Penang to Ipoh: Train vs Bus, Times & Tips

Featured image: Dreamtrooper, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Penang to Ipoh at a glance

Your starting point decides the route. Penang Island (George Town) and the mainland (Butterworth, home of Penang Sentral) lead to different first steps. Fares and times here were checked in November 2026. Buses cost RM 20 to RM 25 for most travelers, and KPB Ekspress lists fares from RM 22. Trains cost more than buses, and KTM publishes the current ETS fares and timetable.

• Staying in the Old Town on a short trip: take the ETS train.
• Watching every ringgit and happy to transfer: take the bus.
• Starting in George Town with light luggage: cross to Butterworth, then take the train.
• Carrying heavy bags from the island: a bus that departs George Town avoids the crossing.

Penang to Ipoh: train vs bus comparison

Door-to-door time matters more than ride time. The bus ride is cheaper, but the 10 km from Amanjaya to Old Town adds a transfer. The train drops you at the edge of the Old Town.

Start here: George Town or Butterworth?

George Town sits on Penang Island. Butterworth and Penang Sentral sit on the mainland. Trains leave from Butterworth, so island travelers must cross first. A ferry or a local bus over the bridge both reach Butterworth. Ferry and bridge fares are not listed here, so look them up with the operator on the day. Buses are more flexible. Several operators pick up in George Town, and others leave from Penang Sentral. Match the ticket to the departure point you will physically be standing at.

By ETS train from Butterworth

Butterworth Railway Station is a few minutes' walk from the Penang Sentral bus terminal. Trains run from about 4:45 am, with the last Penang departure around 6:33 pm. Journey time is about 1 hour 45 minutes. Services are mostly Gold and Platinum, which stop less often than Silver. Book through KTM Berhad's ETS booking pages for current fares, seat availability and service types. Tickets open about two months ahead, and trains can fill close to departure. KTM Komuter was also reported extended to Ipoh from September 2023. It is cheaper than ETS but slower, so look up its times and fares before relying on it. If you leave from George Town, an office there is said to sell last-minute tickets.

By bus from Penang Sentral or George Town

Buses carry more daily departures than trains. KPB Ekspress lists 13 daily buses from Penang Sentral, with a first departure at 08:00 and a last at 21:00. Those hours cover one operator only. Other companies run from Penang Sentral and George Town on their own schedules. Expect 1.5 to 2.5 hours on the road. From Penang Sentral, one source gives about 2.5 hours to Amanjaya. Services come in Economy, Express and VIP classes, so compare seats as well as prices. Nearly all long-distance buses end at Amanjaya Bus Terminal, not in the city.

Getting from Amanjaya to Ipoh Old Town

Amanjaya is about 10 km from Old Town. A local MyBas bus runs to Medan Kidd Bus Station, close to the railway station on the edge of the Old Town. That ride takes about 30 to 40 minutes. A taxi costs RM 15 to RM 20 and is faster. Add that cost to your bus fare before calling the bus cheaper. For a solo traveler on a short stay, the transfer can cancel much of the saving. Medan Kidd is also Ipoh's main local bus hub, so you can continue by MyBas from there.

Which option fits you

Pick by where you sleep and when you travel. Staying in Old Town for a few nights favors the train, because you can walk from Ipoh station to many stays. Choose the bus if your hotel is far from the center or you want a late departure after the last train. Leaving George Town after about 6:33 pm rules out the train. Day-trippers should plan the return first. The last KPB Ekspress bus leaves Penang Sentral at 21:00, but check the return timetable for the Ipoh-to-Penang direction before you commit. Coming from elsewhere? Our guide on getting from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh covers that route. Flying in via KLIA is handled in our KLIA transfer guide.

Mistakes to avoid and booking tips

A few small errors cost the most time on this route.

• Assuming the bus drops you in town. It stops at Amanjaya, about 10 km out.
• Booking from the wrong side of Penang. Check whether the ticket departs George Town or Butterworth.
• Skipping the Amanjaya transfer in your budget. Taxi is RM 15 to RM 20.
• Relying on one operator's hours. KPB Ekspress times do not cover every bus.
• Waiting on train tickets. Book early, since trains can sell out near departure.

After you arrive in Ipoh

Settle in near the station, then plan your first day. Our full guide to reaching Ipoh compares every starting point. If you are continuing a longer Malaysia trip, see the Singapore to Ipoh route. For wider trip ideas, browse Tourism Perak's official site. Lost World of Tambun is a theme park about a 20-minute taxi ride from the Ipoh city center. Its theme park is closed Tuesdays except on school and public holidays. The all-parks adult walk-in ticket is RM160.