Kuala Lumpur to Penang by train and ferry: ETS times, fares and tickets

The short answer

This guide is research, not a first-hand visit. We built it from the official sources listed at the end, as of the date in the ticket.

The train ends at Butterworth, on the mainland, across the strait from George Town. KTMB (Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad), Malaysia’s national railway, calls Butterworth the gateway to Penang by bridge or ferry. From the station, you walk to the ferry terminal, and the ferry crosses to George Town.

KTMB’s electric ETS (Electric Train Service) runs seven trains a day from KL Sentral to Butterworth. The fastest is the Express at 11.40am, which arrives at 3.15pm, in time for the 3.30pm ferry. For an evening departure, take the 6.22pm Gold train at the latest: it reaches Butterworth at 10.42pm, 18 minutes before the last ferry at 11pm, if it runs on time.

Leaving from KL Sentral

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Fig. 1 ETS train at KL Sentral. Photographed in June 2022. Photo: Hiroki.loh.st (opens in a new tab) · CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab) · modified

Five of the seven trains to Butterworth start at KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur’s main rail hub. Trains 9326 and 9352 start further south, at JB Sentral and Segamat, and leave KL Sentral at the times below. Every train stops at Kuala Lumpur station 5 or 6 minutes after KL Sentral. If that station is closer to where you stay, you can board there.

KTMB’s ticket terms say you scan your ticket’s QR code at the departure gate. The gates close five minutes before the train leaves, and after that you get no refund.

If you fly in, the KLIA Ekspres runs from the airport to KL Sentral. Our 3 days in Kuala Lumpur guide has its times and fares.

KL Sentral to Butterworth timetable

KITS listed these seven trains on every date searched, 17 November to 31 December 2026, and they match KTMB’s timetable from 1 June 2026. The last column gives the next ferry from Penang Port’s schedule.

The other ETS trains north from KL Sentral run to Ipoh or Padang Besar, on the Thai border, and skip Butterworth.

The 8.15pm train arrives after the last ferry. If you take it, plan to cross to the island by road, by taxi or a ride-hailing app.

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Fig. 2 Train 9108 and the ferry to George Town Source: KTMB timetable (opens in a new tab) and Penang Port schedule (opens in a new tab), October 2026.

Butterworth to KL Sentral

Seven trains a day run back.

The first ferry from George Town leaves at 7am every day, so from the island you cannot reach the 5.15am, 6.30am or 7am trains by ferry. Trains 9323 and 9343 run on south. For these two, KTMB’s PDF gives the KL Sentral departure, 5 minutes after the KITS arrival time.

Platinum, Gold and Express trains

KTMB’s ETS page says Platinum trains stop only at the main stations, and Gold trains stop at more, so they are a little slower. In KTMB’s timetable, the Express stops only at Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Taiping and Bukit Mertajam on the way to Butterworth. It takes 3 hours 35 minutes, 30 minutes less than a Platinum train. ETS Silver trains run only between KL Sentral and Ipoh.

Some ETS Platinum trains have a Business Class coach, with use of KTMB’s Ruby Lounge at selected stations. KITS shows the coaches and their fares when you log in and choose seats.

On board

KTMB’s onboard page describes the ETS Class 93 trains, which it lists on this route. For them, it lists a bistro in coach C, a three-pin power socket below each seat, extra luggage space in coaches A and F, and a musolla (prayer room). Seats for disabled and older passengers are in coach D, next to the washroom.

The ticket terms forbid eating and drinking outside designated areas, smelly food, alcohol, smoking and all bicycles, even folded in a bag.

Fares

ETS fares are flexible. KTMB’s Tambang Fleksi sheet, in effect since 1 March 2020, sets the fare by:

• Service: Express, Platinum, Gold or Silver.
• Day: weekdays (Monday to Thursday) or the weekend (Friday to Sunday).
• Period: the highest peak covers federal public holidays and school holidays. State public holidays are peak, and other days are off-peak.
• Time: departures from 6am to 10am and from 5pm to 9pm are peak.
• Seat: Business Class or standard.
• When you buy: more than 60 days ahead (early bird), 3 to 59 days ahead, or less than 2 days ahead (last minute). The sheet’s slogan, “Lagi awal, lagi murah”, means the earlier, the cheaper.

KITS shows the lowest adult fare for each train, in ringgit (MYR, written RM on price tags). On 20 October 2026, it showed these fares for Tuesday, 17 November 2026.

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Fig. 3 Lowest KITS fare, 17 Nov 2026, RM Source: KTMB KITS (opens in a new tab), October 2026.

The Gold train was the cheapest on every date searched, and the December dates cost more. On 20 October, the dates from 20 December were more than 60 days ahead, in the Tambang Fleksi early-bird period. Fares can rise as the date comes closer. On Friday, 11 December, the seven trains started at RM91 to RM119. Trains back to KL Sentral showed RM82 to RM110 on 17 November and RM91 to RM122 on 11 December.

KTMB’s ticket terms define a child as aged 4 to 12 on the day of travel. They list concession fares for Malaysian citizens with an approved registration only. Check the child fare on KITS before you pay.

