Originally Posted by
jpatokal
The 'issues' are in the east coast states. The ones on the west coast (where the train runs) are more or less OK, although there have been a few bombings, mostly at dens of iniquity, in the main city of Hat Yai.
The main issue with the train is that it's veeeeery slow and not all that comfortable even in the better classes... but in less than half a year the link to central Singapore will stop operating, so if you're planning to go then now is the time to do it. (The train will still keep running, but it will terminate in a charmless concrete block in the northern boonies of Singapore, instead of the current colonial-era historical terminal in downtown Singapore.)
The train in Thailand runs on the east coast. There have been a few incidence in the southern part of Thailand around Hat Yai and Yalla but I have done two trips to the region during the last three years.
Hi everyone. I'm new to the forum and I'm planning my first S. Asia trip!! We're planning to hit SIN, BKK, HKT and TYO for a quick stopover.
The ?: Are there any trains from SIN to BKK?
Thanks in advance,
~eS
Don't let comments by those, who don't like travelling by train in Malaysia/Thailand, deter you. If you plan to travel overland, train is, by far, the best way. Buses might be cheaper and faster, but imagine doing a 12 plus hour trip on a bus.
I have travelled between Singapore and Alor Setar (the west coast line in Malaysia), as well as between Singapore and Wakaf Bahru (the east coast line of Malaysia). In Thailand, I have dome Bangkok-Nongkhai, Bangkok-Chaing Mai and Bangkok-Yalla. Trains are quite comfortable. Yes, they are veeeeeery slow when compared with aero-planes, but when compared with bus, they are slightly slower. I hope you don't compare trains with aeroplanes. The two serve a different purposes.
It's possible to do a train trip from Singapore to Chaing Mai. You will have to change trains. You will save quite a lot if don;t buy your ticket in Singapore. Break your trip. JB to KL, KL to HatYai, and Hat Yai to Bangkok. If you want to do Langkawi, you can break your trip in Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis.
Trains run on metre gauge, which is just about as narrower than standard gauge than standard gauge is narrower then broad gauge.
Originally Posted by
Koby
No personal experience yet (but it's on my list
).
I would start on
"The Man in Seat Sixty-One" website, always very useful when looking for information on train travel.
Oh, and welcome to FT!
It's a useful site. It's not comprehensive though. When travelling in Europe, you have to use it in conjunction with Deutsche Bahn site.