HH to Butterworth by train -- no changing needed?

Bangkok and beyond, travel talk on all other places in Thailand and Southeast Asia.
SPONSORS: Bang Saphan Guide
troopie
Specialist
Specialist
Posts: 150
Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2004 6:20 pm
Location: Hua Hin

HH to Butterworth by train -- no changing needed?

Post by troopie »

Excuse me, folks, but I've a question for you regular travellers.
Last time I travelled from HH to Butterworth (about 3 or 4 years ago), I had to jump off the train at Hat Yai, buy a new ticket to Butterworth & then hurry back onto the train again -- a pain in the butt. What I want to know is -- do you still have to buy 2 separate tickets (HH-Hat Yai & Hat Yai - Butterworth), & do you still have to do that on-off farce at Hat Yai, or can you just stay on the train all the way to Butterworth?

Thanks in advance! :thumb:
The Hua Hin Residents' Club,
for everyone who calls Hua Hin home.
(yahoo.com/group/huahinresidents/)
User avatar
dr dave soul monsta
Deceased
Deceased
Posts: 1281
Joined: Mon May 31, 2004 10:04 pm
Location: Altissima quaeque flumina minimo sono labi
Contact:

Post by dr dave soul monsta »

you buy a ticket direct to butterworth you have to get off at pedang bazzar to go through a customs check point and thats it !

make sure you buy the correct ticket :thumb:
"I don't often agree with the RSPCA as i believe it is an animals duty to be on my plate at supper time"
lomuamart
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 9731
Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2002 12:25 pm
Location: hua hin

Post by lomuamart »

Enjoy the restaurant car :cheers:
User avatar
seasider
Member
Member
Posts: 75
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2006 4:36 pm
Location: TRFTS

Post by seasider »

Out of interest, how long does the journey take and what is the train like?

When you get off to go through the customs and immigration, do you have to take all your luggage with you?

Have friends in Penang and this would be very convenient (maybe).

SS
lomuamart
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 9731
Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2002 12:25 pm
Location: hua hin

Post by lomuamart »

It's quite a while since I've made the journey, but I seem to remember 16/17 hours.
I've only had an overnight bag with me before, but that certainly had to get off the train with me to pass through customs - and they quickly checked it and everyone elses' as well.
User avatar
dr dave soul monsta
Deceased
Deceased
Posts: 1281
Joined: Mon May 31, 2004 10:04 pm
Location: Altissima quaeque flumina minimo sono labi
Contact:

Post by dr dave soul monsta »

lumo is right and it is a treck

just a note here if you cant get the train the day you get your visa which prob be the case if you want to get out of there PDQ you can get a mini bus from Chulea st to Hat Yai around 4 pm and catch up with the butterworth train at Hat Yai station then continue back to HH or any train that stops at HH
the train leaves Butterwoth around 1 pm
there is detailed train time tables on this page
Trains buses and stuff
"I don't often agree with the RSPCA as i believe it is an animals duty to be on my plate at supper time"
User avatar
johnnyk
Legend
Legend
Posts: 2852
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2005 1:23 pm

Post by johnnyk »

I did it two weeks ago and its a long trip.
I found it a much noisier train than the Chiang Mai run and the upper berth lets in a lot of light over the top of the curtain. Book a lower if you can.
The wait at the border was about an hour or a bit more, money changer there had good rates though.
If you are going to Penang taxi touts will ambush you, just ignore them and walk through the station, look up and follow the "FERI" signs to get to the boat.
Ferries are every 10 minutes and its 1 ringgit 20 (12 baht). You pay going over but not on the way back.
Georgetown is hot as hell and the old town is interesting but very dilapidated, cheezy hotels and backpacker slums.
I recommend exiting the ferry and catching a black bus ("HIN BUS COMPANY") and pay 2 ringgit 50 to go to Batu Ferringhi beach area 14 km out of town, quite nice and some nice beach bars (Sunset Bistro is a great spot).
oakdale160
Rock Star
Rock Star
Posts: 4657
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 9:51 pm

Re: HH to Butterworth by train -- no changing needed?

Post by oakdale160 »

I am planning on taking the train one way and flying the other.
Which is the more pleasant train journey. HH to b'worth or bw to HH?
User avatar
dtaai-maai
Hero
Hero
Posts: 14180
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:00 pm
Location: UK, Robin Hood country

Re: HH to Butterworth by train -- no changing needed?

