On 25 February 2016, JOM NAIK KERETAPI embarked on a trip around the Malay Peninsular from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Hat Yai, Thailand with the northbound journey via Sungai Golok on the eastern side of the Malay Peninsular, and the southbound journey via Padang Besar, on the western side of the Malay Peninsular.
This post is about the travel experience onboard the Hat Yai – Padang Besar Shuttle Train.
Click here to visit the new dedicated Hat Yai – Padang Besar Shuttle Train information page.
After spending the night at Hat Yai, we departed back for Malaysia on the then-new Hat Yai – Padang Besar Shuttle Train.
The shuttle train was made up of a 2-car Daewoo DMU, commonly known as “Sprinter” in southern Thailand. This is not to be confused with the BREL Sprinter which runs on the Special Express 3 and 4 between Bangkok and Sila At via Sawankhalok.
Once the train departs, the conductor comes around to check tickets as usual. Fares are at 80 baht one way, no matter the destination.
While written as a Special Express Diesel Railcar on station timetables, the ticket prints the train as an Express. My guess is that it’s for the special pricing as Special Express fees alone would exceed the 80 baht fare. Then again, so does Express fees. Oh well.
The interior of the 2 cars. Ridership has significantly increased since my previous journey on the same train.
Making a very short stop of a few seconds at Khlong Ngae as there are no boarding or alighting passengers. Fares to and from this station also go for 80 baht.
I decided to alight at Padang Besar (Thai) station to explore it and the area around. This is the newest station in Thailand, conveniently located for locals bound for the Thai town of Padang Besar. Previously, they would have to enter Malaysia and walk out to get to Padang Besar, Thailand.
The train stopped for quite a while, possibly for the conductor to inform passengers bound for Padang Besar, Thailand to alight here. Some passengers are still used to the old way of entering Malaysia first, as overheard on my previous trip.
The singular platform has ample seats for any waiting passengers to stretch out while waiting for their train.
The train is ready to go with the shunt signal given by KTM in Padang Besar, Malaysia.
The Special Express 949 departing Padang Besar (Thai) for Padang Besar, Malaysia.
The Station Master’s office at the station. As a Class 3 station with no signals since it is located along the block between Padang Besar, Malaysia and Khlong Ngae, the office is relatively simple.
The ticket booth located beside the Station Master’s office. A portrait of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) hangs above the counters. He is the King which started the modernization of Thailand (then known as Siam) and the son and successor of King Mongkut (Rama IV) who kickstarted the railway project after receiving a model railway as a gift from Queen Victoria in 1855.
Note: Padang Besar (Thai) to Padang Besar tickets are not sold.
The well-ventilated ticket hall.
The exterior view of the station.
The overview of the entire station from the street side.
Seeing there is nothing much outside the station (and I only had about 60+ baht left in my wallet anyway), I started my walk to Padang Besar, Malaysia by foot.
This post is about the travel experience onboard the Hat Yai – Padang Besar Shuttle Train.
Click here to visit the new dedicated Hat Yai – Padang Besar Shuttle Train information page.
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