Booking train Singapore-KL

[carreauchompeur]

(Started a separate thread since it's a niche topic!)

I am off to Singapore on November 7th, staying for 2 nights then intending to get the overnight sleeper to KL.

Does anyone have experience of booking this? Obviously it'll be quite short notice by the time I touch down in SIN but don't know how easy it is to book in advance.

I have seen something on the internet suggesting that it can be booked by e-mail- Anyone done this?

[AJS-]

I did this journey last year, and had no problems just buying tickets at the station. Trains were never booked out. Very few people use the train in Singapore, and they're actually a bit embarrassed of it - if you ask directions they will tell you to take a coach!

I went from Singapore up to Johor Bahru, the first stop in Malaysia, where I got off and booked a sleeper for that evening, then spent the rest of the afternoon in JB. It's actually considerably cheaper to do it this way, as in Singapore you will pay the same in S$ as you will pay in Ringits once in Malaysia. ie $100 in Singapore or 100 Ringits, about S$30 from JB to KL.

Didn't think a whole lot of JB or KL to be honest, but many people love it.

Seat61 is a good site ww.seat61.com

[furtive]

I looked into this when I went to the GP in KL following a trip to Singapore and decided to get a cab to Johor Bahru and fly to KL instead

[N Dentressangle]

carreauchompeur said:

(Started a separate thread since it's a niche topic!)

I am off to Singapore on November 7th, staying for 2 nights then intending to get the overnight sleeper to KL.

Does anyone have experience of booking this? Obviously it'll be quite short notice by the time I touch down in SIN but don't know how easy it is to book in advance.

I have seen something on the internet suggesting that it can be booked by e-mail- Anyone done this?

We did this journey in the other direction, by day.

The train was almost empty, and very slow. Comfortable enough, though. The scenery was nothing to shout about.

KL is not especially interesting. If you're spending time in the area, I would:

a) Fly to KL. Air Asia are cheap enough.
b) Leave KL sharpish and head for more interesting parts of Malaysia
c) Neither of the above. Air Asia straight to Bangkok and spend more time in Thailand, maybe trying to have a look at Laos or Cambodia too.

Personally, I'd think hard about changing your plans to option c. Plenty of people on here really like shopping and KL / Sing, as far as I can tell, but for me I'd rather see something a bit more unlike home.

If you do stick with your original plan, I don't think booking a train ticket once you're there will be a problem. As one of the other posters says, no-one seems to use the trains much.

[AJS-]

Tempted to agree with Norbert.

Thailand is a wonderful country, and the south, after I crossed the border at Pedang Besar is one of the most charming areas.

If I found myself in Singapore with free time now I would be heading to Indonesia, but that's only because I've never been.

If I was going to Bangkok then I'd probably look for an Air Asia flight to Penang - not a bad place in itself, close to Orangutan Island which is well worth a visit, and only a couple of hours from the Thai border.

I have heard other people say the east coast of peninsular Malaysia is much nicer, but I think that will put you on buses more than trains. Worth noting also that buses in SE Asia are often a lot more convenient than trains (though not as much fun IMO).

[Thunderace]

We did this last year. You can pay the far cheaper Malaysian price if your journey starts in Malaysia, so we booked a return using the cheapest Malaysia-Singapore leg we could find then the return leg was an ensuite cabin Singapore-KL. We just didn't use the outward portion of the ticket.

Follow the link to information and a link to online booking.

Information

[anonymous-user]

Without doubt thebest way from Kl to Sing is thebus, Aero line is very good, and cheap, this is around the same time as to fly, center to center, The sleeper trains in Malaysia are good, if you have time, both JB-KL and KL North to Thailand (Hatyai), they are safe and clean, second class is OK, as there is very limited Ist class, but take a packed meal and water as often there is nothing for sale on the train. When I go to Sing I always take Aero line, or the bike, The Bus from JB is OK but you need to watch which one you take, I always take transnational, standerd of driving is good, but avoid the very/very cheap ones. There is no need to book in advance unless you are planning to travel at a Malaysian Holiday see http://www.onestopmalaysia.com/holidays-2009.html when the trains and bus can get very busy.

[carreauchompeur]

Thanks for all the replies. I do want to go by train for this leg because I loved the Bangkok-Surat Thani sleeper earlier in the year. I'm booking online imminently- I assume there is no problem not using the outward leg?

I've planned it to have minimal time in Singapore/Malaysia, just to get a taste really. 2 nights in Singapore then night sleeper to KL. 2 nights in KL, then flying to Krabi. Ferry to Koh Lanta where we will spend a week, then flying to Bangkok for 4 nights. Flying up to Chiang Mai for a couple of nights then flying back to BKK and home.

Might actually sack off the flight from BKK to Chiang Mai because it's quite a good train route.

Internal flights came to £280 for both of us, all inclusive- Pretty good I thought for 4 flights.

[anonymous-user]

KL to Hatyai on the sleeper and Hatyai Krabbie by Mini Bus is agood alternative to flying, if you like trains.

[carreauchompeur]

Berw said:

KL to Hatyai on the sleeper and Hatyai Krabbie by Mini Bus is agood alternative to flying, if you like trains.

Thanks- I did look at that but thought that the hassle factor would be a major deterrent for herself. To be honest it would have cut a day out of the holiday, whereas the flight is far quicker. And I hate minibus journeys!