station, it cannot sell out.

Option 3:  Buy tickets at www.ktmb.com.my -  a bit fiddly...

You can book tickets for Malaysian KTM trains at KTM's own website, www.ktmb.com.my.

Booking opens 30 days before departure.  It used to be 60, but it was reduced to 30 in April 2014.

It's fiddly to use and each train must be booked separately, which now means two separate bookings even for a simple JB to KL journey, but it does work - better in Firefox or Chrome than IE, it seems.  Prices are the same as 12go or Baolau, the only real advantage of using KTM's website is that you can choose a specific seat.

What trains can it book?  It can book any KTM train (other than Komuter trains, of course) but it can't book State Railways of Thailand (SRT) trains such as the Padang Besar-Bangkok trains - to book Thai trains you'll need to use Baolao.com or 12go.asia as explained above.

How to book:  Go to www.ktmb.com.my and use the journey planner on their home page to find a train.  On the results page, click 'Proceed Purchase Ticket'.

How are tickets delivered?  You pay online by credit card and print out your own ticket.  Or you can collect the tickets from any KTM railway station, including Singapore (Woodlands).

Station names:  Singapore is now shown under W as Woodlands CIQ.  Kuala Lumpur is shown in the list of destinations under S as Sentral Kuala Lumpur.  Plain Kuala Lumpur means the old 1911 station a km or two north of KL Sentral.  Johor Bahru is shown in the list of destinations as JB Sentral.

What is 'coach label/slot'?  It means coach number.  The confusingly-named "Label/slot" field on the booking form simply allows you to pick your coach (for example, coach 'J1') then when you click 'view' it will show you the available seats or berths in that coach, allowing you to pick one (for example, 5A, 5B, etc).  Classes are as shown follows:

AFC = Aircon First Class seats (Premier)

ASC = Aircon Second Class seats (Superior)

AEC = Aircon Economy Class (3rd class) seats (Economy)

ADNS = 2nd class sleepers (Superior Night)

ETS trains have just one class of seating.

	...Buy train tickets in person.  This is the KTM InterCity ticket counter at KL Sentral Station...
	First class lounge at Kuala Lumpur Sentral.  First class passengers can use the lounge an hour before each train departs.  It's poorly signed:  Go through the main doors from the taxi rank, walk forward, do a 180 degree turn up the escalator to the Level 3 walkway, turn left at the top of the escalator and left again through the lift lobby to the door to the lounge...  Photo courtesy of Ian Foster

Option 4, buy tickets at the station...

You can of course buy tickets at stations as you go, keeping your options open.

Trains can sell out in theory (other than KTM Komuter trains of course), but in practice there are usually places available on most KTM shuttle and ETS trains even on the day of travel, and on the SRT railcars between Padang Besar & Hat Yai too.  Such trains only sell out at very busy times or dates.  You may well find sleepers available on the International Express (train 46) even on the day in the northbound direction at least, but Thai sleeper berths can sell out so it's best to book sleepers as soon as you can.  Tickets are the same price whether you buy online in advance or at the station on the day, so that's not an issue.

In Malaysia, KTM ticket offices are equipped with the KTM computer reservation system can sell you tickets for any KTM train in Malaysia.  Booking opens 30 days ahead, and KTM ticket offices normally accept MasterCard & Visa as well as cash.

There is a KTM ticket counter at Singapore Woodlands which can sell tickets for any KTM train and which accepts American Express & Diners Club credit cards, but not Visa or MasterCard.

There is a KTM ticket office at the ferry terminal in Georgetown, although a report in 2016 report says this office would only take cash.

There is a KTM ticket office at Padang Besar on the Thai border which accepts Malaysian Ringgits and should accept MasterCard & Visa.  It is not known whether it accepts Thai baht.

In Thailand, SRT ticket offices are equipped with the SRT computer reservation system and can can sell you tickets for any mainline train anywhere in Thailand. 

SRT have their own ticket office at Padang Besar on the Malay/Thai border, this accepts both Malaysian Ringgits & Thai Baht.  It's not known if it accepts credit cards.

Malaysian ticket offices only sell KTM tickets, Thai ticket offices only sell SRT tickets!

Don't throw your rattle out of your pram when you find Butterworth ticket office can't sell you a ticket to Bangkok, or Bangkok ticket office can't sell you a ticket to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore! 

For Butterworth to Bangkok for example, you'd simply buy a KTM Komuter ticket from Butterworth to Padang Besar at the Butterworth KTM office, then buy a sleeper ticket from Padang Besar to Bangkok either at the SRT ticket office at Padang Besar after going through border control or (if you are able to give 3 or 4 days notice) online at 12go.asia, collecting it from the staff on board the sleeper train.

For a journey from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur for example, you would buy the sleeper ticket from Bangkok to Padang Besar at the station in Bangkok, then either buy the Padang Besar to KL ticket at the KTM ticket counter when you reach Padang Besar or book it online at 12go.asia and print it out.  Easy when you know how! 

By phone or email: callcenter@ktmb.com.my, +60 3 2267 1200

Since January 2016 you cannot now buy KTM tickets by phone or email, only in person at a KTM station or online.  However, if you need information, you can email callcenter@ktmb.com.my or call + 60 3 2267 1200.

Security warnings for parts of southern Thailand...

If crossing into Thailand, you may be aware of the security warnings for the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and parts of Songkhla in southern Thailand.  The problem is at the eastern end of the Thai/Malay border, but the Singapore-KL-Penang-Hat Yai-Bangkok mainline passes through the western end via Padang Besar.

Does the Singapore - Kuala Lumpur - Butterworth - Padang Besar - Hat Yai - Bangkok railway pass through the affected areas at all? 

It does not pass through any part of Pattani, Yala or Narathiwat provinces, but it just clips the northwest corner of Songkhla province for 80km (50 miles) through Hat Yai.  However, I'm glad to say that the British Foreign Office has now (in 2018) changed its travel advice to recognise that the Padang Besar-Hat Yai railway is not included in its advice to avoid all unnecessary travel to Songkhla province.  In other words, the railway (and road) is now formally OK.  See www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand.

Many Thais, Malays and western tourists use this railway every day and I'd have no hesitation in using this route myself with my family.  The Thai terrorists aren't targeting western travellers, but in the affected provinces, bombs have gone off outside bars and police stations and the rail line to Yala and Sungai Kolok has been affected on a number of occasions - but note that Yala & Sungai Kolok are not on the Singapore-KL-Bangkok main line, they are on the separate line to the eastern end of the border and that is where the main problem is, see the map here.

I personally would avoid visiting Sungai Kolok or Yala, although many westerners do still decide to go there.  However I wouldn't worry about passing swiftly through the 50 miles of the northern part of Songkhla Province on a direct train on the Singapore-Bangkok main line.  After all, even the luxurious tourist-orientated Eastern & Oriental Express goes this way!

What are the trains like?

