There are two shuttle trains available on the Hat Yai Junction to Padang Besar cross-border route: one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Additionally, there is the international train, Special Express No. 45, which originates from Bangkok. At Hat Yai Junction, an extra 3rd Class carriage is added to this train for passengers crossing the border. The journey typically takes around 45 minutes. One-way tickets are priced at 50 Baht and can only be purchased at the station, an hour before departure. Please note that there are only 3rd Class carriages with fans on this route. Lastly, it is important to remember that Malaysia time is one hour ahead of Thai time. This information is crucial if you have a train connection in the neighbouring country.

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MORNING TRAINS:

• Special Express No. 45 (Bangkok-Padang Besar) leaves Hat Yai Junction at 7:20 a.m. and arrives in Padang Besar at 8:05 a.m. (9:05 a.m. Malaysian time).
• Shuttle Train No. 947 leaves Hat Yai Junction at 8:55 a.m. and arrives in Padang Besar on the other side of the border at 9:40 a.m. (10:40 a.m. Malaysian time).
• For the return journey, Shuttle Train No. 948 leaves Padang Besar 35 minutes later at 11:15 a.m. (10:15 a.m. Thai time) and arrives back in Hat Yai at 11:00 a.m.

AFTERNOON TRAINS:

• Shuttle Train No. 949 train leaves Hat Yai Junction at 2:00 p.m. and arrives in Padang Besar at 2:45 p.m. (3:45 p.m. Malaysian time).
• For the return journey, Shuttle Train No. 950 train leaves Padang Besar nearly one hour later at 4:40 p.m. (3:40 p.m. Thai time) and arrives back in Hat Yai at 4:25 p.m.
• Special Express No. 46 (Padang Besar-Bangkok) leaves Padang Besar at 6:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. Thai time) and arrives in Hat Yai at 5:46 p.m.

NEW TIMETABLE: Updated 15th December 2023 and again on 20 February 2024

Please note, over weekends and public holidays, there are many passengers travelling between Malaysia and Thailand. Train No. 948 in the morning could be delayed when departing from Padang Besar. The punctuality of the afternoon train, No. 950, is often worse. It could be delayed by as much as one hour. You are advised not to have a tight connection in Hat Yai during holidays.

One or two 3rd Class carriages are added to Special Express No.45 (Bangkok to Padang Besar) train on the stretch between Hat Yai Junction and Padang Besar. Ticket prices are 50 Baht. The train is scheduled to leave Hat Yai Junction at 7:20 a.m. but as the train is coming all the way from Bangkok it might be late.

The return journey by Special Express No. 46 leaves Padang Besar at 6:00 p.m. (Malaysian time) and arrives in Hat Yai at 5:46 p.m. (Thai time). Please note, this time was updated on 20th February 2024.

There are only two stops coming from Hat Yai. First Khlong Ngae Station about 25 minutes after leaving, and then Padang Besar (Thai) about five minutes before the train crosses the border to Padang Besar Station in Malaysia. Don’t get off here as it is a long walk to the border! The station on the other side of the border, which confusingly has the same name, is where you will find both the Thai and Malaysian immigration and where you change trains to head further into Malaysia.

Can you take a bicycle on the shuttle train to and from Padang Besar? I saw a sign about this at the railway station. It clearly said that full sized bicycles are NOT allowed to be taken on the shuttle train. However, folding bicycles are allowed.

RELATED LINK: Padang Besar Railway Station | Free Guidebook For “Singapore To Bangkok By Train”