How to book on KITS

KITS is KTMB’s own booking system, on the KTMB website and the KTMB Mobile app. Stations also sell tickets at counters and machines. To buy online, register a KITS account first. These terms apply:

• How far ahead. On 20 October 2026, KITS showed trains up to 31 December 2026, and none from 1 January 2027.
• Last minute. Online sales close 15 minutes before departure. A station counter sells until 10 minutes before.
• Your name and passport. The ticket is valid only for the passenger named on it, with that passenger’s passport number. Carry your passport on the train, because staff check the ticket and the passport together.
• Your ticket. An online ticket can show on your phone or print. A counter or machine ticket must stay printed.
• No changes. You cannot change the date, time, train, seat or name. To travel on another train, cancel and buy again. One exception: to correct a spelling error in the name or passport number, go to a ticket counter at least 24 hours before departure, with the printed ticket and a copy of the passport.

Cancellations and refunds

The terms set the refund by how long before departure you cancel:

• More than 72 hours: 75% of the fare.
• 2 to 72 hours: 50%.
• Less than 2 hours: nothing.

Service charges, administration fees and the optional takaful (insurance) plan are not refunded. Refunds go to your KTM Wallet on KITS. The terms say foreign nationals, except Singapore citizens, can ask for the balance to go to a bank account, with bank charges. To ask, email callcenter@ktmb.com.my.

If KTMB cancels your train and gives you no other transport, you get the full fare back if you cancel the ticket within seven days of the travel date. The terms also say KTMB pays no compensation for delays.

Seats can sell out. On 20 October 2026, KITS showed only 2 seats left on the 7.50am Gold train from Butterworth for 11 December.

Arriving at Butterworth

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Fig. 4 Butterworth walkway. Photographed in May 2024. Photo: philip.mallis (opens in a new tab) · CC BY-SA 2.0 (opens in a new tab) · modified

Butterworth is the end of the line for these trains, so you cannot miss your stop. The stop before it is Bukit Mertajam, 9 to 12 minutes earlier.

Penang Sentral, the town’s bus and transport hub, and the ferry terminal are next to the station. By road, you cross to the island by bridge: KTMB calls Butterworth the gateway to Penang by bridge or ferry.

The ferry to George Town

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Fig. 5 Butterworth ferry gates. Photographed in August 2023. Photo: *angys* (opens in a new tab) · CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab) · modified

Penang Port runs the passenger ferry from Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim (PSAH), in Butterworth, to Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda (PRTU), in George Town.

Ferry times

Penang Port’s schedule gives departure times only:

• From Butterworth, weekdays: 6.30am and 7am, every 20 minutes to 9am, every 30 minutes to 5pm, every 20 minutes to 6pm, every 30 minutes to 8.30pm, then 9.30pm and 11pm.
• From Butterworth, weekends and public holidays: every 30 minutes from 6.30am to 8.30pm, then 9.30pm and 11pm.
• From George Town, weekdays: every 20 minutes from 7am to 9am, every 30 minutes to 5pm, every 20 minutes to 6pm, every 30 minutes to 9pm, then 10pm and 11.30pm.
• From George Town, weekends and public holidays: every 30 minutes from 7am to 9pm, then 10pm and 11.30pm.

Penang Port’s ferry information page gives the same first and last sailings: 6.30am and 11pm from Butterworth, 7am and 11.30pm from George Town. If you arrive late, call the ferry hotline, 019-473 2363, to check the last sailing.

Ferry fares and tickets

Penang Port takes no cash, only credit or debit cards and e-wallets. An adult can pay in three ways: a ticket at the counter, a Touch ’n Go card at the gates, or an online ticket from Penang Port’s ticketing site. An online ticket is valid only on the day you buy it. Since 1 May 2025, the automatic gates also take Visa and Mastercard cards and several e-wallets. A child’s ticket is sold only at the counter.

Arriving in George Town

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Fig. 6 Raja Tun Uda. Photographed in January 2025. Photo: HundenvonPenang (opens in a new tab) · CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab) · modified

The ferry lands at Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda, on the George Town waterfront. For the last stretch to your room, take a taxi or use a ride-hailing app. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) says taxis outside airports should use a meter.

Safety on the journey

The FCDO gives this advice for all of Malaysia:

• Terrorism. The FCDO says terrorist attacks in Malaysia cannot be ruled out. They could be indiscriminate, including at places foreign visitors use, such as shopping malls, tourist attractions, places of worship and airports. It asks visitors to be especially vigilant in crowded places and at large gatherings.
• Crime. The FCDO says bag-snatching is common, particularly in major cities. It advises you to avoid carrying valuables and to take particular care of your passport in airport and railway terminals. It also says credit card and ATM fraud is widespread.
• ID. The FCDO says you must carry ID by law, and advises you to always carry your passport.
• Ferries. The FCDO says some passenger boats in Malaysia have sunk due to overloading and poor maintenance. It advises you to avoid vessels that are clearly overloaded or in poor condition, and to make sure life jackets are available.

Read the full advice from your own government before you travel.

Questions before you go

Is there a train from Kuala Lumpur to George Town?

Not directly. The trains end at Butterworth, and the Penang Port ferry crosses to George Town for RM2.

How long is the train from KL to Penang?

From 3 hours 35 minutes on the Express to 4 hours 20 minutes on the Gold train, with 4 hours 5 minutes on Platinum trains. Add the walk and the ferry.

How much is the ETS from KL Sentral to Butterworth?

On the dates searched, 17 November to 31 December 2026, the lowest adult fare on KITS was RM82 to RM119 one way.

What is the last train I can take to reach George Town the same night?

The 6.22pm Gold train, which reaches Butterworth at 10.42pm, before the 11pm ferry. If the train is late, you miss the ferry: KTMB’s terms say it pays no compensation for delays. The 8.15pm train arrives at 12.20am, after the last ferry.

Can I pay for the ferry in cash?

No. Penang Port accepts only credit or debit cards and e-wallets.