Travel tip:  Air-conditioning is always turned up high on Malaysian & Thai trains, indeed this is often the case on air-con trains & buses in much of Asia.  The cool temperature on board catches out T-shirted westerners who have forgotten to bring a jumper or cardigan!

Ekspres Selatan trains...

Until the Johor Baru to Gemas line is electrified, a JB-Gemas shuttle will operate using carriages formerly used on the pre-2016 Singapore-KL-Butterworth express trains, hauled by a diesel locomotive.  These Ekspres Selatan (Southern Express) trains have 2nd class seats, marketed as Superior class.  There's no catering, so bring your own food & drink.

ETS trains...

Malaysian railways are being modernised, speeded up & electrified, and a new generation of trains has been introduced called ETS, Electric Train Service.  Running at up to 160 km/h (100 mph), the first generation ETS Silver trains were introduced in 2010 between Kuala Lumpur & Ipoh, with one class of seating called standard class.  In 2015, bullet-nosed ETS Gold & Platinum trains were introduced between Gemas, KL, Butterworth & Padang Besar, also mostly standard class only, with a bistro car & prayer room.  ETS trains are smooth and powerfully air-conditioned, have a jumper or fleece to hand.  In late 2019, Business class was introduced on some ETS trains with luxurious seats arranged 2+1 across the car width and complimentary refreshments, starting with the 08:30 KL Sentral to Padang Besar & 15:40 Padang Besar to KL.

KTM Komuter trains...

KTM Komuter trains operate around KL and between Butterworth & Padang Besar on the Thai border.  No reservation is necessary or even possible and tickets cannot sell out as these are just local trains.  Buy a ticket and hop on!  They are air-conditioned but obviously there's no catering so bring your own food and drink.  Photos below show a Butterworth-Padang Besar Komuter train at Padang Besar, courtesy of David Smith.

Train 45 & 46 International Express, Padang Besar - Bangkok...

The 2nd class air-conditioned sleepers on train 45/46 are provided by the State Railways of Thailand.  There are no 1st class sleeping-cars on this train, apart from the one that is attached between Hat Yai & Bangkok, which cannot be reserved from Malaysia.  However, there's no need to travel 1st class, as the 2nd class sleepers shown here are perfectly good, clean and comfortable.  The curtains at night on each berth, and the bays of two seats with partitions, give you all the privacy you really need.  Today's International Express is the descendant of the Southern Express which started in 1922, see the history of the International Express.  This train used to run to/from Butterworth, but with modernisation & electrification in Malaysia it now starts at the border, with electric trains connecting to/from Butterworth and KL.

First class lounge...

Passengers with 1st class tickets (seat or sleeper) can use the VIP First Class Lounge at Kuala Lumpur Sentral station.  The lounge isn't well signed.  Walk in through the main entrance from the taxi rank at level 2, do a 180 degree turn to your right up the escalator to level 3, turn left at the top and immediately left again through the lift lobby to the lounge entrance.  The lounge has seats, a TV and washrooms with free WiFi & complimentary soft drinks.  It's open an hour before the departure of each train, you should leave it and join your train 15 minutes before departure.

Traveller's reports...

Traveller Sheena Clowes reports from regular journeys between Singapore, KL, Penang and Bangkok:  I am an older lady who loves to travel alone and overland, so here are some recent pointers for added comfort for these journeys which I have made many times over the past few years, most recently today from Butterworth-Bangkok.  First of all, the Internasional Ekspress is late both leaving and arriving around 20% of the time.  Be prepared for it, not stressed by it.  For instance, it left yesterday at 15.45 instead of 14.20, and arrived in Bangkok at just before 2pm today.  But even with my delaying for a cup of good coffee at the station in Bangkok, I was checking into my hotel at 2.45pm - I wouldn't be checking into a city-centre hotel 45 minutes after landing at Bangkok international airport, would I!?

Take some water and a light snack - biscuits, maybe - for the first few hours of the Internasional Ekspress when there is no restaurant car. If you forget, you can get food at the bus station just a short distance from the train station, or if you are coming from Georgetown, at the stalls at the jetty there.  There is also usually hot drinking water available at the end of the 2nd class sleeper for making tea, instant noodles, re-heating baby food etc.  In the centre of these coaches there is an electricity point where you can recharge your phone. Make friends with the people sitting there, to keep an eye on it,  and only take as long as you need (it doesn't need to be fully charged for a quick phone call) as other people need to charge their phones, too.

The lower berth on the Internasional Ekspress's 2nd class sleepers offers an unprecedented (in my experience) amount of space as it is a full metre wide. The size of the berth, and the way the curtains hang around them, and their length, means that even an arthritic old woman like me can change clothes in privacy and rearrange her overnight case. If you like to read in bed, take a book-light or head torch, and that if you need pitch darkness for sleeping, take  some sort of eyeshade. You only get one pillow per berth, so fold up some soft clothing if you like your head higher.  The cotton blanket that you are issued with is freshly-laundered and I find gives just the right degree of cosiness when wearing a T-shirt and cotton trousers.  Some people are too cold - the air-conditioning is fairly fierce - and need to put on more clothes to keep warm!  If you don't want an Asian breakfast or a rather strange Western breakfast, you can just buy a cup of coffee for 30 baht. It's instant but good and hot and strong, just the ticket with a couple of Malaysian "breakfast biscuits" and a carton of yoghurt you bought the previous day in Butterworth or Georgetown.  The food offered by the "Bogie Restaurant" (orders taken after crossing the border; dinner is served after Hat Yai and breakfast at whatever reasonable hour people are getting up) is generally very good if you like Thai food.  The restlessness of the southern provinces of Thailand is evidenced by the armed guards on the train overnight and a policeman patrols the sleeper coaches randomly through the night - in stocking feet!  However, I have never been aware of any problems in the border areas while I have been travelling.

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The Jungle Line...

Singapore or Kuala Lumpur to Gua Musang & Khota Bahru...

Most people use the main line from Singapore to KL, Penang, and Bangkok, which heads up the west coast of Malaysia.  But there's alternative route up the east coast, through jungle scenery to Khota Bahru - even if some of the jungle has now become palm plantations.  It's possible to take this Jungle Line from KL or Singapore to Khota Bahru, then a bus or taxi to the frontier, walk across the border into Thailand to Sungai Kolok railway station, and take a train to Bangkok (but see the security warning).  The scenery on this route superb, even seen from the Singapore-Tumpat night train which travels by daylight through much or the morning.

* = To or from Kuala Lumpur, find a suitable connection between KL & Gemas by ETS train in the mainline timetable above.

Key to classes:

S = 2nd class sleepers (Superior Night), upper & lower berths with curtains for privacy, air-conditioned.

2 = 2nd class seats (Superior).  Comfortable, air-conditioned.

3 = 3rd class seats (Economy).  Modern & fairly comfortable, but basic.

