one last question: Do I need to buy the train ticket in advance? Or can I show up at, say, 10 minutes before the train leaves?

ok great. Thank you so much

@Janine *****************

. You've no idea how helpful you are right now. So I will plan on catching that 13:00 train. It runs every day, even Saturday/Sundays? I agree the train is way nicer than van and certainly cheaper.

If by some crazy chance I miss the 13:00 train, do you know how late the vans run?

and then transfer to another train to Butterworth which leaves every 2 hours. There was no transfer last time I took the train, we got on the same train again. I'm wondering if van is easier now. Do you know the van times as well? Would be a massive help.

ok awesome. So there's for sure a 13:00 train to Pedang Besar on Sunday?

(and the night trains are cancelled)

This website confirms there is only 1 5:50am train

For example, this website says there is 1 train at 5:50am only

Janine! Where did you find this train information? I've been going bonkers trying to look up the Hat Yai Train schedule and I am getting several different conflicting time schedules and cannot figure out which information is accurate!

So basically I need to know 100% what the train schedules are. Are you totally sure that's what the time is? Some websites say there is now only 1 train that leaves at 5:30am! It seems wrong. I don't understand. Can you please share a link?

Got it. Thank you for your help

I can understand charging tourists cash to make sure they're not gonna freeload but people who are working in the country? It seems CrazY to me