Kota Kinabalu, Sabah: North Borneo Heritage Train

The most unusual part of this day trip is the train itself: restored wooden coaches, brass fittings, old-style livery, and a route that rolls inland from Kota Kinabalu to Papar. You get more than a train ride. You get a small slice of Sabah’s railway past, plus a look at village life and the local market.

I like the friendly onboard crew and the clever Papar mission book, which gives you a reason to walk rather than simply follow a guide. I also like the lunch on the train, when it operates as planned, and the fruit tasting at Papar’s market. The main consideration is important: the Vulcan steam locomotive is currently being maintained, so a diesel engine may pull the train. Past mechanical trouble has also caused long delays and changes to the return journey.

Key points at a glance

• Vintage coaches still carry the atmosphere: Even when a diesel engine is used, the historic tourist carriages remain part of the ride.
• Papar is an active stop, not just a photo break: Use the mission book to find points of interest and complete the activity for a mystery gift.
• The day starts at Tanjung Aru at 9:00am: The train runs inland from Kota Kinabalu through plantations, villages, and tropical scenery.
• Lunch and fruit tasting are included: Lunch is planned onboard, while fruit tasting takes place at Papar’s local market.
• The trip involves real walking: Hot weather, market streets, and activity stops make comfortable clothes, water, cash, and a hat sensible.
• The $114 price depends on reliable rail service: It covers food, refreshments, a souvenir bag, crew, activities, and return rail transport, but mechanical disruption can reduce the value.

A vintage train ride with a modern warning

The North Borneo Heritage Train is built around nostalgia. You board at Stesen Keretapi Tanjung Aru, just outside central Kota Kinabalu, and settle into restored wooden carriages that recall Sabah’s railway era. Brass details and traditional paintwork make the coaches more interesting than an ordinary commuter train.

The route runs toward Papar, with views of tropical forest, plantations, and rustic villages along the way. The journey is split into roughly 45-minute train sections, followed by time in Papar and then the return to Tanjung Aru.

There is one major update to keep in mind before you book. The Vulcan Steam Engine shown in the promotional material is still under maintenance. The operator may use a diesel locomotive until the steam engine is fully safe and operational. The train carriages remain the same, and the activities are scheduled to continue, but the experience will not be a full steam-powered ride during this period.

That distinction matters. If the sound, smoke, and machinery of a working steam locomotive are the main reason you want to go, check the current operating status before paying. If you mainly want the historic coaches, scenery, lunch, and Papar visit, the trip can still make sense.

Leaving Tanjung Aru at 9:00am

Plan to begin at Stesen Keretapi Tanjung Aru at 9:00am. The train is the focus from the first moment, so take a little time to look at the carriages before settling in. The wooden interiors and old-fashioned fittings provide much of the character, particularly if you enjoy transport history.

The first train ride lasts about 45 minutes. This is not a high-speed transfer. The slow pace is part of the appeal, giving you time to watch Sabah pass by through the windows. You may see green forest, plantations, village homes, and open countryside as the railway heads inland.

The onboard crew speaks English and helps organize the activities, food, and mission book. A souvenir bag with snacks and a booklet is included, along with a light refreshment. The small touches help make the trip feel like a planned heritage outing rather than simply a ticket on a regional train.

Still, keep expectations realistic. This is a working railway excursion, not a luxury rail journey. Seating is normally arranged for three or four people at a table. A private table costs an additional RM200, so couples or families wanting their own space should budget for that extra charge.

What the hybrid locomotive changes

The tour is unusual because it uses a hybrid steam-diesel setup. The historic Vulcan Steam Engine is being maintained, and the operator will announce when it is fully ready to return. Until then, a diesel locomotive may provide the power while the vintage coaches continue to carry passengers.

That means the visual setting remains appealing, but the mechanical experience may be different from what you expect from the name North Borneo Heritage Train. A steam locomotive gives a ride a certain drama. Without it, the trip becomes more about the coaches, route, crew, food, and Papar activities.

There has also been a serious operational warning in recent service. A diesel locomotive broke down near Papar, causing a delay of more than an hour. The train then had to reach Papar with help from a local shunter, and the return rail journey was replaced by a coach transfer. Lunch was also moved from the train to a local cafe and arrived cold after the disruption.

I would not treat that as a routine outcome, but it is a fair reason to leave flexibility in your schedule. If you have a flight, another paid tour, or an important evening booking, this is not the day to cut things close.

Papar Town and the mission book

Papar is the social and active part of the day. After the first train section, your guide or crew gives you a mission book and asks you to photograph selected points of interest around town. This turns the visit into a simple scavenger hunt.

I like this format because it gives you a task and encourages you to notice details. You are not just walking behind a guide while trying to remember what you saw. You have to look, take photographs, and complete the listed activities. It also creates a natural way to interact with local communities and see ordinary parts of Papar.

The walking section lasts about an hour, including sightseeing, a guided visit, and photo stops. The schedule may feel brisk, especially if the train arrives late. One planned stop at a local temple has been missed after a major delay, leaving only a short time at the market. The operator may adjust the exact order to keep the day moving.

Papar can be hot. Bring a hat, water, and a hand fan if you have one. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes that work for walking on town streets. Cash is useful for personal purchases, although the included fruit tasting gives you a chance to sample local produce without arranging your own market meal.

Complete any of the activities listed in the mission book and you can receive a reward, described as a mystery gift. The exact gift is not specified, so treat it as a fun extra rather than part of the financial value of the tour.