Train 26 & 27:  Ekspress Rakyat Timuran.  Runs every day.  2nd class sleepers & 2nd class seats.  Air-conditioned.  No 1st class sleepers.

Quick links:   Fares    How to buy tickets    Map of train routes in Southeast Asia   Hotels in Singapore, KL

Which station for Khota Bharu?  The closest station to Khota Bahru is Wakaf Bharu, about 5 km (3 miles) away.  A taxi from Wakaf Bharu to Khota Bharu costs around 12 Ringgits.  However, if you want to travel more cheaply by bus, there's a better and more frequent bus service from Pasir Mas, 19km from Khota Bharu.  Buses run from Pasir Mas to Khota Bahru every 15-20 minutes from 06:45 to 19:00 from a bus station just 100 metres from Pasir Mas railway station.  If you want to complete the whole train journey to Tumpat, no problem, buses also link Tumpat with Khota Bharu every 45 minutes 06:45-19:30.  Bus information for all these routes is at www.cityliner.com.my, select 'Kelantan' then 'Khota Bharu' as your location.   Area map.

Heading for the Perhentian islands?  See the Perhentian ferry information here.

Heading into Thailand?  Bus 29 runs every half hour from Khota Bahru bus station near the central market via Pasir Mas to the Thai/Malay border point at Rantau Panjang, fare 5 ringgits (£1), distance 45 km, journey time about 1 hour.  A taxi will cost about 17 ringgits.  Walk across the border from Rantau Panjang (Malay side) to Sungai Kolok (Thai side) and keep walking straight on for 1200 metres to Sungai Kolok Railway station for trains to Hat Yai, Surat Thani & Bangkok.  Train information from Sungai Kolok to Hat Yai, Surat Thani & Bangkok.  However, be aware of the security warnings for Sungai Kolok and parts of southern Thailand.  Area map.

How much does it cost? 

How to buy tickets...

See the how to buy tickets section.

First class lounges...

Passengers with 1st class tickets (seat or sleeper) can use the VIP First Class Lounge at Kuala Lumpur Sentral station.

Trains 26 & 27:  2nd class sleepers (Standard Night, ADNS)...

The Johor Bahru-Gua Musang-Tumpat overnight train has modern 2nd class sleepers, marketed as Standard Night.  They are a great way to travel, and are safe, comfortable, cheap and fun too.  They are open-plan, with upper and lower berths arranged along each side of a central aisle running down the middle of the coach.  Each bunk has curtains for privacy, and a nice touch in these Malaysian sleeping-cars is that the upper berth has its own window.  Upper berths are cheaper than lower berths, but they are narrower, so ask for a lower berth if possible, especially if you are over 6' 2".  All necessary bedding is provided, with blankets and fresh clean sheets.  The Butterworth (Penang)-Bangkok sleepers are similar, but provided by the Thai Railways, see below.

Traveller's reports from trips on The Jungle Line...

Traveller Jeff Brown travelled from Singapore to Bangkok via the Jungle Line:  "I took a bus from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang [= the Malaysian side of the border] and then made my way across the border and to the train station by foot. I was somewhat more vigilant than usual given the security issues in the past, but luckily my trip out of that area was uneventful. Military presence was very high at SK station as well as on the train and didn't seem to let up until Hat Yai Junction.  The inbound train was three hours delayed arriving, but the crew turned it around fast and we departed only 30 minutes behind schedule at about 14:50.  SK station does not have a left luggage desk, probably owing to security concerns.  If you end up in Sungai Kolok early (which some will by virtue of forgetting about the -1 hour time difference), there are markets on the nearby streets, but I didn't find much in the way of restaurants or street food stalls. After 30 minutes looking futilely with a heavy pack, I punted and had lunch at the Genting Hotel, about 100m south of the station on the main N/S road. It's a 3-star hotel with a proper restaurant and good AC!  I travelled 2nd class and it was awesome, the best experience I've had compared to travelling by rail in India, Vietnam and Malaysia. Cabin was clean and totally functional. Attendants cleaned the train (including toilets) throughout the trip, which made a big difference since the trip was 20 hours total. Dinner was served at my seat (they have an English food menu also). This in addition to the usual hawkers that jump on at each station and make the rounds selling snacks.  2nd class was nearly empty at departure and filled up gradually. For the last hour or so of the journey, it was nearly empty again.  We arrived about 90 minutes late in Bangkok."

Traveller Henrik Meurs took the slow train from Gemas to Wakaf Bahru.  "The trip on the Jungle Railway to Kota Bahru is one of the most beautiful train trips possible.  The scenery can only be described as breathtaking.  There are quite a few stops during the first two or three hours.  After that, villages become rare and the train starts climbing the first flat mountains.  From then on we enjoyed endless views over primary rain forest, large trees interrupted by exuberant plants and monkeys at play. After 4 or 5 hours, when you just start to think that you might have seen all the wonders the Malaysian jungle has to offer, the train enters the mountains.  Words fail me to describe the beauty of the scenery of these two or three hours during which the engine pulls you through the mountains topped with rain-forest, over wooden bridges and through narrow gorges.  The fare was just 21 Ringgit, about $5..!  Unlike the modern Malaysian trains on the direct sleeper trains to/from Singapore and KL, slow train 91/92 is old and basic, but the ride more than makes up for this.  There is plenty of local transport available from Khota Bahru to the Thai frontier at Sungai Kolok.  Train times from Sungai Kolok to Bangkok are shown on the Thailand page under 'Bangkok to Southern Thailand'."

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Useful bus & ferry connections...

Malacca (Melaka)...

The historic town of Malacca is well worth a day's visit as it has some of the oldest colonial buildings in SE Asia.  Pictured right, the distinctive red Stadthuys (town hall), church and clock tower on Malacca's main square.

Kuala Lumpur to Malacca:  Malacca is not on the rail network, but modern buses run by several companies run 2 or 3 times every hour from the Southern bus station in Kuala Lumpur, taking about 3 hours and costing 9 or 10 Ringgit one-way.  You can check bus times and buy tickets for multiple operators at ticketing websites 12go.asia or www.easybook.com.  The bus station in KL is known as BTS, Bandar Tasik Selatan, it has its own stop on the STAR line, KTM Komuter train line and KLIA rail link.

Alternatively, take an ETS train from KL Sentral to Pulau Sebang/Tampin station (see the train timetable above), then take a bus or taxi from there, the distance is 38 km.  A taxi from Tampin to Malacca costs around 70-80 ringgit (£15 or $23), and you'll usually find some taxis waiting at the station.

Singapore to Malacca:  There are regular buses from Singapore to Malacca taking about 5½ hours. 

Alternatively, travel the traditional way, by intercity train from JB Sentral to Tampin station (see the train timetable above, Tampin is listed as Pulau Sebang/Tampin on www.ktmb.com.my), then take a bus or taxi from there (38 km).  A taxi from Tampin to Malacca costs around 80 ringgit Ringgit (£16 or $24).

