Re: Direct Bangkok-Butterworth train service to be revived

Post by **STEVE G** » Tue Aug 20, 2024 10:14 pm

Direct Bangkok-Butterworth train service to be revived

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... be-revived

Thailand and Malaysia plan to revive the direct train service between Bangkok and Butterworth, and extend a Malaysian excursion train now running to Hat Yai to include Surat Thani.

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and KTMB, which operates trains in Malaysia, have agreed in principle on a test run of a service between Bangkok and Butterworth.

SRT deputy governor Awirut Thongnet said on Tuesday there would be a joint study into the proposal. It was intended the transnational service would operate initially for six months.

Post by **PeteC** » Tue Aug 20, 2024 11:08 pm

^ Further detail:

Butterworth is the city centre of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It lies about 3 km east of George Town, the capital city of Penang, across the Penang Strait. As of 2020, Butterworth had a total population of 80,378 residents. Butterworth was named after William John Butterworth, a former Governor of the Straits Settlements during the mid-19th century. Under the British Raj, the town came into being as a transportation hub, due to its proximity to George Town.

George Town is the colorful, multicultural capital of the Malaysian island of Penang. Once an important Straits of Malacca trading hub, the city is known for its British colonial buildings, Chinese shophouses and mosques. Beyond the old town, George Town is a modern city with skyscrapers and shopping malls. Verdant Penang Hill, with hiking and a funicular railway, overlooks it all. Population: 222,200 (2017)

Post by **HHTel** » Wed Aug 21, 2024 6:29 am

I didn't realise it was abandoned. Many years since I did 'visa runs' to Penang but that service was excellent in it's day. I commented on another thread that one time I used it, I arrived in Hua Hin 2 hours early!!

Post by **404cameljockey** » Wed Aug 21, 2024 8:25 am

My God, it's still called Butterworth? And George Town! I thought they had de-colonialised all of these names, like India and other countries have. Malaysia of course formerly being British Malaya.

The cargo ships in the 70s used to call at Port Butterworth. I remember my first job in London as a teenager checking the worldwide port costs of the shipping line I worked for. The thin, weird-seeming airmail paper with the names of local companies was a thrill to me, thinking about handling the tools of commerce of a place on the other side of the world: port dues, chandlery, etc.. It even often had an alien smell, not unpleasant but intriguing. Now here I am living within driving distance. I could never have imagined.

Post by **buksida** » Wed Aug 21, 2024 8:41 am

Been there several times on the night train from Bangsaphan, didn't realize it was ever discontinued. You have to get off at the border, go through immigration, and get on a Malay train on their side (which is much smoother and faster than the Thai clunkers) to do the rest of the journey to Butterworth, then over to Georgetown on the ferry.

Need a road trip!

Post by **Nereus** » Wed Aug 21, 2024 8:51 am

Also, at one time an RAF and RAAF base. The base is still active under the RMAF, and the RAAF still has a small squadron based there.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMAF_Butt ... 0squadrons.

Post by **Dannie Boy** » Fri Aug 23, 2024 2:53 am

Not sure whether this should go elsewhere, but maybe mods can consider moving?

No mention of this service stopping between Bangkok and Malaysia (like in Hua Hin), but looks exciting!!

https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news ... -tourists/

Post by **Dannie Boy** » Fri Aug 23, 2024 3:39 am

Dannie Boy wrote: ↑Fri Aug 23, 2024 2:53 am Not sure whether this should go elsewhere, but maybe mods can consider moving?

No mention of this service stopping between Bangkok and Malaysia (like in Hua Hin), but looks exciting!!

https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news ... -tourists/

I don’t remember seeing the earlier posts - maybe I was sleeping?

Post by **hhinner** » Fri Aug 23, 2024 10:38 am

Dannie Boy wrote:Not sure whether this should go elsewhere, but maybe mods can consider moving?

No mention of this service stopping between Bangkok and Malaysia (like in Hua Hin), but looks exciting!!

https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news ... -tourists/

I didn't think that SRT had any diesel train sets even vaguely like the (AI) illustration.

Post by **HHTel** » Fri Aug 23, 2024 11:53 am

That article has so much wrong with it, it's not worth reading.

Post by **Big Boy** » Fri Aug 23, 2024 11:59 am

Will they provide armoured rolling stock for travelling through the deep South? The last time I read it, there was a UK Government travel advisory against using that route.

Post by **buksida** » Fri Aug 23, 2024 11:59 am

It's another flowery puff piece that is akin to clickbait spam. The AI Shinkansen picture made it bin-worthy before even reading any of it!

Post by **Big Boy** » Fri Aug 23, 2024 12:10 pm

Big Boy wrote: ↑Fri Aug 23, 2024 11:59 am Will they provide armoured rolling stock for travelling through the deep South? The last time I read it, there was a UK Government travel advisory against using that route.

Here's the advisory:

Thailand-Malaysia border
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of the south, near the Thailand-Malaysia border:

Pattani Province
Yala Province
Narathiwat Province
southern Songkhla Province – south of the A43 road between Hat Yai and Sakom, and south of the train line which runs between Hat Yai and Padang Besar
FCDO also advises against all but essential travel on the Hat Yai to Padang Besar train line that runs through these provinces.

This is due to regular terrorist attacks.

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