Take a journey back into the colonial days of british north borneo on board the north borneo railway. The line was known as the north borneo railway until 1965 and thereafter as the sabah state railway. North borneo railway kota kinabalu 2020 what to know. North borneo escorted train tours with railway adventures.
Includes special anzac day dawn ceremony in sandakan. Go on an unforgettable journey onboard the north borneo railway, borneo s first vintage steam engine train. Originally constructed in 1886 to transport tobacco to the coast for shipping, north borneo railway was restored in recent years to offer travelers a chance to board an old steam train and ride. The historical north borneo railway opens once more in sabah, malaysia the oldest railway in borneo. Your rail ticket includes roundtrip hotel transport from central kota kinabalu. Apr 04, 2010 north borneo railway is the oldest running steam train in sabah and borneo. Nov 01, 2018 the train features five fully refurbished colonialstyle passenger train carriages that can accommodate a total of 180 passengers. North borneo steam train with tiffin lunch from kota kinabalu. North borneo steam railway half day trip with round trip transfer within kk city area. The engine is designed for wood burning, a costly yet more environmental form of steam. It is the only rail transport system operating on the island of borneo. Travel back in time as you hop on a refurbished cabin that recreates the popularity of steam trains in the 1900s.
North borneo railway north borneo railway is the oldest running steam train in sabah and borneo. This rail excursion is the best way to discover the lush landscape of the coastal and rural regions of sabah. You need to book at least one day prior to departure. Take a 4 hour nostalgic steam train tour on the north borneo railway while enjoying a tiffinstyle lunch.
Retrace a colonial trade route through villages, countryside, and tunnels, and pass mangrove forests and rivers for spectacular views of scenery thats mostly inaccessible by. Experience the lush coastal and rural landscapes of sabah on this day tour. North borneo railway schedule sutera harbour sabah. This was sit on and a must for anyone who loves steam trains.
Here is the map with directions on how to get there click on the view larger map symbol in the top right corner to be able to get your bearings. Scott mcgregors railway adventures tour of north borneo on the eccentric little railway through the heart of sabah. The north borneo railway is built and operated to the highest of international standards and is fully compliant with modern safety standards. If orient express is for europe, then the north borneo. The north borneo railway isnt a regular train service, although a regular service does follow the same route, but rather a manufactured tourist attraction recreating the. It connects kota kinabalu to papar, via putatan, kinarut and kawang, a little more than forty kilometres aboard wagons pulled by a superb vulcan steam locomotive. Passing through villages and coastal towns, paddy fields, rainforests and plantations of rubber and coffee, a ride on north borneo railway is truly a journey of rediscovery into the heart of borneo. The twiceweekly steam service is operated by the sabah state railway but run by a local hotel under the north borneo railway name. The north borneo railway runs two weekly return departures wednesday, saturday from kota kinabalu to papar, year round. Please note that this tour does not include a guide, there will only be a englishspeaking guide for steam train introduction. North borneo steam railway half day tour, malaysia klook.
The trains are refurbished to recreate the atmosphere of stepping onto a train in the 1900s. Passengers hop on a steam train straight out of the 1900s, chugging along the. Passing through villages and coastal towns, paddy fields, rainforests and plantations of rubber and coffee, a ride on north borneo railway is truly a journey of. Train holiday packages borneo north borneo rail holidays. This historic railway line reopened in 2011 for tourism purposes. On board the midcentury british north borneo vulcan steam engine train. Take a ride on the north borneo railway and relive the nostalgic romance of british borneo. Tripadvisor halfday north borneo railway train ride.
Here is a pictorial history of the australian invasion of north borneo by the troops who were tasked with capturing beaufort from the japanese and regaining control of the railway system radiating from that town. The north borneo railway runs two weekly return departures wednesday, saturday from. North borneo railway kota kinabalu 2020 all you need to. A 4 km track of the north borneo railway is probably is only steampowered train left on earth. North borneo steam railway half day tour, malaysia klook us. Approx 4 hours embark on a scenic tour of the countryside aboard the north borneo steam train, one of the oldest running steam train in the region.