As a historical note, there used to be a 32km branch line from Tampin to Malacca, built in 1903, but its rails were taken to build the Death Railway in Thailand and the line was never rebuilt after the war.  The 100-year-old station at Tampin was replaced by a modern one in 2013, as part of the double-tracking and modernisation project which is still ongoing.

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Langkawi island...

From Penang to Langkawi...

www.langkawi-ferry.com operates two daily fast ferries direct from Penang to Langkawi island, leaving at 08:30 & 14:00, taking 2 hour 45 minutes.  The fare is about 60 Ringgit (£13 or $17) each way, children 3-11 45 Ringgit, children under 3 free.  The return departure from Langkawi to Penang is at 17:15.  For times, fares and online booking, see either 12go.asia or www.langkawi-ferry.com.  This ferry is the best option if you want to go to/from Penang itself.

From Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi...

Step 1, take a fast modern ETS train from Kuala Lumpur to either Alor Setar or Arau, see the train timetable above.  There is little to choose between the Alor Setar or Arau options.

Step 2, from Alor Setar it's a short bus ride or 15 Ringgit taxi ride to the ferry terminal at Kuala Kedah.

Step 3, the Langkawi Ferry (www.langkawi-ferry.com) sails from Kuala Kedah to Langkawi every 30 minutes between 07:00 & 19:00, no advance reservation necessary.  Sailing time is 1 hour 30 minutes, the fare is 23 Ringgit each way.  If you decide to go via Arau, it's a 20-minute 24 Ringgit taxi ride to the ferry terminal at Kuala Perlis, which is slightly closer to Langkawi than Kuala Kedah.  www.langkawi-ferry.com sails from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi about every 30 minutes between 07:00 & 19:00, sailing time 1 hour 15 minutes, fare Ringgit 18 each way, no advance reservation necessary.

From Singapore to Langkawi...

Transfer from Singapore to Johor Bahru and catch the mid-morning shuttle train from JB Sentral to Gemas, connecting there with a fast modern ETS train to either Alor Setar or Arau and follow the instructions above for travel by ferry to Langkawi.

From Bangkok or southern Thailand to Langkawi...

Take the International Express from Bangkok or Hat Yai to Arau, small station just across the border into Malaysia, see the train timetable above.  From Arau, it's a short taxi ride to the ferry jetty at Kuala Perlis.  www.langkawi-ferry.com sails from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi about every 30 minutes between 07:00 & 19:00, sailing time 1 hour 15 minutes, fare Ringgit 18 each way, no advance reservation necessary.

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Perhentian Islands...

The Perhentian Islands are relatively undeveloped islands off Malaysia's north eastern coast, excellent for scuba diving.  The ideal way to reach the Perhentians is by overnight sleeper train from Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, taxi transfer then ferry:

Transfer from downtown Singapore to Johor Bahru as explained here and take the overnight sleeper train from JB Sentral to either Tanah Merah or Wakaf Bahru stations, see the Jungle Line section for train times.  The train fare is about 54 Ringgit (£10 or $14) including a 2nd class sleeper.  The overnight train from JB = has 2nd class sleepers which are comfortable, air-conditioned and perfectly adequate.  Taking the sleeper train saves a hotel bill, is an experience in itself, and can even save time compared to flying.

Take a taxi from Tanah Merah or Wakaf Bahru to the main ferry port at Kuala Besut.  Local taxis will be waiting for the train at either station, the taxi fare is 50 Ringgit (£10 or $14), the journey time about 50 minutes from Wakaf Bahru or 30 minutes from Tanah Merah.

Speedboats from Kuala Besut take about 30 minutes to reach the Perhentian islands, and depart 4-5 times daily 09:00-17:00 according to demand.  The fare is about 70 Ringgit (£13, $17) return.  There are also slow boats which leave Kuala Besut at 08:30 and 14:30, taking 1.5 hours, fare about 45 Ringgit return.

You also pay a 30 Ringgit Marine Conservation charge to enter the marine park that surrounds the islands.

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Cameron Highlands...

There are no trains to the Cameron Highlands, only buses & taxis, but the nearest stations are either Tapah Road or Ipoh.  Ipoh is the better station to use, as Tapah Road station is 9km from Tapah town, Ipoh station is more central. 

So first transfer from Singapore to Johor Bharu and take a train from JB via Gemas to Ipoh, or take a train from Kuala Lumpur or Penang (Butterworth) to Ipoh, see the timetable above. 

In Ipoh, take a taxi or local city bus from the station to the Aman Jaya bus station - a taxi will cost around 20-25 Ringgit ($5, £4).  There are several bus stations in Ipoh so make sure you're taken to the right one, all buses to the Cameron Highlands now leave from the Aman Jaya bus station.

Then take a bus from Ipoh Aman Jaya bus station to Tanah Rata in the Cameron Highlands.  There are at least four buses a day, typically at 08:00, 11:00, 15:00, 18:00.  The bus ride takes 2½ to 3 hours & costs around 18 Ringgit ($4, £3).  You can usually get a ticket half an hour before the bus goes, but the sooner the better as they occasionally get full.  The bus is spacious and air-conditioned.  The road winds up into the hills, with great views over the fields.

Alternatively, a private taxi from Ipoh to Tanah Rata should cost around RM 200 ($47, £36) per taxi.

Feedback or photos from travellers making this connection would be welcome.

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Kuala Lumpur Airport - fast rail link to city centre...

The new KLIA Ekspres train service links Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) with Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station.  It runs every 15 minutes between 05:00 & 01:00 and takes 28 minutes non-stop.  One-way fare is about RM 55, return RM 100.  See www.kliaekspres.com for more information.

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Batu Caves...

Malaysian Railways KTM Komuter suburban trains run regularly from KL Sentral to Batu Caves.  You can find the timetable in the suburban part of www.ktmb.com.my if you use Google translate.  No booking is necessary, just turn up, buy a ticket and go.

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Phuket, Ko Samui, Ko Phangan, Ko Tao, Bridge on the River Kwai, Chiang Mai

See the Thailand page for connection information within Thailand to Phuket, Ko Samui, etc...

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Singapore station information

How to transfer between Singapore & JB Sentral...

Why can't you catch the train in Singapore?

• You used to board the train in downtown Singapore.  Until June 2011, trains between Singapore & KL used a delightfully run-down art deco station in Keppel Road in Singapore city built in 1932, see the Singapore Station section below.  Trains travelled over some 13 miles of single-track railway from Singapore city across the island to reach the causeway to Malaysia.

• When Singapore & Malaysia separated in 1965, the Malaysians retained ownership of the station, railway and all the land it stood on.  This was a longstanding thorn in the side of the Singapore government.  For many years the latter tried to get it back and finally succeeded in 2011, promptly closing the station and the 13 miles of railway south of Woodlands Checkpoint - in my opinion an act of gross institutional vandalism.

