> Quick view: KTM Berhad's MySawasdee charter train links KL Sentral and Hat Yai directly, with no change at Padang Besar. Its new Executive Coach (AXC) is listed at RM750 one-way, and code AXC50 halves it to RM375 on all eight return trips KTM has listed from 23 October to 26 December 2026. The regular seat is RM95. Book on KITS.

What MySawasdee is, and what is new

MySawasdee is a seasonal charter train that KTM runs on long weekends and holiday periods. It is not a daily service. It leaves KL Sentral at 10.30pm and reaches Hat Yai at 8.50am Thai time (9.50am Malaysia time; Thailand is one hour behind). Our KITS search on 11 October showed train Express 1004 with an 11h 20m journey. Coming back, it leaves Hat Yai at 10.20am Thai time and gets into KL Sentral at about 11.15pm. Along the way it stops at Sungai Buloh, Ipoh, Taiping and Padang Besar, where everyone gets off for Malaysian and Thai immigration.

The Executive Coach (AXC) is the new top tier. KTM's poster (KTM Berhad on Facebook) calls it "more comfortable, more exclusive" and shows a large padded recliner. When the coach launched on 28 September, local tech site SoyaCincau listed what KTM's campaign material includes: a reclining seat with a power socket, priority boarding, priority immigration clearance, meals served at your seat, an amenity kit, and its own toilet and luggage space.

How to book the RM375 fare

  1. Go to online.ktmb.com.my or open the KITS app, and log in. KITS hides the fare breakdown until you sign in.
  2. Search KL Sentral to Hat Yai (or from Sungai Buloh, Ipoh or Taiping) on one of the dates below.
  3. Choose the Executive Coach and enter AXC50 at payment. The price should drop from RM750 to RM375 for each one-way ticket.
  4. Book the return leg the same way. The poster lists the code for both outbound and return dates.
  • Out Fri 23 Oct 2026, back Mon 26 Oct 2026
  • Out Fri 30 Oct 2026, back Mon 2 Nov 2026
  • Out Fri 13 Nov 2026, back Mon 16 Nov 2026
  • Out Fri 20 Nov 2026, back Mon 23 Nov 2026
  • Out Thu 26 Nov 2026, back Sun 29 Nov 2026
  • Out Fri 11 Dec 2026, back Mon 14 Dec 2026
  • Out Thu 17 Dec 2026, back Sun 20 Dec 2026
  • Out Wed 23 Dec 2026, back Sat 26 Dec 2026

What it costs: worked examples

KITS listed a minimum fare of RM95 on the 23 and 30 October departures. That is the seat in the regular second-class coach. In April, The Rakyat Post reported RM109 for an upper sleeper berth and RM119 for a lower one. KTM's banner only says "from RM95", so confirm the berth prices on KITS.

  • Couple, return, both in AXC: 4 tickets x RM375 = RM1,500. At the RM750 list price that would be RM3,000.
  • Same couple, return, lower berths: 4 x RM119 = RM476. Regular seats: 4 x RM95 = RM380.
  • Mixed trip, per person: a lower berth on the overnight run north (RM119) plus AXC on the daytime run home (RM375) = RM494.

So for a couple, AXC on both legs costs about RM1,000 more than berths. You are paying for meals, a quicker immigration queue and a big seat. You are not paying for a bed.

Who it suits, and who should skip it

Good fit: older parents who find the narrow berth ladders hard, travellers who hate the Padang Besar queue, and anyone taking the daytime return. That leg runs from about 10.20am to 11.15pm, so you spend most of it awake and a wide seat with a power socket is worth more than a bunk.

Skip it if you want to sleep on the way up. The outbound train runs through the night, and a lower berth at RM119 lets you lie flat for less than a third of the AXC price. Budget travellers should also note that the RM95 seat gets you to the same platform at the same time.

Boarding mid-route: our understanding is that the fare is the same wherever you board. Passengers from Ipoh pay the KL price and get on at about 2.26am, so set an alarm.

Fine print that trips people up

  • Seats are scarce. On 11 October, KITS showed only 4 places left on 23 October and 12 on 30 October. We did not check the November and December dates, so look early if you need a school-holiday trip.
  • Passport and the TDAC. You need a passport with at least six months' validity, and Thailand's digital arrival card (TDAC) has been compulsory for foreign visitors since 1 May 2025. Fill it in online in the three days before you arrive.
  • Adult fares only. The Rakyat Post reported that MySawasdee has no child or concession fares, so a child pays the adult price.
  • Food outside AXC. Only the Executive Coach includes meals. Everyone else buys from the café coach.
  • Terms apply. The poster carries a "terms and conditions apply" note, and KTM has not said when bookings close. Read the KITS change and refund rules before you pay. The posted dates are the only window we can confirm.

*Image: KTM Berhad*