Train Review: KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2944up from Butterworth to Padang Besar by Train

Alor Setar, Butterworth, KTM, KTM Komuter, Malaysia, Padang Besar, Penang, RailTravel Guides, Train Reviews, Trip Reports Leave a comment

KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2944up Train from Butterworth to Padang Besar Train Review

KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2944up is the second train of the day from Butterworth to Padang Besar. Arriving from my Billion Stars Express bus from KL, I continued with KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2944up to Padang Besar to connect to the SRT Padang Besar-Hat Yai Shuttle Train Express 948 to Hat Yai later.

For this challenge to travel from Singapore to Bangkok for under S$50, it would be cheapest from Butterworth onwards to travel by train, due to a combination of a per-kilometer fare basis, breaking journeys due to individual fares instead of taking a through-service, and the convenience of immigration and transfers, minimising additional transport costs due to the need to change terminals to continue onwards to the next mode of transport.

Singapore to Bangkok for under S$50!

Butterworth Railway Station

After getting a light breakfast and coffee in Penang Sentral, I headed over to Butterworth Railway Station in good time to catch my KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2944up train departing at 6.25am.

As I wanted to pay with my credit card, I headed over to the KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) Ticket Kiosks to buy my KTM Komuter Northern Sector ticket. KTM Komuter Northern Sector tickets are sold and bought on the spot for immediate departure. No pre-booking is necessary or possible as unlimited tickets are sold for the next departing KTM Komuter Northern Sector train with no fixed train time printed on the ticket, but tickets are valid only on the day of purchase (and onwards if choosing a ticket with longer validity).

The new KTMB Integrated Ticketing System (KITS) Ticket Kiosk display confusingly starts with the route map of the KTM Komuter Northern Sector, which is not a touch-and-choose method of selecting stations.

Instead, after admiring at the route map, you need to press “Purchase Ticket”.

Thereafter, select your destination station from this alphabetical list of compiled stations across both KTM Komuter Northern Sector lines.

A maximum of 6 tickets can be purchased on each transaction.

Once my Visa payWave contactless payment has gone through, the machine spits out my ticket and receipt.

My ticket for my KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2944up train from Butterworth to Padang Besar. This costs RM11.40.

The ticket counter was also already opened for those who prefer to pay with cash or are eligible for concession tickets.

I have about 16 minutes to catch my KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2944up train.

Heading to the Automated Control Gate (ACG) to scan my ticket.

KTM Komuter Northern Sector will be accepting Touch ‘n Go Cards soon, as evident by the Touch ‘n Go logo on the Touch ‘n Go lane.

The card reader is also currently covered up with a piece of paper.

Scanning my ticket on the QR code reader.

The concourse of Butterworth Railway Station.

The queue pole blocking access to the staircase down to the platform was still closed, with staff prioritising boarding of the 6.20am ETS Platinum 9173dn to KL Sentral at Platform 2 first, to prevent passengers from boarding the wrong train.

At 6.16am, once the ACG has timed out for scanning in to the ETS Platinum 9173dn, the staff opened the staircase for boarding.

The KTM Komuter Northern Sector Butterworth-Padang Besar Line train departs from Platform 4 at Butterworth Railway Station.

The doors to the train were not available to open yet, even when pressing the button.

KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2944up

The 6-car set 92 Class SCS38 will be operating on my KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2944up from Butterworth to Padang Besar. A comfortable ride ahead.

Notice the wrong destination shown on the LED screen above the driver’s cab. Do you think you could survive a KTM Komuter Butterworth-Pelabuhan Klang Line ride?

The interior of the 92 Class SCS set in coaches B, C, D, and E.

For this almost 2-hour ride, I chose a forward-facing seat for comfort.

A 3-pin power socket is available below the seat below the window.

The good legroom on board the 92 Class SCS train set.

The route map of the KTM Komuter Northern Sector is now displayed on the 92 Class SCS38 set, permanently operating on the KTM Komuter Northern Sector. This covers the KTM Komuter Klang Valley Sector dynamic route map display with LED lights underneath it.

Notably, the temporary cover on the 3 new stations of the KTM Komuter Northern Sector Ipoh Extension still remains, despite the KTM Komuter Northern Sector Ipoh Extension having already opened since 16 September 2023.

I will be taking the full green KTM Komuter Northern Sector Butterworth-Padang Besar Line today.

Unfortunately, most windows on my coach were shattered, so this is my artistic morning view throughout the train journey.

The sunrise over Perlis through the shattered glass.

Along the way from Butterworth, the KTM Komuter Northern Sector Butterworth-Padang Besar Line stops at Bukit Tengah, Bukit Mertajam, Tasek Gelugor, Sungai Petani, Gurun, Kobah, Alor Setar, Anak Bukit, Kodiang, Arau, Bukit Ketri, and Padang Besar, where it terminates.

Approaching Padang Besar Railway Station.

Padang Besar Railway Station

My KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2944up train arrived at Padang Besar Railway Station on time at 8.16am, making this a journey of 1 hour and 51 minutes.

92 Class SCS38 at Padang Besar Railway Station. This train set will form the next trip back to Butterworth, 2955dn.

The gate line is 1 floor above the platforms. Touch ‘n Go logo stickers can also be seen here. Salespeople for the VIP van to Hat Yai and Thailand SIM cards are also waiting just after the gate line.

Scanning out of the ACG.

The concourse of Padang Besar Railway Station. Here, I had about 40 minutes to wait till the opening of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) ticket counter to buy my SRT Hat Yai-Padang Besar Shuttle Train ticket to Hat Yai.

Conclusion

The KTM Komuter Northern Sector is a cheap, convenient, and efficient way to travel in the northern Malaysia states. I was lucky to get a 92 Class SCS train set which has better seats and air-conditioning than the normal 83 Class EMU, and with a power socket below my seat to keep my phone at 100% battery. The low fare on KTM Komuter Northern Sector is partly why my trip from Singapore to Bangkok for under S$50 is possible with comfort.

Singapore to Bangkok for under S$50!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.