• After the station closed from June 2011 until June 2015, trains to KL left from the Woodlands Checkpoint just south of the causeway to Malaysia, some 13 miles north of downtown Singapore.

• Then from 1 July 2015 onwards, Malaysian Railways (KTM) decided to start all long-distance trains at Johor Bahru Sentral, the Malaysian city immediately north of the causeway from Singapore, and to operate shuttle trains across the causeway between Woodlands & JB Sentral.  The shuttle trains are aimed mainly at local traffic so they may or may not connect well with the long-distance trains to & from KL and the north.

So what are your options now?

• You must now transfer between Singapore & Johor Bahru Sentral using one of several options - these work in either direction, of course!

• Option 1, take a taxi or MRT (metro) & bus between downtown Singapore and Woodlands Train Checkpoint, then use the KTM (Malaysian Railways) shuttle train taking 5 minutes across the causeway to JB Sentral.  On the plus side, it's nice to say you really have travelled all the way to or from Singapore island by train.  On the other hand the shuttle trains aren't particularly frequent.  See the details here...

• Option 2, take a bus or MRT+bus from downtown Singapore to Woodlands, get off and go through passport control, then take another frequent local bus to JB Sentral.  Indeed, bus 170 links downtown Singapore with JB Sentral direct, although you still have to get off and go through passport control at Woodlands Checkpoint.  This is cheap and easy enough.  See the details here...

• Option 3, take a taxi from downtown Singapore direct to JB Sentral for around SGD 55 (£27 or $39) for the whole taxi & all passengers.  This is the quickest & easiest option if you're not on a tight budget.  Only specially-licensed taxis can cross the border, so in Singapore you need go to the official Singapore Taxi Terminal on Queen Street.  See details here...

Option 1:  Using the KTM shuttle trains between Woodlands & JB Sentral...

• With this option, you travel by train all the way from Singapore island by rail, trundling across the famous causeway into Malaysia.  The shuttle trains don't always connect well with the departures from JB to KL, but when they do, it can avoid traffic problems on the busy causeway road.  I'll assume you're leaving Singapore for KL, but the instructions below equally work in reverse for arriving from KL.

• Step 1, take a taxi or MRT & bus from central Singapore to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint.  Map showing location of Singapore's Woodlands checkpoint station.

• By MRT (metro) & bus:  Take the MRT (mass rapid transit metro) from any downtown Singapore MRT station to Woodlands MRT station.  MRT trains run every few minutes, fare S$2.20, distance around 26.4 km, journey time around 45 minutes.  Woodlands MRT station is 3.3 km (2 miles) from Woodlands Train Checkpoint.  Then take air-conditioned bus numbers 911 or 913 from Woodlands MRT station to Woodlands Train Checkpoint.  The bus is easy to find, just downstairs from the MRT train, go to bus bay 11.  The bus fare is S$1.10, distance 3.3 km, journey time 10 minutes, buses run every 3 to 10 minutes all day (every 3 to 15 minutes after 7pm).  The whole journey from central Singapore to Woodlands Train Checkpoint will take around 65 minutes and cost S$3.30 (£2 or $3), but plan to arrive at least half an hour before your train leaves for passport formalities.  If you want to buy any supplies for the journey, buy them before arriving at Woodlands Train Checkpoint as there are few if any retail outlets there.  See www.smrt.com.sg for a journey planner and a MRT network map.

• By taxi:  A taxi from Singapore's central business district to Woodlands costs around S$31 (£15 or US$25) per taxi for the 24 km ride.  Allow at least 40 minutes for the taxi journey, plus allow half an hour for passport formalities at Woodlands before the train leaves.  If you want to buy any supplies for the journey, buy them before arriving at Woodlands Train Checkpoint as there are few if any retail outlets there.

• Passport & customs formalities at Woodlands:  You should arrive at Woodlands at least 30 minutes before your train departure, for passport formalities.  Check-in opens promptly 30 minutes before departure of each train.  You go through Singapore departure formalities then Malaysian immigration formalities at Woodlands before boarding the train.  In the other direction, when arriving at Woodlands from Malaysia, Malaysian immigration formalities are carried out at the station at Johor Bahru, and Singapore passport and customs formalities are undertaken at Woodlands checkpoint after you get off the train.

• Ticket office at Woodlands:  There is a KTM InterCity ticket counter at Woodlands station, buy your tickets there.  Only cash is accepted, no credit cards, so ideally get some cash before leaving central Singapore, but if you need cash there are ATMs across the street along the market area about 5 minutes walk from the station.  The ticket counter will not sell tickets less than 20 minutes before the departure of each train.  There are no food stalls inside Woodlands station but there's a small supermarket across the road, or stock up before leaving central Singapore.

• Step 2, shuttle train from Woodlands to JB Sentral...

  Shuttle trains leave Woodlands for JB Sentral at 08:30, 09:45, 11:00, 12:30, 13:45, 15:00, 16:15, 17:30, 18:45, 20:00, 21:15, 22:30, 23:45.

  Shuttle trains leave JB Sentral for Woodlands at05:00, 05:30, 06:00, 06:30, 07:00, 07:30, 08:45, 10:00, 11:30, 12:45, 14:00, 15:15, 16:30, 17:45, 19:00, 20:15, 21:30, 22:45.

  Journey duration is just 5 minutes across the causeway over the Johor Strait.

  The fare is SG$5 bought in Singapore, RM 5 bought in Malaysia.  You can check times & buy tickets between Woodlands & JB Sentral online at either 12go.asia (easy) or ticket.ktmb.com.my (more fiddly, select e-ticket) - both sites give a print-at-home ticket.  The shuttles can sometimes sell out, so pre-book if you can.

Option 2:  Using MRT + bus between downtown Singapore & JB Sentral...

• You may find it easier (or necessary for some departures when there's no shuttle train connection) to use local transport between central Singapore and Johor Bahru Sentral station, picking the train to KL from JB.  A shame not to go by train all the way from Singapore island, although you still cross the famous causeway next to the railway, albeit by road.  If you'd rather go by taxi, see option 3 below.

• Step 1, travel by MRT (Singapore Metro) from any MRT station in central Singapore to Woodlands MRT station.  MRT trains run every few minutes, fare S$2.20, distance around 26 km, journey time around 45 minutes.

• Step 2, travel by bus 950 from Woodlands MRT station to JB Sentral, passing through passport & customs into Malaysia at Woodlands Checkpoint on the way, see landtransportguru.net/bus950.  Buses run every 8-14 minutes, journey time around 40 minutes depending on traffic, distance 24.4 km.  The bus terminal at JB is right next to JB Sentral railway station.

• Alternatively, bus 170X links Kranji MRT station (Singapore metro) with JB Sentral through the Woodlands checkpoint & over the causeway, see landtransportguru.net/bus170x.

• Feedback always appreciated.