Service began in 1989 to transport tobacco from tenom to kota kinabalu, has left undeveloped both purposely and unpurposely. Please consult government travel advisories before booking. North borneo railway is the oldest running steam train in sabah and borneo. The north borneo railway features a british vulcan steam locomotive. Tripadvisor north borneo steam train with tiffin lunch from. The service lapse on our vintage north borneo railway steam locomotive was an unforeseen one. North borneo railway kota kinabalu all you need to. Service began in 1989 to transport tobacco from tenom to kota kinabalu, has left undeveloped both purposely and unpurposely, as it has become a tourist attraction for the state.
This train runs between singapore, malaysia and thailand. A guide to the north borneo railway our day on the tracks. Halfday north borneo railway train ride provided by exotic borneo travel management. Here is the first train which ran on the beaufort weston line. Experience the unique sights and sounds of the sabah landscape on board a vintage steam engine train straight out of the 1900s, chugging along the tracks from tanjung aru to papar. North borneo railway, kota kinabalu ticket price timings. The railway consists of a single 4 kilometres line from tanjung aru, kota kinabalu in west coast division to the town of tenom, in the interior division. Take a scenic trip around north borneo aboard an iconic steam train. Passengers hop on a steam train straight out of the 1900s, chugging along the tracks from tanjung aru, through kinarut before arriving in the rice bowl of sabah, papar. Immerse yourself in refurbished colonial designs alongside charming hosts dressed in colonial attire as you pass through small towns, plantations, jungles, and beaches in this relaxing tour. The railway in sabah, borneo has a long history dating back to 1896 when it was constructed to transport tobacco from borneos interior to the coast for shipping.
North borneo railway experience tour borneo calling. Experience a colonial style steam train visit a beautiful temple, the tien shi temple visit quaint shophouses and a local wet market tour description. You are given a passport at the beginning of the journey and then as you pass each town on the way to papar you are given a brief history of the town and the area and your passport is stamped. Ride a vulcan steam engine dating from 1896 on the north borneo railway during a hasslefree tour.
Even though its a train, its not a public transportation so you must book a seat in advance. During each week we made 3 visits to the railway and one to the museum. It just a dummy image, contribution appreciated ever imagine of being on a nostalgic train ride. Thirty working days prior to departure, 10% of guaranteed seat booking. Catching the train in borneo expert transport tips on getting around borneo by train getting around borneo by train lonely planet hi there, we use cookies to improve your experience on our website. Retrace a colonial trade route through villages, countryside, and tunnels, and pass mangrove forests and rivers for spectacular views of scenery thats mostly inaccessible by traditional tour vehicle. Passengers board the train at tanjung aru station at the designated platform. A 4 km track of the north borneo railway is probably is only steam powered train left on earth. Enjoy great views while having a tiffinstyle breakfast and lunch. North borneo railway kota kinabalu all you need to know. Designed for wood burning, the engine is a costly yet more sustainable form of steam. Train travel is one of the types of transport that i really enjoy. Ride the north borneo railway train from kota kinabalu to papar to experience the days of the british colonial office, when people traveled by steam train into the heart of sabah.
Upon reaching papar train station or on the return leg of the journey. Refurbished to create the nostalgic romance of the bygone era of the colonial days of british north borneo, the train allows all passengers to experience the beauty of countryside and the unique sights and sound of sabah landscape on board. Check out the best tours and activities to experience north borneo railway. We spent a day on the old north borneo railway now called the sabah state railway a 4km stretch of track originally built in the 1890s. The ride on the north borneo railway is yet a short and remarkable journey that gives us a reflection of the 1900s era. The north borneo railway features a british vulcan steam locomotive, designed and built by the vulcan foundry in newtonlewillows, england in 1954 as part of the last order before the factory converted to diesel and electric locomotive construction. Travel back in time as you hop on an iconic steam train to visit the towns of kinarut and papar. Sabah state railway is a railway system and operator in the state of sabah in malaysia. The vulcan is the last of a fleet of steam engines that have plied the tracks through borneo since the late 1800s. North borneo railway, sabah attractions attractions. The train features five fully refurbished colonialstyle passenger train carriages that can accommodate a total of 180 passengers. North borneo railway, sabah 10 incredible rail journeys. The north borneo railway is an oldest running steam train featuring a british vulcan steam locomotive.
