ECRL fares will sit between bus and plane tickets, MRL says

ECRL fares will cost more than bus tickets but less than airfares. Malaysia Rail Link (MRL) chief executive Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said so at a media briefing on 6 October.

MRL expects the Transport Ministry to announce the fares this month. It targets November for ticket sales. It also aims for a mid-December launch of the first phase.

However, MRL has not released any fare amounts yet. Here is what we know so far about prices, journey times, daily trips and the start date.

What MRL says about ECRL fares

Darwis said: “We expect dynamic and affordable fares that will be lower than airfares and slightly higher than bus fares.” In other words, dynamic pricing means an automated system adjusts fares according to demand, The Star explained.

The Star also reported that fares cannot be lower than KTMB’s ETS services. They will “definitely” be higher than bus fares. Still, they are unlikely to reach airfare levels, even with dynamic pricing.

Darwis called it “an extremely fine balancing act”, according to Paultan. MRL must balance affordability, service sustainability and repayment of the project loan.

Meanwhile, MRL has presented the service schedule and fare structure for Cabinet approval, The Star reported. Officials have not yet shared the details.

Journey times and daily trips

Preliminary testing shows an express service from Gombak to Kota Bharu can take about four hours. By road, the same trip takes around seven hours. The route crosses Selangor, Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan.

For example, on 25 September an inspection train ran non-stop from Gombak to Kota Bharu in 3 hours 19 minutes. It covered 519km at up to 160kph. That train does not carry passengers.

On the express service, the Gombak to Kuantan KotaSAS leg takes 1 hour 35 minutes. Kuantan to Kuala Terengganu adds 1 hour 25 minutes. Kuala Terengganu to Kota Bharu takes about an hour more.

Also, a service that stops at all 16 stations will take up to five hours, Darwis said. The plan is six trips in each direction from Monday to Thursday. From Friday to Sunday, there will be seven. Services run from about 6.30am until close to midnight.

When ECRL service could start

MRL said phase one, from Gombak to Kota Bharu, was 98.16 per cent complete as of September. The original plan was to open in January 2027. However, in August the Transport Ministry asked MRL and its main contractor to speed things up.

The ministry wants the service ready for the December holidays. As a result, Darwis said MRL is on track for “a possible mid-December launch, subject to final preparations and approval”.

Confirmation of the date could come as early as Friday, 9 October, when Budget 2027 is tabled. Officials have been tight-lipped, The Star said. Once the date is confirmed, MRL will reveal the schedule and fares shortly after.

Keep an eye out for the ministry’s ECRL fares announcement later this month. Check official ECRL channels before you book holiday travel. Treat dates and prices as provisional until officials announce them.