Post by dtaai-maai »

It's an awfully long time since I did the trip, but I seem to recall that the departure/arrival times are a bit more civilised going down than coming back.
This is the way
Pagey
Legend
Legend
Posts: 2133
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2004 5:14 pm
Location: On the beach

Re: HH to Butterworth by train -- no changing needed?

Post by Pagey »

Train times and class of train and all other train info can be found here:

www.seat61.com :thumb:
'If you didn't have a wasted youth you wasted your youth'

Man in pub circa 1987.
HHTel
Hero
Hero
Posts: 10806
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:44 pm

Re: HH to Butterworth by train -- no changing needed?

Post by HHTel »

oakdale160 wrote:Which is the more pleasant train journey. HH to b'worth or bw to HH?
I have done both. HH to Bw or vice versa? This may sound stupid but hey!, they're the same in reverse!!!!
Takiap
Rock Star
Rock Star
Posts: 3550
Joined: Sun Apr 09, 2006 1:55 pm
Location: Bo Fai

Re: HH to Butterworth by train -- no changing needed?

Post by Takiap »

I did the return journey a few months back. If you ask me, it's far more pleasant than flying. To begin with, I can board the train in Hua-Hin and return directly to Hua-Hin, which means I don't need to endure a trip to Bangkok. I can't recall if you can buy a return ticket in Hua-Hin or not. I had a one way ticket and bought a ticket for the return trip in Panang, direct from the ticket office located at the ferry terminal.

The immigration routine is a breeze and really no hassle at all unless like me, you come from any country in Africa in which case you'll be sent to a separate queue on the Thai side, where you'll be asked 101 questions and probably have to show proof of finances. After all, as far as most Thais are concerned, Africa is a country rather than a continent full of countries. Still, immigration at the station is better than anywhere else - in and out in a matter of minutes.

Note: I'm not sure how many trains there are each day, but if you take the one which is supposed to leave Hua-Hin at around 20H00, it will usually be at least two hours late but of course you can sit across the road and have a few beers while you wait. Don't automatically assume there'll be a restaurant carriage either. Sometimes there is, sometimes there isn't.

As others have pointed out, ignore the taxi bandits at Butterworth. The ferry terminal is only a five minute walk from the station, and the crossing is a lot cheaper and quicker compared to a taxi.

All round, a pleasant relaxing experience, enjoy.

:cheers:
Don't try to impress me with your manner of dress cos a monkey himself is a monkey no less - cold fact
Homer
Rock Star
Rock Star
Posts: 3336
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2010 3:11 pm

Re: HH to Butterworth by train -- no changing needed?

Post by Homer »

oakdale160 wrote:Which is the more pleasant train journey. HH to b'worth or bw to HH?
BW to HH, IMHO. Done both 3 times.
- BW left on time (more or less) because it's the start of a route, HH was on time once, very late twice.
- The second class sleeper berth sleeps and seats 2, except during the Malaysian portion where it seats four. Little kids don't need a ticket so there may be 6. From HH it's at a time of day when there is substantial passenger traffic between 2 stops. From BW, far fewer people get on.
- Trash pickup stops once in Malaysia. From BW the thai crews will pick up the Malay trash.
- From BW the overnight part comes after you've had ample time to get bored and fatigued to sleep. I always sleep better going north then leaving from HH.
- From BW you arrive 6am-something in HH. If one can sleep on a train, that's advantage HH->BW
oakdale160
Rock Star
Rock Star
Posts: 4657
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 9:51 pm

Re: HH to Butterworth by train -- no changing needed?

Post by oakdale160 »

Thanks, I think I will fly down and train back. Good point that when it comes to sleepy times you have been on the train many hours and are ready to sleep.
Frank La Rue
Guru
Guru
Posts: 576
Joined: Sat Jul 30, 2005 4:24 pm
Location: Norway/ Bangkok

Re: HH to Butterworth by train -- no changing needed?

Post by Frank La Rue »

I saw the heading on this thread and thought - wtf? Butterworth?

Having read the thread it seems it is a relic from British colonial time? However the next question remains- what is so exiting in BW that this many people on a Forum with scope limited to HH are there to answer?

Is there something the rest of the world is missing out on?. like Lady Gaga performing for free?

........unless it is Emerson Lake and Palmer having one of their reunion concerts......
One Day I'm gona die. I can live with that.
Post Reply