KTMB restructures direct ETS trips from JB to Penang, Perlis

KTMB will restructure direct ETS trips from JB Sentral to Butterworth and Padang Besar on 1 January 2027. The same applies from Butterworth to Segamat. Passengers will change trains at KL Sentral instead.

KTMB chief executive Datuk Azlan Shah Al Bakri explained the change on 2 November. KTMB will redeploy train sets to run more frequent services without adding new assets. It comes with the record seat offer for early 2027, which adds more trains on the main routes.

Here is why KTMB made the change, what travellers must do and what is still unclear.

Why KTMB is ending the direct trips

First, the routes. Three routes will lose their single-train service. They are JB Sentral to Butterworth, JB Sentral to Padang Besar and Butterworth to Segamat. Together they link Johor, Penang and Perlis.

Next, the reason. Azlan said a train set on a full run from Kuala Lumpur to Padang Besar is tied up. It does only one trip.

Also, the shorter runs. If trains stop at set points, one train set can do three trips, he said.

Then, the demand. Azlan said demand is higher than capacity, and KTMB cannot add more train sets.

He said the practice is common around the world. These are scheduled trips, he added.

Overall, KTMB says ending direct ETS trips gives more seats and more trains without buying more assets.

The plan is not new. On 29 October, KTMB had earlier announced the restructuring, but the reason emerged when Azlan spoke on 2 November.

What travellers must do

First, the transfer. Passengers on the three routes must change trains at KL Sentral from 1 January.

Next, the tickets. For now, a trip with a transfer needs two separate tickets.

However, KTMB plans to fix this. It says passengers will be able to buy the whole trip in one transaction from December.

Also, the sales dates. Tickets for January and February went on sale at noon on 2 November. March tickets open on 1 December.

You can book on the KITS Style app or the KTMB website.

Meanwhile, KTMB is offering a record 1,573,872 seats across its ETS and Ekspres Rakyat Timuran services from January to March. That is up 39% from about 1.13 million in the same period this year.

Daily ETS services rise from 44 to 50 on Monday to Thursday and 58 on Friday to Sunday. JB Sentral to KL Sentral goes from eight to 12 daily services.

The old Kuala Lumpur railway station (Old KL Station) becomes an ETS hub in 2027. So does Subang Jaya to ease crowding at KL Sentral.

What is still unclear

First, the journey time. The reports do not give new travel times for the routes with a transfer.

Next, the wait. No minimum time between trains at KL Sentral has been stated.

Also, other routes. The reports do not say whether any other ETS route changes.

Next, delays. The reports do not say what happens if the first train runs late.

Then, the price. No fares for the transfer trips have been published.

Padang Besar is the Malaysian border station for Thailand, so the change matters to cross-border riders too. KTMB’s Hat Yai train from Penang is a separate service, not part of the ETS transfer arrangement.

For now, check KTMB’s timetable and your ticket before you travel. We will update this story when fares and transfer times are out.

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