Train travel is the quickest way to travel from Penang to Ipoh in Perak state. Train services take between 1 hour 40 minutes and 2 hours to travel the 145 km from Butterworth Railway Station near Penang to Ipoh Railway Station. Butterworth Railway Station is on the mainland adjacent to the port where the car ferry from George Town arrives.
Train Times from Penang to Ipoh
There are currently 6 direct train services a day from Butterworth Railway Station (near Penang) to Ipoh.
Train | Butterworth | Ipoh | Service |
9171 | 05:15 | 06:55 | ETS Platinum |
9173 | 06:20 | 08:00 | ETS Platinum |
9321 | 07:50 | 09:34 | ETS Platinum |
9175 | 12:45 | 14:25 | ETS Platinum |
9177 | 16:05 | 17:45 | ETS Platinum |
9179 | 18:45 | 20:25 | ETS Platinum |
Buy Tickets from Penang to Ipoh
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Butterworth Railway Station
Butterworth Railway Station is located on the mainland across the straits from Penang Island. The car ferry to Butterworth Railway Station departs from Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal in George Town every 20 to 30 minutes from 05.40 to 00:40 every day and cost 1.20 MYR per adult and 0.60 MYR per child. Alternatively you can travel by road across either of two bridges connecting Penang to the mainland.
Ipoh Railway Station
Ipoh Railway Station is located 400 metres walking distance from the Birch Memorial Clock Tower in the centre of Ipoh Town.
About Ipoh
As the New York Times (28/02/2018) pointed out in its article entitled ‘Why Ipoh, Malaysia, Should Be on Your Travel Radar‘ Ipoh is fast emerging as a popular place to visit with hip, cool and modern restaurants, bars and hotel catering to a new influx of visitors. Which is good news for the inhabitants of Malaysia’s third city as this a major reversal of the city’s fortunes and its decline since the 1970s when its tin mining industry, which had been the area’s major source of wealth for the past 100 or so years, went into decline with a collapse in world tin prices.

Ipoh has a lot going for it. The city has a lot of historical buildings, especially its old town. The British colonialists left some great architecture, most notably the grand railway station, which is similar to the old railway station built in Kuala Lumpur, and the city’s town hall. A more modern additional to the Old Town are street murals, a series of which were created by Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic as well later creation by local artists. These wall murals are dotted around the old town. Slightly out of Ipoh town there are some great temple to visit such as the Sam Poh Tong Temple, which you have go through a cave to visit, and the Paloh Ku Miao Chinese temple on the Kinta Riverbank. You should also try to visit:
- Gaharu Tea Valley Gopeng: A tea plantation in the mountains.
- The Gua Tambun Cave Paintings: Painting of animals and humans by primitive local inhabitants from around 3,000 years ago.
- Gua Tempurung: A 3 km long cave with impressive stalactites and stalagmites.
- Recreational Parks: Children will enjoy the The Lost World of Tambun water park and Gunung Lang Recreational Park which features a large lake, wide open spaces, playground and a mini zoo.