KL Sentral to Butterworth Station by Train
These are my notes for my train trip from Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth onboard EP9172. This left KL Sentral at 8:05 a.m. and arrived in Butterworth at 12:10 p.m. There are two classes. Business and Standard. Tickets are 156/83 ringgits. For business class, meals and drinks are included. This is part of my Singapore to Beijing train trip.
🇲🇾 TRAIN 4. KL Sentral (Kuala Lumpur) to Butterworth
🚂 ETS Platinum 9172
🗓️ Date of Travel: 6th October 2024
⏰ Depart 08:05 | Arrive 12:10
⏱️ Duration: 4 hours and 5 minutes
📏 Distance: 380.3 km
🎟️ Ticket: 156/83 ringgit (Business/Standard Class)
QUICK LINKS: TRAIN 1 | TRAIN 2 | TRAIN 3 | TRAIN 4 | TRAIN 5 | TRAIN 6 | TRAIN 7 | TRAIN 8 | TRAIN 9 | TRAIN 10
If you are in Business Class and starting at KL Sentral Station, be sure to take advantage of the Ruby Lounge. Not only does it offer a comfortable place to wait and free hot coffee, but you also get priority boarding. The Ruby Lounge is on the third floor above Departure Gate B. Take the lift behind it. You can enter the lounge up to an hour before departure. They will scan the QR code on your ticket at the lounge, so it won’t be scanned again on the train. About 20 minutes before departure, staff will escort you down to the 2nd floor via the lift, through the ticket barrier, and then down more escalators to the platform. Business Class is in Coach A, which is at the back of the train. For the return journey, it’s at the front of the train.
The seating configuration in Business Class is 1 + 2, providing wider seats than Standard Class. The seats can be rotated, so you’re always facing the direction of travel. When leaving KL Sentral, the single seats are on the right side. Seats are well-padded and recline comfortably. There’s plenty of legroom even when the seat in front is fully reclined. A table and TV monitor are stored in the armrests on either side. The monitor allows you to watch YouTube. There are coat hooks to the side and another hook on the back of the seat in front. The windows have blinds. For single seats, there is a three-pin plug socket and two USB ports in the wall. Double seats have one plug socket under the seat and one in front.
In Business Class, you’ll be served meals twice. You can also walk forward to the Bistro in Coach C if you’re hungry or want more coffee. However, the food provided was more than enough.
Onboard Meal Service
- 8:40am – Breakfast: Served after Sungai Buloh Station: Sandwich, fruit juice, coffee/tea, and salted peanuts.
- 10:40am – Lunch: Served after Ipoh Station: Rice with chicken and a bottle of water. The hot meal may vary for each trip, but everyone receives the same dish.
There are toilets at one end of each coach, with indicator lights showing if they are occupied. They are spacious and very clean. However, as there is only one per coach, there might be a queue at times. Coach C has accessible toilets and extra space for wheelchairs. There is also a prayer room. Luggage racks can be found at the opposite end of the carriage from the toilets. There are overhead racks and space under your seats for bags and smaller suitcases.
In Standard Class, seats are arranged in a 2 + 2 configuration. They are slightly narrower with a little less legroom but still comfortable enough. Half of the carriage faces backwards, but you can choose your preferred direction when booking online. The seats in the middle share a table. Unlike the Gemas-KL train I took the day before, the table here has no legs blocking movement, making it much better. Also, the seats at each end face the middle of the train, whereas on the Gemas train, seats faced towards the end of the carriage. The padding in these seats is also much thicker compared to the Gemas train.
Coach C has the Food and Beverages Bistro. As well as hot and cold drinks, there are pre-cooked meals that are heated up in the microwave. Seating in the Bistro is limited to two small tables and stools by the windows. Half of this carriage has regular seats. Avoid booking the Bistro car unless you want food smells for the entire journey!
As the train approaches Butterworth, I recommend starting to walk towards the front if you are in Business Class. This is because the platform exit is towards the front. Also, make sure you book your ferry ticket online while still on the train. This can only be purchased on the day of travel but isgood for any trip. Doing so saves you from queuing at the ticket office at the pier.
When the train arrives at Butterworth, go up the steps or take the lift to the waiting area. After the ticket barriers where you scan your QR code, turn left and follow the signs to the ferry. If you walk briskly, you should easily be able to catch the 12:30 p.m. ferry. If you miss it, the next one is at 1:00 p.m., so it’s not long to wait if you want to take your time. I arrived with five minutes to spare. The ferry trip to Penang takes only 15 minutes. Buses and taxis are available near the pier, and you can also use Grab, which is cheaper than a regular taxi.
➡️ BUYING TICKETS:
🇹🇭 Thailand: DTicket
🇲🇾 Malaysia: KTMB
➡️ TRANSPORTATION TICKETS IN ASIA:
✅ 12GO Asia
✅ Trip Dot Com
✅ Baolau
QUICK LINKS: TRAIN 1 | TRAIN 2 | TRAIN 3 | TRAIN 4 | TRAIN 5 | TRAIN 6 | TRAIN 7 | TRAIN 8 | TRAIN 9 | TRAIN 10