Lunch, fruit tasting, and small onboard activities

Lunch is included and is planned onboard. Eating in a restored railway carriage is one of the more distinctive parts of the package. It gives the slow train ride a purpose and makes the middle of the day feel different from a standard sightseeing excursion.

Service can change if the train develops a mechanical problem. In that situation, lunch may be arranged at a local cafe instead. You should also send dietary restrictions in advance so the restaurant and tour team can adjust the menu. Vegetarian meals have been accommodated when requested ahead of time.

The Papar market includes a fruit-tasting stop. This is a useful detail because it connects the railway trip to local food rather than keeping the whole day inside the carriages. You can also bring cash for personal purchases, but alcohol is not included and alcohol and drugs are not allowed on the tour.

Back onboard, the crew may offer a stencil henna activity. You choose a pattern, have it applied to your hand, wait for it to dry, and then peel it away to reveal the design. It is a modest activity, but it suits the relaxed, old-fashioned party feel of the train.

The crew also provides refreshments and the souvenir bag. These extras received some of the strongest praise, along with the friendly service and the vegetarian meal arrangements. They will not compensate for a long mechanical delay, but they do add warmth when the schedule runs normally.

The return ride to Tanjung Aru

After the Papar visit, the planned route returns by train, with another rail section of about 45 minutes before arrival at Tanjung Aru. This gives you another chance to sit back and watch the countryside, now with the morning’s activity behind you.

The return ride is also where disruption matters most. If the locomotive fails or the schedule slips badly, the operator may use a coach for the return instead of the train. That can be practical, but it removes one of the key reasons to pay for a heritage railway excursion.

I would approach the day with a relaxed schedule and patience. The train’s slower pace, old equipment, and maintenance needs are part of the reality of this experience. You are paying for a heritage outing in Sabah, not a guaranteed precision-timed transport service.

Is $114 a fair price?

At $114 per person, the tour is not cheap for a one-day regional outing. The price includes return train transport, an onboard English-speaking crew, lunch, a light refreshment, souvenir bag, mission book, Papar activity, and fruit tasting. It also includes the special setting of restored tourist coaches, which is the main reason to choose this package over an ordinary trip to Papar.

I think the price is reasonable when the steam locomotive operates, the train runs on time, lunch is served onboard, and you value the guided activities. The combination is hard to recreate independently in one day.

The value becomes weaker if the steam engine is unavailable and the train suffers a long delay. A diesel-powered ride can still be pleasant, but it does not deliver the full steam-train experience implied by the photographs. A coach return or cafe lunch also changes the character of the day.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included unless you pay a surcharge. A private table also costs extra, and an accompanying tour guide can be arranged for another charge. Add those costs before deciding if the package fits your budget.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the available starting time because the activity is valid for one day only.

Who will enjoy this trip?

I would recommend it to you if you enjoy historic transport, slow travel, local markets, and organized cultural activities. Families with older children may like the mission book and mystery gift. Couples who enjoy unusual day trips may appreciate the vintage coaches and onboard lunch, especially if they do not need a private table.

It also suits visitors who want to see more of Sabah beyond Kota Kinabalu without arranging several separate transfers. The route offers countryside views and a small-town stop in one package.

I would hesitate if you need a tightly timed day, dislike heat, or want a guaranteed steam locomotive. The walk around Papar can be tiring, and the tour is not recommended for pregnant women, wheelchair users, or people with limited physical activity. Passengers with disabilities must be accompanied by someone.

Bring a sun hat, water, comfortable clothes, and cash. A hand fan is useful in Papar. If you have dietary needs, mention them before the tour, not on the morning of departure.

Should you book the North Borneo Heritage Train?

Book it if the historic coaches, Papar walk, food, and local setting appeal to you as much as the locomotive. The most praised parts are the warm crew, souvenir bag, refreshments, onboard lunch when available, and the memorable feel of traveling through Sabah by rail.

Before you commit, confirm whether the Vulcan Steam Engine is operating. If it is not, decide if a diesel-powered train using the same vintage carriages still sounds worthwhile. Also leave spare time after the tour in case of mechanical trouble.

For a flexible visitor who values atmosphere over speed, this can be a memorable day. For someone paying specifically for steam power and a faultless timetable, wait until the operator confirms the locomotive is back in service.

FAQ

Where does the North Borneo Heritage Train start?

The tour starts at Stesen Keretapi Tanjung Aru in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

What time does the train depart?

The tour starts at 9:00am.

How long is the experience?

It is a one-day activity. The listed train sections last about 45 minutes each, with about one hour for the Papar visit and activities.

Does the tour use a steam locomotive?

The Vulcan Steam Engine is currently under maintenance. A diesel locomotive may be used until the steam engine is fully operational, while the historic train carriages remain in service.

What happens in Papar Town?

You receive a mission book and complete a photography and sightseeing activity around Papar. The visit also includes fruit tasting at the local market.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included and is planned onboard. Mechanical delays can cause lunch to be moved to a local cafe.

Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?

Yes, but you must make the request in advance so the team can notify the restaurant and adjust the lunch menu.

Are hotel transfers included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are available only with a surcharge.

Can I request a private table?

Yes. Standard seating is arranged for three to four people per table. A private table costs an additional RM200 per table.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users or pregnant women?

No. The tour involves considerable walking and is not suitable for wheelchair users or pregnant women. Passengers with disabilities must be accompanied by someone.