At the station, passengers are greeted by wellappointed train stewards. The steam train runs every wednesday and saturday and is priced at. North borneo railway train ride from kota kinabalu to. Recently i book exotic borneo for their kinabalu national park package. If orient express is for europe, then the north borneo steam train is for sabah. The ride on the north borneo railway s steam train from tanjung aru to papar was a wonderful experience. Passing through villages and coastal towns, paddy fields, rainforests and plantations of rubber and coffee, a ride on north borneo railway is truly a journey of rediscovery into the heart of. Probably easiest to take a taxi to tanjung aru railway station. Of course the train is modern and faster, so no nostalgic feel, and no tiffin meals are served but it is much better value for money. The ride will pass along the coast of south china sea. We have to admit we were a little bit excited to travel on the historical north borneo railway, but you dont have to be a trainspotter kind of person to enjoy the romance of a steam train. Lasting approximately 4 hours, passengers experience the lush landscape of the coastal and rural regions of sabah. If you are booking ex train station, please be at the station there before 930 am and register at the north borneo railway train office.
Taking a train on the north borneo railway in kota. Book one of our train holiday packages to borneo and experience the abundant wildlife and history of one of the worlds most exotic locations. About north borneo railway the north borneo railway runs two weekly return departures wednesday, saturday from kota kinabalu to papar, year round. North borneo railway kota kinabalu, sabah, malaysia. Take a ride on the north borneo railway aboard a 1900 style steam train from tanjung aru through kinarut to papar. James waite gives some historical background to the steam operation in sabah, malaysia, covering the period up to the time the railway closed for rebuilding in 2006 the modern development of what is now sabah began with the formation of the british north borneo chartered company in 1881. North borneo railway kota kinabalu 2020 all you need.
Be careful who you book through north borneo railway, kota. Take a ride on the north borneo railway and relive the nostalgic romance of british north. The north borneo railway runs 36 miles between kota kinabalu, the state capital of sabah, and papar, an agricultural town, known as the rice bowl of sabah. Lovely scenic trip north borneo railway, kota kinabalu. The nostalgic romance of an old steam train relives memories of a bygone era. Taking a train on the north borneo railway in kota kinabalu. The ride on the north borneo railways steam train from tanjung aru to papar was a wonderful experience.
Take a ride on the north borneo railway and relive the nostalgic romance of british north borneo. Capture the nostalgia of a bygone era with a train ride on the north borneo railway, sabahs oldest running steam locomotive. Borneos only railway was built in the 1890s by an english engineer, and a tourist train now runs over the first section of the 87. Sabah state railway ssr is a railway system and operator in the state of sabah in malaysia. The north borneo railway features a british vulcan steam locomotive, built and designed by the vulcan foundry in england in 1954. North borneo steam train adventure malaysia adventoro. A tiffinstyle colonial lunch is served on board, with numerous stops along the scenic countryside route. An early booking of at least 1 one day before departure is required. This beautiful 4 hours journey will take you on an amazing experience of natural lush green scape and the unique coastal areas of sabah. Having undergone refurbishment, the railway now gives guests an opportunity to step back in time to experience the colonial days of yore when sabah was once known as british north borneo.
A typical tiffin colonial lunch will be served on the return trip. Sep 14, 2019 despite the best planning, things do go wrong. Nevertheless, as our valued guest, your comment has been well noted as it is imperative for us to ensure that our guests expectations are being met and exceeded. The scenic routes taken by trains often offer views you would never usually see. The service given on board along with the cosy seating further lifts the mood of being on board a steam train. As you take a ride in this steam train, you shall come across the tracks of tanjung aru, through kinarut and towards the end, the rice bowl of sabah, papar. North borneo railway kota kinabalu 2020 all you need to know. Enjoy scenic countryside view of local villages, rubber plantation, rice fields and mangrove swamps. The journey is about 40 km there and 40 km back with breakfast on the outbound journey and. Borneo s only railway was built in the 1890s by an english engineer, and a tourist train now runs over the first section of the 87. Above is the route map i copy from the train passport.