I Rode a Cheap Business-Class Train in Malaysia for $35; Amazing Value

We started our trip at the main Kuala Lumpur train station, KL Sentral. The transit hub had plenty of seating areas, plus several shops and restaurants, from Kentucky Fried Chicken to Rest ‘N Go stations with massage chairs.

We had about an hour to burn before our train left and were tempted to fit in a quick meal at KFC, which we’d heard was excellent in Malaysia.

But since we’d be eating on the train soon anyway, we headed to the business-class lounge instead.

The business-class lounge was all the way at the top of the building, with big windows overlooking the whole station.

A concierge was there to answer questions and guide guests to their trains. We only had to scan our boarding passes to access the cushy red chairs where we waited for our train to arrive.

As excited as I was to have free, speedy WiFi and a private bathroom, I was happiest about the lounge’s Nescafé machine. All three of its options felt thoroughly Malaysian.

Ipoh-style white coffee features condensed milk to lighten and sweeten it. Teh tarik, made of black tea and condensed milk, became a daily habit for me in my two weeks in the country.

When it’s prepared at restaurants or tea houses, it’s poured high to mix and cool the ingredients, but I found that it’s more than tasty enough out of a machine.

Milo was another go-to for me, and what I eventually ended up choosing while in the Ruby Lounge. It’s a chocolaty malt drink that’s popular around the world (but not in North America).

We took an elevator down to the platform, where the train was waiting for us.

Business class accounts for only one of six coaches on the train. We brought our luggage all the way to coach A, where I’d booked us the front two seats.

Though we’d be making several more stops before we hit Butterworth in Penang, the coach already seemed quite full of boisterous fellow tourists leaving Kuala Lumpur.

Seats were in a 2-by-1 arrangement — in the standard class, they’re 2-by-2. Large baggage was stored at the front and back of the car, so we had plenty of room for relaxation.

Because we were sitting in the front, we missed out on the footrests that other rows in business class had. But no matter, we had tons of room to stretch our legs.

We also had multiple outlets available near our seats in case we wanted to charge our electronics.

One arm of the chair has a pull-out tray table and the other a stowaway screen, which allows travelers to buy food and drinks not provided with their ticket, search the internet, and watch movies.

I was tempted to order a teh tarik for 3 RM, but before I could, an attendant arrived with our lunch.

I didn’t have high expectations for the meal and snack box included with our upgraded ticket, but I was pleasantly surprised.

My lunch consisted of a bottle of water and a segmented tray filled with disarmingly flavorful bites.

The rice was no mere pile of basmati, but nasi kahwin, a lemongrass-spiced blend of grains that’s usually reserved for special occasions in Malaysia. It was paired with boneless ayam percik, a chicken dish that’s sweet with coconut milk, as well as a tangy mix of vegetables called acar rampai.

I also received a snack box containing a KitKat, salted peanuts, and fruit juice. Later in the trip, coffee and tea service was available (and so were soft double-chocolate muffins).

This four-hour trip to Penang only cemented my opinion that business class is the way to go if you’re traveling through Malaysia.

Don’t get me wrong — the train seemed clean and lovely in the other section, too, but I was pleased with what $35 bought me. I liked having more legroom and thoroughly enjoyed the tasty food and lounge access.

Once we arrived, finding the ferry to George Town, Penang’s capital city, was easy. However, the crush of the crowd on the ferry only reminded me of how luxurious an upgraded train trip can be.