NORTH BORNEO RAILWAY

If you're in Kota Kinabalu on Sunday and you have no idea what to do, why don't you hop on the train going to Beaufort?

Why Sunday? Because from monday to saturday, they use the newest train with aircond, due to the high amount of passengers commuting back and forth from works.

So on sunday, but not on every sunday, on some lucky sunday, you will get to ride the old North Borneo train with open air window. Yayy !

No, I'm not talking about the expensive North Borneo Railway (I can't afford that). I'm talking about the old train, the cheapest one to sit on.

Every sunday, the train will depart from Tanjung Aru station at 7.45 am.

A return ticket from Tanjung Aru to Beaufort cost RM7.20 and takes about 2 hours.

The best place to sit on the train? On the right side!

On the left side is mostly jungle all the way, on the right side you will pass by the busy roadside, kampung (village) view, paddy fields, temple, school, the sea and so on.

The train stop multiple times at different station for a minute or two, along the way you can see how the local commute from one place to another with their luggage, big plastic bag, dragging their 2 child along with them.

Quick tips: You can stand at the door with half your leg outside the train. Totally not recommended. Do it at your own risk. Its fun, though. Done that!

We reach Beaufort at 9.40 am and take a walk around the town. Don't wander too far or you'll get lost and miss the train back. Grab a plate of mee Beaufort at the chinese restaurant and take a walk at the local fresh market. They sell wild vegetables, fresh river fish, fruits and many other things you can't find at the supermarket.

The train depart from Beaufort to Tanjung Aru at 11 am, but you can get on the train at 10.30 am, save yourself a good seat, and take a few pictures for your memories.

We reach Tanjung Aru railway station at 1.10 pm.

If you missed your train going back to Tanjung Aru or if you decided to stay longer in Beaufort, you can book a hotel in Beaufort and catch the earliest train ride the next morning. If you want to go back at the same day, there is a 6 seater couch going back to Kota Kinabalu which cost RM15 per person (price based on the last time I asked them). You can also get a bus but it will take some times because they only leave once its full.

From Beaufort, you can also get a train to Tenom town, which is popular for the Padas white water rafting and the kopi Tenom.

So that's how to spend half a day in Kota Kinabalu on sunday, the cheapest way possible!




LINK

1. Sabah Railway (Train fare)
2. Sabah Railway (Schedule)
3. North Borneo Railway (Operated by Sutera Harbour)
4. North Borneo Railway (Operated by Sutera Harbour - Sabah Tourism Board website)