Option 3:  Downtown Singapore to JB Sentral by direct taxi for SGD 55 ($39 or £27)

• If you're not on too tight a budget, this is the easiest and quickest way to connect with a train from JB Sentral to KL and beyond.

• Step 1, take a regular Singapore taxi from your hotel to the Singapore Taxi Terminal on Queen Street, also known as the Singapore-Johore Express Terminal.  For example, Raffles Hotel to the Taxi Terminal is 1.5km, journey 6 minutes.  Indeed, you could walk it in 17 minutes!  Alternatively, the Taxi Terminal is 5 minutes walk from Bugis MRT (metro) station.

• Step 2, take a specially-licensed taxi from the Singapore Taxi Terminal on Queen Street to JB Sentral Station for a fixed price of 55 Singapore dollars (£27 or $39) for the whole vehicle & all passengers.  The distance is around 28km, journey time around 1 hour 5 minutes including relatively speedy border formalities, but the time is heavily dependent on traffic and how busy the border is - so allow plenty of time.  Only these specially-licensed taxis can cross into Malaysia, with the necessary special pass for a speedy crossing of the border (just a brief passport check) - hence the need to switch taxis at the Taxi Terminal.

Singapore's wonderful 1932 art deco railway station closed in June 2011... 

• From 1932 until 30 June 2011, trains to Malaysia left from the magnificent faded grandeur of Singapore's colonial art-deco station in Keppel Road, sometimes known as Tanjong Pagar.  The station was designed by Singapore's oldest architectural firm Swan and Maclaren, with Italian sculptor Rudolfo Nolli responsible for the four figures on the station's facade representing Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Transport.  The letters 'F M S R' on the front of the building stand for "Federated Malay States Railway", the railway's original title when Singapore & Malaysia were both part of British Malaya.

• A railway was first built on Singapore island in 1903, linking the port area with Woodlands in the north of the island, although for the first two decades passengers had to take a ferry from Woodlands across the Johor Strait and board another train to continue their journey up the Malay Peninsula.  However, a causeway linking Singapore with Malaysia was built in 1923 and the railway was extended across it, finally allowing trains to run direct between Singapore and mainland Malaya.  The trains used a temporary station until the present station opened in 1932.  When Singapore split from Malaysia in 1965, the station and mainline railway remained the property of the Malaysian government, even though they stood on Singaporean territory.  This became a longstanding political thorn in Singapore's side, and the Singaporeans tried for years to buy or sequestrate the land so the railway could be closed and built over.

• Unfortunately, the Singaporean and Malaysian governments reached an agreement in 2010.  The historic station in Singapore closed on 30 June 2011, and taking a train from this wonderful building is now a thing of the past.  Trains now start/terminate at Woodlands, just south of the causeway to Malaysia, far less convenient for travellers and a totally backward step in transport terms.  Sadly, in Singapore it seems they know the value of office blocks and shopping centres but not of city centre railway connections!  From 1 July 2011 you have to take a taxi or the MRT (mass transit metro) plus a bus to Woodlands Train Checkpoint to pick up the trains to Malaysia there.  Malaysian and Singaporean border control are co-located at Woodlands, so at least this saves the long stops for border control en route, cutting journey time.  At least it's planned to preserve, rather than demolish, the old station building.  As it used to be:  There's a good look round Singapore's railway station in this video or see this panorama photo inside Singapore station.  Map showing location of Singapore's old railway station

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Kuala Lumpur station

Kuala Lumpur Sentral station...

Long-distance KTM InterCity trains between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Penang were switched to Kuala Lumpur's shiny modern KL Sentral station in 2001, and no longer start from the famous Moorish-style railway station built by the British in 1910.  However, the old station is still an operational station and suburban KTM Komuter trains still stop there, as do many fast new ETS trains.  You can easily take a frequent suburban train from KL Sentral to the old KL station, which is a landmark in its own right.  Map showing location of the new KL Sentral and original historic KL stations.

KTM InterCity ticket office:  Located on level 2, along the passageway on your left as you walk in through the main station doors from the taxi rank (the dark passageway in the background in the photo above left).  Open for advance sales 07:00-21:30 every day.  Sales for immediate travel 07:00-23:00 daily.  An organised waiting system operates, ask for a numbered queuing ticket from the first counter on the left and wait for your number to be called.  Can sell tickets for any KTM train within Malaysia, but not for Thai trains.

Left luggage office:  You can leave your bags at the left luggage office, located directly opposite the KTM InterCity ticket counters on Level 2.  Open every day 08:00 to 22:30.  3 Ringgit (£0.80 or $1) for a small bag, 5 Ringgit (£1 or $2) for a large bag.

Access to mainline trains:  The stairs and escalators down to the KTM InterCity trains (platforms 1 & 2) start from Level 2, labelled 'Gate A' and 'Gate B' to left and right as you walk in through the main doors from the taxi rank.  In the photo above left, 'Gate A' is in the far background on the far right of the photo.  Actually, both gates go to the same pair of platforms. 

Access to Komuter and KLIA airport trains:  KTM Komuter trains leave from separate platforms accessed from the KTM Komuter area downstairs on Level 1.  Access to KLIA airport trains is also from Level 1.

First class lounge:  First class KTM InterCity passengers can use a VIP lounge with complimentary soft drinks and free WiFi.  It opens an hour before each train departure.  It's poorly signed:  Go through the main doors from the taxi rank, walk forward, do a 180 degree turn up the escalator to the Level 3 walkway you can see in the photo above left, turn left at the top of the escalator and left again through the lift lobby to the door to the lounge.

Food & drink:  There's a KFC on Level 2 and a MacDonald's and other food outlets just on Level 1.  There are many 7-11 style shops to stock up for your train journey.

Kuala Lumpur's original Moorish-style railway station...

Built in 1910 and designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, KL's famous Moorish-style station served as KL's main station until superseded by KL Sentral in 2001, which is located a little way to the south.  Commuter trains & many ETS trains still call at the old station, although the trains from KL to Singapore now all start from KL Sentral.  However, the old station is a famous landmark in its own right, and well worth a visit.  Note that on the KTM website, plain Kuala Lumpur means the old station, Kuala Lumpur Sentral means the new one.  Sadly, it's reported that the Heritage Station Hotel (which was part of the old 1910 station building and a good cheap choice) has now closed down.  More information about the station.

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Butterworth & Penang

Penang is an island, and the city on Penang Island is called Georgetown, once the capital of British Malaya.  The railway station for Penang is Butterworth, located on the mainland directly opposite Georgetown.  When you arrive by train at Butterworth station, you walk from the station over a walkway to the ferry terminal to take the ferry to Georgetown (Penang).  Georgetown has some excellent British colonial buildings, interesting museums and temples, a large Chinatown and a Little India.  Well worth a visit!

Map showing station & ferry terminal locations in Penang & Butterworth

Butterworth station...

