After arriving from the Thaksinarath from Bangkok, I had slightly more than an hour to go before the Hat Yai – Padang Besar Shuttle Train departs at 7.30am.
This post is about the travel experience onboard the Hat Yai – Padang Besar Shuttle Train.
This is NOT the actual information page you are looking for.
Click here to visit the dedicated Hat Yai – Padang Besar Shuttle Train information page.
Hat Yai is the biggest town in southern Thailand that is closest to Malaysia. It is slightly less than an hour away by train to Padang Besar, and SRT offers two pairs of shuttle trains daily.
Tickets for the Hat Yai – Padang Besar Shuttle Train are only sold on the day of departure, so queue at the counters for immediate travel to purchase your ticket.
Tickets usually costs 80 baht when travelling with the Daewoo DMU, but as the rake is swapped with a non-airconditioned third class rake, the air-conditioning fee and second class fee is waived for this journey, saving me 30 baht. No complains at all, in fact I’d prefer a non-airconditioned train.
The Hat Yai – Padang Besar Shuttle Train departed from Platform 3 on the day of my journey.
The Alsthom locomotive coupling to my rake to form the train to Padang Besar.
Express 947 from Hat Yai Junction to Padang Besar is ready for departure.
The train is made up of 3 coaches of Bogie Third Class coaches, probably to cater to the large crowd heading up to Hat Yai on a Saturday.
I sat in the high-capacity Third Class coach on the bench for 3 people so I have 6 seats to sprawl out for my bags and myself.
Departing Hat Yai Junction.
Heading right to Padang Besar, branching off the line to Sungai Golok.
The typical scenery when travelling south to Padang Besar.
Crossing Phet Kasem Road or Thailand Route 4 before arriving at Khlong Ngae Railway Station.
Arrived and departed Khlong Ngae Railway Station almost immediately as there were no passengers boarding or alighting here.
Arriving at Padang Besar (Thai) Railway Station.
If you are heading to Malaysia, do NOT alight here. There are two border stations and the Hat Yai – Padang Besar Shuttle Train will get you across to Padang Besar Railway Station in Malaysia.
Entering the electrified sector.
Passing through the old Padang Besar (Thai) Railway Station.
The rickety border gate.
Hello Malaysia.
Arriving at Padang Besar Railway Station.
The Hat Yai – Padang Besar Shuttle Train arrived at Padang Besar at 9.19am, 6 minutes ahead of schedule.
A quick run-around of the locmotive later, and the Express 948 is formed for the return trip back to Hat Yai Junction.
Here’s probably the cause of the downgrade to third class coaches – there are too many passengers for them to fit into the 2-car Daewoo DMU. Despite the train already being half-full, these passengers are still queuing for immigration into Thailand.
Needless to say, the Express 948 to Hat Yai Junction was delayed.
This also means that you need not worry if there are too many people buying tickets on the day of your departure as SRT will cater for enough space for you and will not depart the train while you are still queuing for immigration – so don’t fret.
The train conductor of the Express 948 telling passengers to move in to the centre of the car.
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From this platform, I waited for the KTM Komuter Northern Sector to continue on my journey towards Butterworth.
This post is about the travel experience onboard the Hat Yai – Padang Besar Shuttle Train.
This is NOT the actual information page you are looking for.
Click here to visit the dedicated Hat Yai – Padang Besar Shuttle Train information page.
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