Pariaman to Padang by Train

About 65km back down the West Sumatra coast from Pariaman to Padang, taking around two hours.

The run is genuinely pleasant, with sea views for much of the way and hills inland, and it costs almost nothing. Pariaman itself is a modest beach town, which makes this an easy half-day out from Padang rather than a destination in its own right.

Which trains run this route: Sibinuang is the main service. The Minangkabau Express operates on a branch of the same small network connecting Padang with Minangkabau International Airport, which is the more practically useful line for most visitors.

Scale your expectations. This is a regional line with a handful of daily departures and basic rolling stock. It connects to nothing else — reaching Medan or Palembang from West Sumatra means flying or a very long road journey.