A new station has been built at Butterworth as part of KL-Penang-Padang Besar railway modernisation project.  There is still some construction going on, but access between the station and the ferry to Penang is now by walkway and lift, no need for any stairs.  Butterworth station has a ticket office, open 07:00-22:30 every day (with breaks 09:00-10:00 & 16:00-17:30).  They accept MasterCard & Visa.  There's a money changer, but no ATMs, nor is there any left luggage office.  There's not much in the way of food shops at Butterworth, just a small snacks & drinks kiosk opposite the ticket office, so when catching a train it's best to stock up before you leave Georgetown.  If you get stuck, you might find a shop at the bus station next door.

The ferry from Butterworth to Penang...

It's a clearly-signed 5-minute walk from Butterworth station to the ferry terminal, and ferries shuttle back & forth between Butterworth & Penang (Georgetown) every 20 or 30 minutes between 05:20 & 22:00, every 60 minutes 22:00-01:00, crossing time around 15 minutes, see www.penangport.com.my/Services/Ferry-Services.  The fare is 1.20 Ringgit outward, paid by putting the coins into the turnstiles or buying at the staffed kiosk.  In the other direction the ferry is free for foot passengers.

Alternatively,  you can take a taxi between Butterworth & Penang (Georgetown):  You can take a taxi the long way round via the lengthy Penang Bridge, about 60 Ringgit (£11 or $17) from a central Penang hotel to Butterworth station, driving time at least 25 minutes but this depends on the traffic so could take a lot longer.  Don't cut things fine when catching a train.

KTM ticket office at Georgetown, Penang:  Open 08:30-16:00 daily.

You'll find a small KTM ticket office at the ferry terminal in Georgetown on Penang island, which saves having to take the ferry to Butterworth to book your train tickets.  The office is open daily except Sundays from 08:30 to 16:00 (may close 14:00-15:00 for lunch), and can sell train tickets for all KTM Malaysian trains, but not Thai trains.  Only cash accepted.

Hotels in Penang...

For hotels in Penang, use the hotel search engine below or see TripAdvisor's Penang hotels page.  The most famous & historic place to stay in Penang is of course the historic Eastern & Oriental Hotel, around £150 for a double room.

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Padang Besar station information

	Padang Besar station.  Photo courtesy of Alika Kam

The border station where Malay trains meet Thai trains...

There are now 2 stations at Padang Besar, but here we're talking about the main Padang Besar station located on the Malay side of the border where Malaysian trains meet Thai trains and passengers interchange.  The other station is a minor halt on the Thai side of the border called either Padang Besar II or Padang Besar (Thai).  When going southbound from Bangkok or Hat Yai, don't get off at the wrong one!

Border controls at Padang Besar...

At Padang Besar main station there are Malaysian and Thai border controls located inside the station building just a few metres apart, you go through one and then the other depending whether you're travelling north or south.

Normally you'll breeze through both sets of border controls in minutes, but when travelling northbound the Malay controls close at 16:30 sharp, if the Komuter train from Butterworth is more or less on time as it usually is you'll have no problem, but don't hang about, go straight through the border controls.  It's probably not worth catching the previous Komuter departure from Butterworth to Padang Besar two hours earlier, but it's an option if you'd otherwise just be kicking your heels in Butterworth.  If you arrive after 16:30 and find the border control at the station closed you'll have to walk 2 km to the road border point to get an exit stamp before returning to catch the Thai train north.  Further feedback always appreciated.

Thai border staff may want to see evidence of 10,000 baht in cash (who carries $300 in cash on them these days??) though in my experience they may only ask if you look at all down-at-heel.

Ticket offices & station facilities...

There is a Malaysian KTM ticket office upstairs which accepts Thai baht or Malaysian ringgits, but not credit cards.  It's closed for lunch 11:00-12:00.

There is a Thai SRT ticket office at track level which accepts Thai baht and (it's reported) ringgit too, but not credit cards.  It's open 09:00-12:00 & 14:00-17:00 Malaysian time.

There is no ATM or (official) bureau de change at the station, if you need cash there is an ATM 20 minutes walk away, or take a taxi.  Several travellers report people unofficially happy to change money for you.

There's a cafe at the station, located upstairs.  This sells decent food and drink. 

Lastly, remember that Malaysian time is 1 hour ahead of Thai time!

Further feedback on facilities, opening hours, border experiences & photos would much appreciated.

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Borneo

Ferries to Sarawak & Sabah States on Borneo...

Since 1988 there have been no ferries between Singapore or mainland Malaysia and the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah on the island of Borneo.  The only option is a ferry from Malaysia or Singapore to Java in Indonesia (see the Indonesia page, ferry section), then a ferry from Java to the Indonesian part of Borneo, then overland the Malaysian part of Borneo.  Ferries run by www.pelni.co.id link Tanjong Priok (near Jakarta) with Pontianak, also Semarang (Java) with Ketapang, Kumai & Sampit, and Surabaya (Java) with Sampit, Kumai or Batulicin, with each route operating on a handful of dates each month, see www.pelni.co.id.

Trains in Sabah State (North Borneo)...

The scenic North Borneo Railway, now known as the Sabah State Railway, links Khota Kinabalu (or strictly speaking, a station called Tangjung Aru located 10 km outside it) to Papar, Beaufort and Tenom, a total journey of 134 km.  For details see Lee Carter's excellent blog and information page, global-goose.com/travel-photos/north-borneo-railway-sabah.

Beaufort to Tenom:  One train daily at 07:50, journey 2½ hours, fare around 2.75 ringgit.  Return train leaves Tenom at 13:00.

Beaufort to Tangjung Aru (Kota Kinabalu):  Two trains daily at 05:00 & 11:00, journey 3 hours, fare 4.30 ringgit.  Return times not known.

The photos below show the Beaufort to Tenom train , courtesy of Michael Pick, who describes the journey as a highlight of a visit to Borneo.  Beaufort to Tenom can easily be done as a day trip.

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Eastern & Oriental Express

Singapore to Bangkok by luxury train:  See the Eastern & Oriental Express page

The ultra-luxurious Eastern & Oriental Express runs once, twice or sometimes 3 times each month between Singapore, Penang and Bangkok, usually including a city tour in Penang and a brief diversion to Kanchanaburi and the famous Bridge on the River Kwai.  It also runs some rail cruises to Chiang Mai and other destinations.  Operated by the same company that runs the superb Venice Simplon Orient Express, it uses sleeping-cars originally built in Japan for the New Zealand Railways Wellington-Auckland 'Silver Star' sleeper train (which ran 1972 to 1979). The Eastern & Oriental gets great reviews from travellers, and it's easily the most luxurious way to travel from Singapore to Bangkok, seeing both Malaysia and the famous Bridge on the River Kwai on the way.  In other words, it isn't cheap, but you certainly won't regret taking this train!  See the Eastern & Oriental Express page for times, departure dates, prices & online booking.

