Korean Job Discussion Forums

[alljokingaside]

Hey,

i read on seat61.com that a train connects malaysia, thailand, laos, and vietnam. Does anyone have info on/exp. with this train system? like timetable (how long does it take to get from eg kuala lumpur to chiang mai or laos), prices, friendliness (ie should i bring a metal vest to avoid stab wounds?) etc.

debating training it or flying during my break, using kuala lumpur as an entry point

[nukeday]

malaysia? you might want to look at a map.

anyway, no, you can't just train it through those 3 other countries. you'll have to fly or take a bus at some point.

[ttompatz]

[Kaypea]

You can train it for some of it. I took the train from Kuala Lumpur to Alor Setar, 2nd class sleeper... wasn't nearly as cool as train travel looks in the old 1930's movies, but it was ok. Lots of families, no obviously scuzzy people. The weird thing is it was the overnight sleeper train, but there were bright lights on all night.

[alljokingaside]

oops! I meant singapore! my cheeks are red. must be the soju


Kaypea- also, how much did it cost? how long did it take you to travel from departure to arrival?

thanks!

[interestedinhanguk]

Vietnam is not connected to these countries by train. It is broken off by Laos and Cambodia. Its only international connection is to China.

[JBomb]

check out http://www.seat61.com/ for some maps, fares, routes, and schedules. Really good. Been using it to plan something similar for my Winter Break.

[interestedinhanguk]

[JBomb]

whoops sorry

[alljokingaside]

Roughly how long does it take to go from one stop to the next? or, i guess more specifically, kuala lumpur -> nong khai/chiang mai? i can't seem to find this info out on the site

http://www.seat61.com/Map-SEAsia.htm

Vietnam doesn't connect by train (only bus it seems) but I'm not too concerned with vietnam anyway. the plan's to fly into kuala lumpur and head toward either 1)vientianne via nong khai or to 2)chiang mai (or both perhaps if time allows)

im trying to decide whether or not it'll be a waste of time to take the train (ie if i'll spend half of my time there on the train) vs flying to my destinations // if the cost of airfare make up for time spent. thats the information that's inaccessible either due to their poorly designed website or my technological illiteracy.

Thanks for all the replies!


and for some reason, i've this feeling of deja vu...

[chris_J2]

Try looking at the State Railways of Thailand English website for timetables.

http://www.railway.co.th/english/index.asp

The International train from Butterworth on the west coast of Malaysia (try to get an air con berth: the train sits in the midday sun until 2 pm departure & Butterworth is one of the most hot & humid places I've been), travels through Hatyai (5 minute stop), & on to Surat Thani. Almost all the bombings & insurgency problems are on the east coast, around Yala, Naraithiwat, Songkla etc. I wouldn't spend any / too much time in Hatyai either, where there have been a couple of serious incidents.

You could break the long train journey with a detour to Railey Bay / Ao Nang / Ko Phi Phi in the Krabi area, or get to Bkk with a bus/boat combo from Surat Thani to Ko Samui / Ko Pha Ngan, island hop to Ko Tao, & rejoin the train at Chumphon (using another boat from Ko Tao to Chumphon port). Hua Hin & Petchaburi are other stop off options on the way to Bkk. Chiang Mai is a dead end as far as rail goes, & from there you'd fly to Kunming in China, or Vientiane in Laos. Nong Khai is opposite Vientiane on the Mekong River, & the Thai rail line terminates there. A quick bus trip across the Friendship Bridge & you're there (Vientiane). Rail & road infrastructure in Laos is poor. You either boat up & down the Mekong or fly.

ps, there are adequate bus services between Chiang Mai & Nong Khai. Another entry point to Laos is via Huay Xai & from there you fly to Vientiane (or if you're feeling adventurous, a 2-3 day boat trip along the Mekong River).

[ttompatz]

[chris_J2]

[young_clinton]

[bucheon bum]