Bangkok To Singapore - The Jungle Line Train

UPDATE: August 2017
It now appears that the "Jungle Line" route is now running again, however, the train departure time from Pisar Mas is at 18:30 hours with an arrival time of 02:20 at Jerantut the following day which defeats the purpose of this train because you will not see the landscape.

UPDATE: July 2015
Unfortunately in December 2014 a portion of the "Jungle Line" route was damaged by flooding and blockage and will not be operational for the next 1-2 years as the government completes repairs which may take even longer than the estimate above, depending on how important this rail line is viewed by the government.  We will update this status as information comes in.

The Jungle Line train from Bangkok into Malaysia is one of the best train journeys possible and offers an opportunity to visit one of Malaysia's oldest rain forests, the Taman Negara Rain forest.

Many a traveler will decide to head from Bangkok into Malaysia and further south to Kuala Lumpur or maybe even Singapore.  The typical route is down the southern Thai rail line past the Krabi/Samui areas, maybe stopping along the way enroute where they may visit Penang via Butterworth.

The “Jungle Line” from Bangkok into Malaysia begins with the same southern train route originating in Bangkok. This route goes past Hua Hin, Surat Thani (gateway for Samui to the east & the western beaches and islands of the Andaman Sea), south to Trang then eventually ending in Butterworth, Malaysia which is on the mainland, a short ferry ride from the tourist area of Georgetown in Penang.

The Thailand portion of the “Jungle Line” route is well traveled by many tourists and is somewhat interesting with its landscapes changing along the route as its many rubber plantations spring up the further south one gets.

However, the train I am speaking of does not go to Butterworth but instead heads to the southern Thai border city of Su-ngai Kolok which is the gateway into the north eastern regions of Malaysia starting at the city of Kota Bharu.

It is from this part of Malaysia that the eastern train line begins and is the true “Jungle Line” and it can be taken all the way to Singapore with stops along the way depending on your desires.

I am going to write about the eastern line "Jungle Line" into Malaysia, coming in from Su-ngai Kolok, which from my perspective, is a much better and more stunning route to take if going to Singapore or even Kuala Lumpur.  Of course, the route selected by each traveler depends on their own choices, where they are stopping along the way and what they wish to experience. See the link below in the next paragraph.

Take the link for a visual map of the train lines.  Map of SE Asia Train Lines.

In Malaysia there are two distinctive train routes going north to south and the other way.  One is along the western regions of the country and the other runs along the eastern side of the peninsula.  The western route begins in Butterworth and the eastern route begins in Kota Bharu.

The "official" websit for online train bookings in Thailand is at Thailand Rail Ticket or the eSRT, click here. You will need to create an account to use this website but it is relatively easy.

There are other alternate websites but they tend to have add-on costs or offer less options. If your search using the official website vreates problems, then Google search for alternate websites.

For online tickets in Malaysia click here for the direct link to the Malaysia Railway web site. Select your language. If you want additional information about these trains, please visit the post "Web Resources-Rail".

As a travel writer I have personally experienced both routes and each has its specific characteristics but the western route passes through the industrial heart of Malaysia while the eastern route “Jungle Line” passes through the lushly forested mountains and truly tropical regions of the country with limestone Karst mountains, plantations, rivers and jungles as beautiful backdrops.  Along its route there is the Taman Negara National Park which Malaysia proudly boasts as being the oldest tropical rain forest of some 130 millions years old.

Train Cutting Through Jungle

View From Train

Smallish & Young Palm Oil Plantation

The train from Kota Bharu cuts up and through hundreds of kilometers of lushly forested mountains, old growth jungle, rubber plantations and in its early stages palm oil plantations.

In comparison between the western and eastern lines, the “Jungle Line” is by far an exceedingly better route for its natural beauty and proximity to the eastern coastal region with its islands and Taman Negara National Park which is a fantastically wonderful place to visit with its many natural trails, rivers, remaining old growth rain forest and one of the longest canopy walks in the world.  The Taman Negara also has world class accommodations within the park itself and then outside the park there are plenty of guesthouses and restaurant, some lining the river bank, some within walking distance of the river itself.

The way to transit the Jungle Line in Malaysia from Bangkok is to purchase your ticket from Hualumpung all the way through to Su-ngai Kolok.  From Su-ngai Kolok you get a short ride by tuk-tuk which cost about 100 Baht to the Thai immigration post and exit Thailand.  It is a simple matter to walk from the Thai border to the Malaysian border within just 10-20 minutes total time depending on how long the cue is at both check points.  Once on the Malaysian side you can collect your 90 day visa on arrival, no cost and then it is a taxi ride of about 40 minutes costing about 40 Ringgit from the border to the city of Kota Bharu where you will need to stay one night due to the train connections for the second leg or the Malaysian section which is “The Jungle” train.

To leave Kota Bharu it is a short taxi ride to the train station just about 15 kilometers to the west of the city and this is where you get your train going south.  The train station you leave from is called Pasir Mas and costs about 20 Ringgit.

There are many places along the route to stop, however,  it is not until you reach the cities of Kuala Lupis or Jerantut that should you get off if you wish to visit the Taman Negara National Park.  At either of these stops, you are able to find accommodations in these cities then make plans or preparations for going to the Taman Negara National Park. Click here for an overview of the park.

Kuala Jembeling Boat Jetty Entrance

The north eastern entrance of the Taman Negara National Park is accessed from Kuala Lupis and the southwestern entry is accessed from Jerantut.

The Boat Going Up River

If you decide to stop in Jerantut then it is easy to access the park. The first step is getting a taxi to the Kuala Jembleing boat jetty along the river, booking a seat on the boat then going up river for three hours to the park entrance.  You have a couple of options for arriving at the boat jetty, one is by taxi, costs vary or you can book with an tourist agent at the bus station in Jerantut for a mini van which will provide an all inclusive round trip package to the jetty and back from the Taman Negara National Park. The boat stops on the right side of the river and you will need a water taxi across the river to the park entrance.  The water taxi costs about 1 Ringgit.

Going Up River

Most people will take the boat up river then come back by mini van, however, you can take the mini van to the park first then the boat back to Jerantut, and this decision is a personal choice.

There is an entrance fee for the park itself which is purchased at the departing boat jetty in Jerantut which is a minimal cost compared to the rest of what you will pay for the tour package or doing everything self organized.  If self organized the boat up or down river will cost 35 Ringgit and it seems there is only one company providing boats so there is no shopping this cost.

The Taman Negara National Park also has some very nice and expensive luxury accommodations, which in my opinion are over priced; however, there are other sleeping options on the other side of the river some very low budget, most mid range in price.

One of Many Accommodations in the Park

Riverside Restaurant Opposite River Bank of Park

It is also my opinion that doing a day trip to the park is a waste because you will want more than a couple of hours to explore the park by trekking deep inside, walking their wonderful canopy walk and having an opportunity to explore a true rain forest close up and personal.

If you stop in either Kuala Lupis or Jerantut and go to the Taman Negara, you can either make your way to the eastern coastal region or get back on the train headed to Singapore, however, if you are headed to Kuala Lumpur from this area, you should go by bus which is a short 3-4 hour ride to the bus terminal which is on the northern part of the city and a taxi or MRT ride into the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

What I have shown on this post is but a simple slice of the wonders that await you, both during the journey as well as going up river to the Taman Negara National Park.

It is impossible to include enough images to do either the train ride or the visit to the park justice, so instead of just reading about this, make plans, go and witness the wonders of nature first hand.

Travel Safe, Travel Happy.