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London to Singapore overland

London - Moscow - Beijing - Hanoi - Saigon - Bangkok - Singapore (or vice versa)

If you have the time (we're talking a minimum of 3½ weeks one-way), you can travel from London to Singapore overland, see the route map here.  The links below cover travel in either direction, from London or to London:

• Step 1:  London to Moscow by train.  Daily departures, 2 nights, from around £200 one-way with sleeper.  Spend at least 1 night in Moscow.

• Step 2:  Moscow to Beijing by Trans-Siberian Railway  Two trains a week, 6 nights, from around £500 one-way in 4-bed sleeper.  Spend at least 1 night in Beijing.

• Step 3:  Beijing to Hanoi by train Two trains a week, 2 nights, about $320 or £220 one-way in soft sleeper.  Spend at least 1 night in Hanoi.

• Step 4:  Hanoi to Saigon by train  Several trains daily, 2 nights.  Why not stop off to see Hue or Hoi An?  About $90 or £50 one-way in soft sleeper.

• Step 5:  Saigon-Phnom Penh by bus Daily, 6 hours, $12.  Spend at least 1 night in PP.

• Step 6:  Phnom Penh-Battambang by train or bus, bus to the frontier, train to Bangkok.

• Step 7:  Bangkok to Singapore by train.  Daily, 2 nights, from £40 or $80 one-way including sleeper for both nights.

How to arrange this trip...

• There aren't any travel agencies who can arrange the whole trip, so you will need to plan it out and arrange each stage of the journey yourself.  It's an exercise in project management!  Unless time is absolutely no object, you should book the key sections in advance through various travel agencies.

• Book London-Moscow through a UK European train ticketing agency such as DB's UK office or europeanrail.com as shown on the London to Russia page;

• Book Moscow-Beijing & Beijing-Hanoi through a local Russian agency such as Svezhy Veter or Real Russia as shown on the Trans-Siberian page & Vietnam page. 

• Tickets for other parts of the trip, for example, Hanoi-Saigon-Phnom Penh-Bangkok can all be bought locally, as you go along.  You'll need to pre-arrange visas for Belarus, Russia, possibly Mongolia, China & Vietnam, and in many ways complying with the various visa requirements (and in some cases, requirements for confirmed onward tickets to be held) is actually the biggest hassle, not buying the tickets for the trains, so check this out carefully using the relevant embassy websites.

• Where do you start?  First, read through the seat61 pages linked above.  Then sketch out your itinerary using a simple spreadsheet like this, deciding where and for how long you want to stop off.  Next, check out the visa situation for each country.  Finally, follow the advice on each seat61 page to buy tickets for each train journey that you want to pre-book.

Some inspiration...

You won't be the first to travel between Europe and Southeast Asia overland this way, far from it.  Check out this excellent blog from Tom Woods, "Woodlands to Woking",  woodlandstowoking.wordpress.com and Matthew Woodward's equally excellent blog from Newcastle to Singapore www.matthew-woodward.com/edinburgh-to-singapore.

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Hotels in Singapore & Malaysia

Top choice in Singapore:  Raffles Hotel...

Well, it has to be Raffles, hasn't it?  A major Singapore landmark and a tourist attraction in its own right, all rooms are suites and will set you back upwards from £300 per night.  But it's one of the world's greatest hotels, and one of several famous Asian hotels founded by the Sarkies brothers.  The main building dates from 1899, although the two side wings date from 1889 and 1896.  Even if you can't afford to stay there, at least drop in for a refreshing Singapore sling in the famous Long Bar, a rather more affordable option, though still pricey!  At least the peanuts are free.  Remember to follow tradition by dropping the peanut shells straight onto the floor...  Book a room at Raffles.

Top choice in Penang:  Eastern & Oriental Hotel...

If you like Raffles, try another of the Sarkies brothers' hotels, the equally historic Eastern & Oriental Hotel in Georgetown, Penang, equally historic but a bit cheaper at around £150 for a double room.  It's grand, well-located with gardens to the rear backing the sea.

You might also want to check Tripadvisor:  Tripadvisor Singapore hotels   Tripadvisor Malaysia hotels.   Suggested hotels in Bangkok.

Backpacker hostels in Singapore & Malaysia...

www.hostelworld.com:  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.

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Guidebooks

I strongly recommend investing in a decent guidebook.  It may seem an unnecessary expense, but it's a tiny fraction of what you're spending on your whole trip.  You will see so much more, and know so much more about what you're looking at, if you have a decent guidebook.  For the independent traveller, I have no hesitation in recommending either the Lonely Planets or the Rough Guides.  Both provide an excellent level of practical information and historical and political background.  You will not regret buying one!

Buy from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com...

 

 

 

 

 

Alternatively, you can download just the chapters you need in .PDF format from the Lonely Planet Website, from around £2.99 or US$4.95 a chapter.

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Flights

1)  Check prices at Singapore Airlines & Virgin Atlantic...

Overland travel by train & bus around Southeast Asia is an essential part of the experience, so once there, don't cheat and fly, stay on the ground!  But a long-haul flight might be unavoidable to reach Asia in the first place.  For flights from the UK to Singapore, two airlines stand out:

• Singapore Airlines, www.singaporeair.com, consistently voted one of the world's best (and I wouldn't disagree, as far as airlines go).

• Virgin Atlantic Airlines, www.virginatlantic.com, who now fly direct from the UK to Singapore, another good choice for both price & service.

2)  Check flight prices at Opodo, www.opodo.com...

3)  Use Skyscanner to compare flight prices & routes worldwide across 600 airlines...

4)  Lounge passes...

Make the airport experience a little more bearable with a VIP lounge pass, it's not as expensive as you think, see www.loungepass.com

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Travel insurance

Always take out travel insurance...

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit.  An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

In the UK, reliable insurers include Columbus Direct.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65, see www.JustTravelCover.com - 10% discount with code seat61.

You can use Confused.com to compare prices & policies from many different insurers.

        If you live in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try Columbus Direct's other websites.

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

A Curve card saves on foreign transaction fees...

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then charge you a currency conversion fee.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing.  The balance goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:  1. Download the app for iPhone or Android.  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to most European addresses including the UK.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, just like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance onto whichever of your debit or credit cards you choose.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself - I get some commission if you sign up to Curve, but I'm recommending it here because it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card - they'll give you £5 cashback through that link, too.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  VPNs & why you need one explained...

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN means your connection to the internet is encrypted & always secure, even using unsecured WiFi.  In countries such as China where access to Twitter & Facebook is restricted, a VPN gets around these restrictions.  And lastly, you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geographic restrictions which some websites apply - for example one booking site charges a booking fee to non-European visitors but none to European visitors, so if you're not located in Europe you can avoid this fee by browsing with a UK IP address using a VPN.  VPNs & why you need one explained.  ExpressVPN is a best buy and I use it myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription, and I get a small commission to help support this site.

 

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